A guide to living in Barking

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Shops all rubbish young people just out messing up the place. Tenants also don’t look after the place and the residents also do not stick to the plan. Parking was not allowed every where now you have parking on pavements on yellow double lines it’s a mess

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Barking and Dagenham will sell you a dream place but as soon as you get in they don’t care about any issues. Every December they put rent up each year and other landlords rent goes up in April but these people are all about money. You can’t change ur energy provider only can go with Barking and Dagenham and their prices are expensive and they cut u off if you don’t pay.

What is the best feature of your home:

None what so ever Bathroom a food size xxxxxxxxxxx

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

I am extremely disappointed with my experience. Just two weeks after moving into my new home, I started having problems with the shower control panel and the sensor taps. The shower displayed an EE error, and the taps repeatedly stopped working or activated on their own. When I reported the issues, I was told there was no defects period applicable to me, despite having only recently moved in. I have now been left facing significant repair costs for problems that appeared almost immediately after taking ownership. What’s even more concerning is that I’ve since discovered other residents have experienced similar issues with the same taps and shower control panels. That raises serious questions about the reliability of these products. My advice to anyone considering buying a property from this developer is simple: before you exchange contracts or complete your purchase, ask for written confirmation of exactly what is covered under the warranty, how long the defects period lasts, and who is responsible for repairs after completion. Don’t rely on assumptions. Owning a home should be exciting, not a constant source of stress and unexpected bills while you’re already working hard to pay your mortgage. I will be challenging this decision because I don’t believe buyers should be left paying for faults that arise almost immediately after moving in.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Based on my experience, I cannot recommend buying unless you fully understand your warranty rights. If customer care and after-sales support matter to you, you may be better off choosing a developer with a stronger reputation for standing behind their homes.

What is the best feature of your home:

Based on my experience, I cannot recommend buying unless you fully understand your warranty rights. If customer care and after-sales support matter to you, you may be better off choosing a developer with a stronger reputation for standing behind their homes.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Living at Abbeville Apartments has been a positive experience overall. The development is modern, well maintained and has useful amenities including a gym, resident lounge and communal spaces, which help create a friendly community feel. The location is very convenient, with Barking Station only a short walk away, making it easy to get into Central London or Canary Wharf. There are plenty of local shops, supermarkets, cafés and restaurants nearby, and having Asda next door is especially useful for day-to-day shopping. The area is lively and multicultural, with good access to parks and open spaces nearby. Transport links are one of the strongest points, although trains and buses can become crowded during rush hour. Like many busy London areas, there can occasionally be traffic noise on the main roads and parking spaces are sometimes limited. Bin collections are generally reliable and the building management is responsive, though the surrounding high street can feel busy at weekends. Overall, it’s a convenient place to live with strong transport connections and good local amenities.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The building management team has generally responded promptly and professionally to any issues raised. Mohammed, Samson and Hassan have all been particularly helpful, approachable and responsive when dealing with maintenance requests or resident concerns. Communication is usually clear throughout the process, and most issues are resolved within a reasonable timeframe.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

One thing I wish I had known before moving into Abbeville Apartments is how busy the surrounding area can feel during peak commuting times, especially around Barking Station and the nearby high street. The transport links are excellent and very convenient, but trains and buses can get crowded during rush hour. I would also recommend checking parking arrangements early if you own a car, as spaces can be limited for both residents and visitors. On the positive side, the sense of community within the building is better than expected, and the resident facilities such as the gym and lounge are genuinely useful. The on-site staff, including Mohammed, Samson and Hassan, are approachable and helpful, which makes settling in and dealing with any issues much easier.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Nothing in barking the market is diverse but no real good bars, restaurants maybe in 10 years it will good but I’ve ended travelling to Stratford or Hackney to have a good day or evening

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Never any contact once got told I could go into a payment plan but my rent was fully paid & then when I got into a payment they refused to give me a new lease … why even suggest ?

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

The bills, £150 a month is crazy enough but sometime went up to £250 for a one person bedroom that’s ridiculous. 2k can you get you a very nice apartment in a much better location. Remember they are owned by a company outside of the UK that want to use young professionals as a way to exploit them to get there good earned money. Maintaining the apartments are non existent I twice made a maintenance issue & got an email to say it was fixed no one came to fix it

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

There are plenty of local shops and supermarkets nearby, including ASDA, which is only a short walk away. Transport links are excellent, with frequent buses and easy access to major routes, making commuting simple. The neighbourhood is generally calm, with good parking availability and reliable bin collections. I rarely experienced any anti‑social behaviour or noise disturbances, which made the area feel safe and comfortable. After moving away, I realised just how convenient this location was, and I am genuinely considering returning.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The building management team were consistently responsive and supportive whenever I raised an issue. Whether it was a small request or something that needed urgent attention, Mohammed and Hassan always handled it promptly and professionally. They communicated updates clearly and followed through until the issue was resolved. Their level of service was exceptional and one of the main reasons I enjoyed living in the development for 3 years.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I had known just how well‑managed and comfortable the development was before moving in. After living here for 3 years and then relocating to a different place, the difference became very clear. The convenience of the location, the excellent management team, and the overall quality of the building are things I truly appreciate in hindsight. Knowing this earlier would have made the decision to move in even easier—and it’s why I am now considering returning.