864 George Street

The house isn't ideal for six people cooking individually since the kitchen is way too small and there's hardly any food storage—definitely need to bring your own shelving for personal food stashes. The thin walls also mean a lack of privacy, and the bathrooms aren't the greatest. On the plus side, having enough space for a dining room table and a decent amount of storage is a bonus. The landlord is great, always helpful and understanding during flat drama throughout the year.

Living in this flat has been a mixed experience. It's by far the coldest place I've ever lived, with no heating provided, leading to serious mold issues, including persistent black mold. While the price is great, the cold makes it unbearable during Dunedin winters, requiring multiple layers and good blankets. We had an average property manager initially, but the new one seems more competent.

The house has a nice neutral color scheme and good carpet, but the kitchen is quite small and the downstairs bathroom isn't the greatest. The rooms hold heat well thanks to good insulation. The landlord is awesome—easy to deal with and really responsive, fixing things straight away. Overall, the best things about the flat are the location, price, and decor, while the worst is definitely the downstairs bathroom.

The flat is tidy and renovated, holding heat well, but the layout is quite different; walking in, you find yourself immediately in the lounge, kitchen, and dining area, which can make it noisy since every room connects to this space. I can hear every conversation from my bedroom, which is a downside. The landlord lives out of town and can be slow to respond, but we rarely need to contact him, although he has been disorganized at times. On the plus side, the flat has newish carpet and freshly painted walls.

The house has no heating, which was a real struggle; I had to wrap up in three layers and often sat in bed just to stay warm. The landlord is mostly absent, only coming around to mow the lawns, but they are quick to respond if something is broken. The best thing about the place is its location, as it's close to the university, but the cold is definitely the worst part.

Our flat is pretty clean and tidy, and it stays reasonably warm in winter with the heat pump on. It's a great location, just a 15-minute walk to the middle of town and about 10 minutes to the university/polytech. I've never had any issues with the landlord, who is friendly and easy to talk to, though I’ve only met him once since he’s based in Christchurch. The only downside is that it's usually warmer outside, but that's standard for flatting.

The house is big with lots of room, and the rooms are a great size, but it's unbelievably cold and very hard to heat. The landlord will eventually fix any problems, but be prepared to wait up to a month.