Rebecca Brawn

Aug 20, 2021

I lived in IQ in both my 2nd and 3rd…

I lived in IQ in both my 2nd and 3rd year at university. I had a positive experience living there in my 2nd year so after alternative plans for accommodation fell through I was relived that there was still space for me to live in IQ. Unfortunately, during my final year my IQ experience was no longer as positive. There was a constant breech of contract with staff walking in unannounced. Sometimes staff have come it to do inspections then have claimed there are bin bags everywhere when the kitchen is spotless and threaten to charge us for cleaners. This was during the last 2 weeks of uni, since some of us were 3rd years and have lectures online this was highly unacceptable. During the summer, it was almost like the staff were treating us like we no longer live here. Maintenence would walk in my room unannounced while I was getting changed. And the staff would do tours with prospective students without out consent. Cleaners have been in the flat all the time without our consent, giving us dirty looks then gosping about us really loudly calling us "rude and obnoxious teenagers." This is highly unprofessional considering the residents of this flat are adults in our 20s and are paying thousands of pounds rent. One of the most concerning incidents was during the time staff were constantly unlocking my door and walking in, I went out only to come back to find some of my belonging missing. These items were part of my Nintendo Switch and some of my medication. I have Tourette's syndrome and I take diazapam to calm down violent tic attacks that can cause me to hurt myself. But this was stolen and the staff will not give it back. As a result, I had a violent tic attack in the night only for someone to make a noise complaint about me and security to shout at me for the attack making it worse. I have multiple injuries from this including a damaged wrist and bruises on my knees. I have had to wear pads on my knees because the attacks make me fall. I told IQ staff that I can hurt myself if I don't have my medication and not once did they show any bit of concern or check on my welfare. I am also feeling really anxious all of the time because of having strangers constantly walking in the flat. Once I went away for the week only to find that maintenence had been in my room (with no notice again) and taken loads of my things off my desk and put it all over the floor. Another issue I've had in IQ was being given a new flatmate with hardly any warning in January. This flatmate was an unknown male so we felt very uncomfortable considering 3 of the residents in the flat are females with mental health issues. While I understand that sometimes people might have to move in, the lack of notice was really distressing for the residents in the flat who already lived there. This flatmate also caused a lot of issues by shouting all night long and also mimicking my Tourette's and laughing. IQ just told us to make complaints to security if this was to happen but security would never do anything. He would also allow his friends to walk in during the lockdown which made me really anxious because I have a bad history with my health and I am very worried about how my body would react if I was to catch covid. His friends would also: walk into my room to cough on me, walk in my room to steal my toothbrush and write notes and stick them on my door. Once, we were left in out flat overnight with no access to water, despite it stating in our contract that IQ are required to give us access to clean water. This is a violation of a basic human right and there was no apology or form of compensation. They claimed there was water at reception, however they didn't have any until the water was back on again the next day and they didn't even have enough for everyone. Once, I received a letter and did not receive it for 4 weeks. This was a letter for an important appointment that I missed due to the negligence of IQ. I emailed to complain and never got a reply. It got to the stage where I did not feel like I can live here anymore so I am moving out earlier than I anticipated I would due to the stress. Do not assume your belongings will be safe in IQ. I am disappointed that I have had to write this review, especially since my first year in IQ was so positive. I am still waiting for IQ to address the issue regarding the trespassing of staff in student flats, the stolen medication and switch Dock.