CityBlock, The Village @ The Viaduct Reviews

Do not recommend, not worth expense for budget living arrangements

Nice accommodation, excellent location, and friendly staff. Would definitely recommend!

Living at city block was stressful, isolating and challenging. You feel watched by the management, Andrew in particular. Management is not there to help, instead probably smoking around the corner when you need them. They are condescending and uncaring. There are far too few bins, as such they are always over-flowing and attract vermin. Instead of addressing this, the management will bombard students with emails, blaming them for the issue. The internet is slow and problematic. The laundry is expensive and unreliable (Circuit laundry: paid by app yet the app consistently had issues). All in all - STAY AWAY. This is my fourth year at Durham, and although in my four years I have signed contracts with many difficult managements, this one is the only one I have created an account and written a review for.

CITY BLOCK- Respond to the letter from the student union and local MP regarding your unethical treatment of students. Join other PBSA's who have acted ethically and allowed students to terminate their contracts early!

I’m really not sure how City block has got 4 star reviews on google. Something makes me think negative reviews are being deleted or positive reviews have incentives for students because I can’t see how anyone would give this accommodation a good review I just hope future students see reviews like this before it’s too late and they sign a tenancy. There is no wellbeing/ mental health support as claimed constantly by city block on social media. Companies like this are amongst those profiting in the covid 19 pandemic by exploiting students, not reducing rents even though students were told to leave and have no access to the accommodation now because of the lockdown. I have never written a negative online review before but I have been prompted to do so because I think it’s genuinely despicable management

Company filings admit be being able to weather the pandemic storm, and govt support does exist. So their charging of full rents when most of their property lies empty reveals they are indeed a profiteering racket.

City Block need to stop claiming they have student welfare at heart. Their treatment of students and communication during the pandemic has been outrageous- not willing to be more flexible in the payment dates or offer any form of support. Private landlords are receiving support from the government- so they are essentially profiting off of the pandemic while charging students full rent for empty rooms we cannot access. Disgrace of a company, if you want a decent student experience LOOK ELSEWHERE.

This submission has prompted me to make a story, but I do not feel as though what i am about to write best represents the disdain i feel towards this company. The accomodation is okay, location okay, cleaning lacklustre, and the student ‘experience’ non-existant. This is bad enough, but the management of the covid situation has left me outraged. After the lockdown, we were immediately told that all contracts must be upheld, and that we should refer to our contracts. This is hardly reflective of a company that claims to care for the wellbeing of its residents. Other private halls have already cancelled third term payments, but this disgrace of an organisation simply emails to remind us that the government offers relief and that student finance is still due. Thats right. Cityblock somehow believe that because we are receiving support during the greatest economic disaster of our lifetime that this should immediately be funnelled IN FULL to an empty accommodation building.

Really not worth the price you pay. There is really loud static sound from the smoke detector in each flat room which apparently can't be fixed,

Great and friendly staff, that are always there to help, and treat you more like a friend than a resident. The location could not be more central, with around a 5 minute walk from the city centre, 2 minute walk from bus and train stations. It is also wonderfully situated next to Flass Vale Nature Reserve so you don't feel like you are in the middle of the city. Couldn't pick a better place to be. Lived here for two years and love it.

Horrible maintenance. Comes to bother you multiple times a month and the management team is really rude. All things considered, its definitely not worth the price.

Utter s***. The guy looking after the accommodation should be sacked - my room was given to me full of sick from the previous occupant. My parents had to clean it up. I have complained to the relevant authorities