A guide to living in Borough of Ealing

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

Hanwell is an excellent area with a real sense of community, great transport links, amazing local businesses and lots of green spaces. There is crime and there have been incidents, including anti social behaviour, but overall I feel safe here. The third party who manage parking at Hanwell Square are very strict with fines etc, which I don't agree with. There is free parking available within the nearby streets, which is convenient. It would be good to have more restaurants where you can have a sit down meal (Chinese, curry house, tapas, pizza etc). However, there are some excellent takeaways and fantastic coffee houses and lovely pubs.

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

I can't think of anything I wish I had known before I moved in. I employed a third party snagging company to inspect my apartment and understood the risks of buying off plan. I feel that I was adequately briefed by the sales team and my solicitor and I did the relevant research and due diligence. I didn't foresee any of the issues with my apartment that would need to be dealt with by the after sales team, but I dealt with issues as and when they arose.

What is the best feature of your home:

Design, aesthetic, configuration, amount of natural daylight and space.

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

The area is overall quite fair, with lots of green spaces around (nature reserve, Elthorne Park, even Hanwell Cemetery itself). The centre of Hanwell, which is a couple of minutes on foot from the development, has a couple of nice coffee shops, and there are several pubs nearby including for good food (such as the W7 Green and the Fox). For transportation, Hanwell station is 8 minutes on foot and on the Elizabeth line, and closer on Hanwell boulevard, you can get several buses, including the SL8 (fast bus) that goes to Ealing Broadway and White City. There are also local supermarkets (Tesco's in Hanwell Square itself, Londis, Sainsbury's and Lidl) and a good bakery and chippy (the Little Wonder and the Golden Chip). The community in general tends to be on the friendly side, with the Hanwell residents in general being able to rally (see below). On the other hand, Hanwell station unfortunately is always bypassed as soon as there is an issue on the Elizabeth line, so you always need to keep an eye on that and be ready to run back and get a bus to Ealing Broadway instead when you discover your 6am train is actually not running. The area also tends to be noisy at times due to the pubs, with a bit of antisocial behaviour at times, and has also recently been targetted for the opening of a slot machine casino (which the residents fortunately managed to stop the Ealing Council from accepting -- see my comment above on the matter of community).

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

This has more to do with my being a first time buyer, rather than with Hanwell Square itself. I wish I had known more at the time about what to look for during my visit a couple of weeks before completing: I did my own snagging myself, and even though I had made a list, and there were no actual dects in hindsight, there were a few cosmetic things I should have added, because once I got the keys, 'cosmetic issues' weren't taken in charge anymore. That said, I'm not sure if it's specific to this development or a widespread practice, because this is my one and only experience of buying my own property.

What is the best feature of your home:

My home is a studio flat, and for such a type of flat, I find it well designed and functional in terms of the kitchen's placement, how the space is divided (partition between the main area and the bedroom area), and how accessible its 'technical' areas are (heating, boiler, router and meters). It's small, but I find it comfortable to live in.

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

​Greenford is a fantastic area to live in, with a great range of local amenities. The proximity to a Lidl and M&S makes grocery shopping incredibly convenient, while the scenic canal provides a beautiful backdrop for walks and relaxation. It's a very dog-friendly area, and the community has a welcoming feel. The common spaces are well-maintained, clean, and provide a relaxing environment. Transport links are also reliable, making it easy to get around. So far, I've had no issues with parking, bin collections, or anti-social behaviour.

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

The building management is quick and helpful. When I lost my access card, a colleague Violeta from management offered me a temporary solution using a mobile app, which was very convenient. The response to any issue has always been swift and effective.

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

Free coffee in the working space everyday and free fruit in the reception every week

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

There is always something happening within GQ and so many community clubs that neighbours do indeed become friends. My child feels safe and loves all the events and amenities and the team are always happy to hear and implement new ideas to help foster an even better sense on community living.

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

Any issues that need addressing are quickly handled by the building manager Peter

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

Nothing. I have enjoyed finding out and learning about the area as I’ve been here

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

This year has been exciting with a lot of new shops and restaurants mostly coffee shops opening up. I am looking forward to the new bar opening up. Parking is always full as the place is quite full

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

They are always helpful when a matter is raised. Some issues have taken longer but once managers know they look to resolve it.

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

I was hoping they had more independent working rooms for people who work from home and want an independent cubicle.