Victoria Centre Apartments & Annexe

This review is for students thinking about renting at VH. I’ve lived in bad student accommodation and flats before, but this would rank toward the lower end. It’s much cheaper than other student studios, and there’s more storage than in some other places, though if you’re short, reaching the top cupboards can be fiddly without a chair. The thick windows cut down city center noise. Staff are generally helpful, and when I got locked out of my room once outside office hours, maintenance came fairly quickly to let me back in. You can collect or have parcels delivered at the office a minute away, which is especially useful because parcels get stolen from VH frequently. Security should be more of a priority. I once saw a random person lying on the floor outside the elevator. Strangers can get into the building: the outer key-card door doesn’t shut all the way by itself, and I’ve often seen it left partly open. Megaclose has emailed people asking them not to let others in, and a security team exists even outside office hours, but I think the door itself needs a more effective security system. You can smell cooking from other studios in your room. I had to buy an air purifier because the smell was strong. Noise is expected in student housing, but Victoria house has very thin walls and a narrow corridor. It varies with the layout and where you live. If a neighbor’s bed is back to back with yours, you hear it creaking when they turn over. If you’re near their shower or toilet, you’ll likely hear the water. I find this louder than in most student accommodation, especially the creaking. You can also hear full conversations in the corridor and doors slamming, though that’s more standard. I tried earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones at night, but still heard thuds and sometimes felt the walls vibrate. They said they would investigate the noise, but did nothing when I raised it in person and by email. The laundry is free, but there’s only one small washer and dryer per floor, so getting clothes washed can be difficult. The dryer is slow, and even after 3 hours the clothes tend to stay damp. I also noticed mould on one laundry-room wall. Staff can say and promise more than they actually do. They once knocked on my door at 10am to take photos of my room without any warning, and this has happened to other people too. Even though Megaclose is much cheaper than other studios, I don’t think it’s worth it. Personally, I’d spend a little more for better security, thicker walls and a smaller building, where I might get more care if there were a problem. I think the low prices lead to shortcomings in many other areas. With so many tenants, more mistakes happen and people get less care. No AI used, just my personal experience.