The James Studios

I really loved The James at first. In 2022, my first year living there, everything felt perfect. The manager then was wonderful: she responded quickly and did whatever she could to help. The facilities were great too. I worked from home in the common room and met friends there. I enjoyed the Saturday PT sessions until they were cancelled, so I switched to yoga, which I liked as well. Things changed after that manager left and a man took over. I lost access to the common room I’d been allowed to use and had to prove to him that I’d paid for it. Yoga also started costing extra per session. When I was back in my home country, I asked the manager and a colleague if my friend could collect a parcel for me. They said yes, but when my friend came, they refused to hand it over and said nobody had told them, even though he went twice. The rooms are modern and spacious, with large, nice bathrooms, and the place had been so good to me. But the management ruined my last six months at The James and in the UK.

We lived here for six months, and I wouldn’t recommend it. The location is good, but that’s the one redeeming point. The lounge looks nice when it’s open, though it was closed regularly for furniture changes or random events, despite being advertised as an amenity. The 24-hour concierge was hard to find, deliveries were difficult, staff presence felt inconsistent, and the app kept sending notices about building problems. The lifts were often broken or under maintenance. Our studio was tiny and clearly not suitable for two people, even though it was advertised that way. At £1,018 a month, there was no oven, just a small hob and hardly any kitchen storage. Only two cupboards were provided, and one was mostly taken up by the extractor fan. There’s no washing machine in the apartment, so each wash cost around £4 and each dryer cycle £2. The whole building shared just two washers and two dryers. There was almost no storage, and the TV was tiny and awkwardly placed. It also turned itself on at random. The bins were often full and disgusting, making the stairwell smell awful. Residents were blamed for the smell and apartment inspections were carried out in an attempt to cover it up. We also saw rats near the bins and on the lounge terrace. The water smelled awful for a large part of our stay, which was concerning when paying over £1,000 a month. Moving out was frustrating too. There’s a compulsory £95 cleaning fee, even if you leave the apartment spotless. We were charged £20 for a mattress protector we left behind in perfect condition and had never used, which made us wonder if they reuse them between tenants. When I called about returning the fob, I was spoken to rudely and patronisingly. It’s an overpriced, cramped, poorly managed place, a long way from the luxury it claims to offer. We felt ripped off, and the communal laundry queue was another hassle.

Such a friendly, beautiful place to live in Liverpool. The community means a lot: I met wonderful people and made memories I’ll keep for life. Thanks to the staff for going above and beyond!

The community has made living here alone feel connected and supported. Residents are super friendly, and the yoga, run clubs and regular events make this place special. The team also goes above and beyond, and the design and location are the best I’ve come across. My six months at The James have been perfect, so I’ve extended my stay. Hands down the best accommodation in the area. I love it and highly recommend it!