Deeply Disappointed by IWG/HQ Woodside Place's Mistreatment and Disrespect
On a day-to-day basis, the staff at IWG were usually friendly and greeted me warmly, which made the office feel welcoming.
Unfortunately, over the two years I rented there and an additional six months with a virtual office, the experience was overshadowed by multiple serious issues.
The most significant problem was the parking space. I had requested and been assured of a space, yet much later I was told that it had never been entered into their system by the staff and that no spaces were available. Given the city-centre location and limited alternatives, this left me no choice but to relocate offices. Because IWG refused to release me from my contract early, I ended up paying rent for both their office and the new one I was forced to secure.
A second major issue involved a break-in during which my laptop was stolen. I was initially told the police had secured it and that I should collect it from them. After nearly a year of chasing, a police legal representative confirmed there was no record of the laptop. When I raised this with the centre, I was told "personal items were the tenant’s responsibility" and that I would need to "prove the laptop had been in the office". During this process, I was also informed that the previous cleaning team had been replaced due to “security concerns,” which reinforced my concerns about how the situation was handled. Notably, another review of this same Woodside Place branch has also reported a theft, so my case does not appear to be a one-off.
The introductory rent I was offered initially seemed reasonable, but it was increased by more than 30% in less than two years, which felt disproportionate, given that no additional space or service was received and given the various issues.
Operational issues were another ongoing problem. For instance, the radiator overheated during the summer, reaching temperatures well above 30°C, and later failed completely in winter. Reception provided a temporary portable radiator, which helped, but the room remained cold for long periods, and I often had to work in a jacket until the portable radiator would heat up the room enough. Additionally, cleaning was frequently inadequate, with offices left uncleaned and doors sometimes left unlocked. Other problems included mouldy carpets (from the broken radiator), broken blinds, and slow responses to repairs, many of which took months to resolve and were blamed on the fact that "repair staff are external contractors who are not available on a daily basis".
To improve, IWG/HQ Woodside Place could focus on genuine customer service rather than a rigid “computer says no” approach when handling serious matters. Statements such as “all computer hardware is the responsibility of the tenant” after a reported break-in or potential theft by cleaning staff feel like a huge slap in the face and are extremely disrespectful. A more accountable, empathetic approach would go a long way toward restoring trust and preventing future tenants from experiencing the same frustrations.
Overall, the combination of parking errors, unresolved theft issues, sudden rent increases, and operational failures made the experience extremely frustrating. I cannot recommend IWG based on my experience.
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