Luxury student complex in Glasgow 'unfinished and filthy'

A luxury student accommodation complex in Glasgow has been branded a "filthy and unfinished building site".

The Cathedral Street property, named Bridle Works, is billed as having a "range of top-class amenities" including a gym and rooftop terrace.

But students have complained to provider Novel Student as they felt they were "misled" over conditions.

The firm said the pandemic had affected construction and it was "disappointed" to hear the students' experiences.

Students have shared photos of the building interior with BBC Scotland, showing unfinished work

One image shows toilet doors that had still to be hung

In a letter seen by the BBC, 38 international students detail a list of complaints including:

• Rooms covered in dust from ongoing construction work

• Holes in ceilings and floors, and exposed wiring

• Unfinished communal areas

• Flooding and leaks

• And upfront rent costs paid for rooms that aren't complete

One post-graduate student - who asked to remain anonymous - told BBC Scotland she arrived in the country from abroad last month.

The 22-year-old said she found the accommodation via the University of Strathclyde website. BBC Scotland found links to the property from the university's student association site.

She paid more than £10,000 up front for a year's stay at Bridle Works.

Students complained of dust from construction covering rooms

Four days after she made the payment, however, the company informed her that her room was still under construction - a fortnight before she was due to move in mid-September.

She said: "I was told by a couple of other international students it would be difficult to secure a place in the city this year due to an ongoing housing shortage and the UN conference. However, I managed to be linked to Bridle Works.

"There was never any mention online, on the phone calls or in any correspondence with Novel Student that it was still under construction until after I paid my rent.

"I felt it was incredibly misleading as my parents and I were under the impression it was finished."

The website for the complex describes "excellent facilities"

How the luxury student accommodation in Glasgow city centre is advertised

Novel Student offered to reimburse rent costs for days missed at the property and accommodate students in hotels in Glasgow.

However, the student said she was told she could live on a lower floor until her room was ready.

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She added: "I arrived in Scotland and then moved into what was evidently a construction site.

"My room just gets coated with dirt. I can only open my window at night, and have to vacuum three times a day to manage the dust from internal construction. Not how I want to spend my time.

"What was advertised was a space that has amenities, where you can peacefully study in your room. But what we got was a place full of hazards and noise. It was the opposite of peaceful.

"I have counted 40 fire alarms since I moved in last month, sometimes in the middle of the night. And those are just the ones I am home for."

The firm said the pandemic had slowed construction

An artist's impression shows a planned rooftop terrace for the property

The 20-floor development advertises 422 rooms starting at £238 per week.

On its website, Novel Student said: "You won't have to splash on extra gym memberships, or laundry fees, making it much more affordable for student life.

"All bills are also included in your rent, so you can set your budget for the month without having to worry about any unpleasant surprises."

'Radiator fell off'

BBC Scotland understands issues have been shared in a WhatsApp group comprising 81 students.

In written statements also included in the letter of complaint, one student said: "When I moved in [my room] was extremely dirty with dirty water hand marks on my banisters and door frames.

"When I wiped down the inside of my cupboards, the cloth I used turned black. I have only gotten hot water after a week of staying here and when I first moved in, my radiator fell off the wall.

"Not to mention, my sprinkler cover fell off my ceiling the other day with no warning. My friend's room has literal holes in the flooring."

Another student wrote that none of the amenities advertised by Novel Student had been provided apart from the gym, where they said "half the machines" were not working.

They also said one out of four lifts in the building can be used by tenants as the rest are being used by construction crew.

The complaint detailed holes in the floors and ceilings

Novel Student - which runs other sites in Edinburgh, Belfast and Sheffield - said it is "committed to delivering exceptional student experiences".

In a statement, it said: "We are naturally disappointed to hear of any resident experiences that fall short of that.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly presented significant challenges to our operations given the three-month construction shutdown - a universal obstacle experienced by companies working in different capacities across the real estate industry.

"It is our goal to always ensure the on-time delivery of products to residents, and given the significant challenges we have faced, we have had to accelerate this process to the best of our ability."

It added: "We greatly appreciate the patience of our residents as we navigate these challenges and sympathize with the disruptions they have endured over the last several weeks.

"Out of respect for the privacy of the entire community, residents and staff alike, we cannot comment publicly on more specific matters concerning our residents."

The University of Strathclyde said it had no agreement with Novel and had not referred any students there.

"Our website links to a housing guide created by Strath Union which lists all of the major private student accommodation providers in Glasgow but does not make any recommendations or endorse any provider, as stated on the guide," a spokesman said.

"We are concerned to hear about these issues. The Strath Union Advice Hub and the University are working together to support students who are experiencing a range of issues. We would advise any student who is having difficulties with private accommodation to contact university support services for advice and support."