Micampus Porto Asprela

I only stayed at “Milestone” for a short time, but it was one of my best experiences living in Porto. The studio was cozy and modern. The kitchen was small, though fine for one person, and I loved the place 🥰 Getting around was easy, with the subway just two minutes away. The yellow line reaches downtown in about 15 minutes, without traffic, and there are nice parks nearby. The building has two terraces, a gym, party room, and laundry, which made the stay comfortable. Vanessa and Marina were always there to help with questions. I’d definitely recommend this residence.

I lived at Micampus Asprela for nine months, and the experience kept getting worse. Silverfish were my biggest problem. They showed up in my room so often it felt like I lived with them, which is unacceptable for the rent. I cleaned every day and tried insecticide, salt, and lavender oil, but none of it helped. I reported it repeatedly, with little response. Once staff said pest control had been done, though nobody had entered my room, and I saw another silverfish that same day. Rather than help, they suggested my room might be dirty, despite my daily cleaning and use of my own vacuum because theirs didn’t work. I was even told silverfish are “friendly” and I should get used to them. Other problems piled up too. The plumbing smelled, with no fix offered. The seventh-floor terrace door stayed broken for over four months, so it couldn’t be used. Common areas weren’t cleaned regularly, the washing machines and treadmill were nearly always broken, and the fire alarm went off every two weeks for no reason. One night it rang continuously for two hours and nobody came to fix it. Marco at reception was the one bright spot. He did exceptional work in a bad environment and always tried to help residents. Still, the service and living conditions were far below what I expected for the price. I did get my deposit back, at least, though many others didn’t. Very frustrating and annoying overall. I wouldn’t stay here.

The positive Google reviews are about MILESTONE, which ran this building until the end of 2023. MICAMPUS operates it now, and things are worse. Management seems uninterested in residents and makes it difficult to get problems sorted. Prices keep rising while services are being cut back. I’m still here only because it’s the best room I’ve found in the area. If you’re thinking about moving in, think twice. If you’re visiting, ask the residents what they think.

The building’s contract is set up to bypass Portuguese residential laws, which has made it nearly impossible to get help from Porto’s housing department when issues come up. I lived here for two years, and nothing was ever resolved. Daily conditions are poor: common areas are neglected and often dirty, the two terraces are off-limits, and the gym has barely any basic equipment. Study rooms are in bad shape and rarely cleaned. Washers and dryers often break, but residents are still charged the same, and complaints are ignored or brushed aside. Silverfish remain an ongoing problem, with the administration failing to call exterminators regularly. The fire alarm has also been faulty for over three weeks. It goes off at random and stays on until someone turns it off manually, disrupting nights and early mornings. Residents don’t control the heating or air conditioning either. In both cold and warm seasons, it’s common to go weeks without either service because issues aren’t fixed promptly. A building one block away, run by the same company, is much better equipped and maintained. They have several Dyson vacuums; here, we’ve had one broken, cheap-brand vacuum for over a year despite repeated requests for a replacement. These are only some of the ongoing issues. If you’re considering living here, please don’t. You deserve better.