Students living in a notable city centre apartment block claim they have been living in mouldy and vermin-infested flats for months.
The students, who live in the Grand Central accommodation near Liverpool Lime Street, have raised concerns about a number of significant issues. The conditions in the building were brought to the ECHO's attention by a 19-year-old student living in the flats.
Speaking on the basis of anonymity, he told the ECHO: "Some of the issues we are facing have included broken lifts, broken washing machines and dryers, mould and animal infestations. There has always been issues since I moved in last September.
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"It has got to the point where students have black mould in their showers and have seen rats in their kitchens. The lift broke repeatedly in the first semester and hasn't worked since the new year. It was meant to be fixed on February 7, but we're still waiting."
The ECHO has seen photographic evidence of the mould and the rodent infestation. And an email seen by the ECHO from a Unite Students representative said "there is a delay with the lift part being sent" to a "third party" who is fixing it. The representative added: "I would like to again apologise on behalf of Unite Students."
The student in the accommodation, who is from Liverpool and studies finance, said the lack of a lift is particularly problematic for people with a disability. He said a friend has a heart condition which makes the stairs of the multi-storey building challenging.
The student added when students have raised concerns they have been met with "frustrating and temporary" solutions. The ECHO understands Unite Students has offered "where possible" to move students to other accommodation.
The Unite Students website shows room prices range from £108 to £156 a week. The buildings, which hold 1,200 students, boasts "our common room has foosball, ping pong, pool and even a PS4".
But the ECHO source said the ongoing disruptions have dampened the experiences of the students in their first year at university. He said: "It's a pain living here when we're freshers. It makes going to lectures or just to the shops difficult, and I wonder what effect the mould will have on our health."
A Unite Students spokesperson said: "We are committed to doing what’s right and student welfare is our utmost priority. Our all-inclusive rents include all utility bills, but students are responsible for cleaning their own bathrooms and kitchens.
"All students are encouraged to report maintenance issues via our app so repairs can be arranged. We have been made aware of a rodent sighting in a kitchen and called in pest control to resolve this.
"One of the lifts in the property was previously awaiting repair due to a national shortage of parts. It has now been fixed by our contractor and we apologise for the inconvenience this caused."
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