'I was promised 24-hour security but strangers keep entering my building'

A man says he feels unsafe as he claims strangers "keep entering his apartment building".

The resident, who does not wish to be named, lives in the Marybone Student Accommodation in Liverpool city centre. He claims non-residents have been entering his building with ease in recent months. He has criticised Sanctuary Students, who are responsible for the accommodation, as it claims 24-hour security is on hand in the building.

A spokesperson for Sanctuary said they were taking these concerns very seriously and added the company had been reviewing security measures in the building. The accommodation is privately run and contains students from Liverpool's universities.

The resident, who is a final year student at Liverpool Hope University, said he had decided to move to Marybone due to its promise of 24-hour security at the site, which is located close to many university buildings. He told the ECHO: “I was living in a house by Smithdown Road previously and I was living there for £105 a week.

“Obviously when you're living in a house, it’s a bit cheaper, but I was thinking I kind of want to be in a safe environment, so I'll pay £15 a month extra, to get that security. I just thought, if you pay extra, you get more for your money, but that's not the case here.”

He now pays £121 a week for his accommodation. He said the problems at Marybone began at the turn of the year.

He said: “In the January time, a load of kids ran into our accommodation and started smoking weed in the communal areas. They were smoking there, and we were there for about four or five hours. Security didn't do anything. There were literally cameras in all of the rooms. Not one person from security came back.

“I was just assuming, 'oh it's only kids so they probably wouldn't take them that seriously'. But then the homeless people started laying on the stairways, drinking on the stairways.

“I tried to call security about this. I said, 'let's raise security'. But one of the staff said, ‘I don't get paid enough for this job, why should I be doing it?’”

He added that he had seen needles left on the floor, and warned that if someone doesn’t properly close their door to their flat, non-residents could “walk straight in and steal all your stuff”.

He is also concerned about others moving to this building due to promises of 24 hour security. This is advertised on Sanctuary Students’ website, with Marybone Village One, Two and Three all listing 24 hour security as a benefit of living there.

He said: “I know a lot of students are gonna come here next year and be like, oh I'm so safe in this accommodation, because they advertise 24/7 security, and it is not 24/7 security.”

When contacted about these claims, a spokesperson for Sanctuary Students said: “We are taking the concerns expressed by this resident very seriously and have been reviewing security measures in the building. We have also reminded residents to ensure they do not allow any unauthorised access to the accommodation and to check that the door is closed securely and locked behind them when entering or leaving.”

Marybone is featured on Liverpool John Moore's website on a list of approved accommodation. A spokesperson for LJMU said they were aware of this complaint, adding: "The safety of our students is of the utmost priority to us and we are working with Sanctuary Students to ensure security is of the highest possible standard.”

A Liverpool Hope University spokesperson said: "The University's Student Life team offers help and advice to any student who encounters issues with external accommodation providers and support is also available from Liverpool Hope Students' Union. We have been in contact with the student living at Marybone student accommodation and have directed them to the relevant support services who can help them resolve this issue."

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