A guide to living in Borough of Newham

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

Good: Location - great connectivity viaStratford station, convenient and good accessibility to food and groceries (M&S, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Lidl, Iceland, Poundland, Tariq Halal Meats all within walking distance) Parking - onsite parking only for blue badge holders, for the rest of us we have to park in Westfield or Stratford International. Can't comment on this as I don't own a car. Trash / Recycling - there is a chute for trash and recycling, but they frequently break down, during which residents are required to bring the items to the refuse room ourselves which can be inconvenient / inaccessible depending on the building you are in. Traffic noise depends on which building you are located in. Some units face the train station, some units are much quieter.

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

For minor issues e.g. blocked drainage in the unit they are pretty responsive and efficient. However for bigger and more important issues, they are pretty slow with responses and updates. It takes a few other residents to complain or physically head to the reception before they start sending out comms (repeatedly, it is almost spiteful) to the rest of us.

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

First impression is great, but living here will require some patience, be it for other neighbours or the management.

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

Early in the process still but Yasmin has been nothing but helpful. Via email, and especially via phone. Had us sorted in record time and nothing was too much trouble. Can’t go wrong when the onboarding is smooth and trouble free.

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

They have responded usually within the hour and with all the information I asked for

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

Nothing comes to mind, but be careful about the listings on the website, we found sometimes the wrong floor plan was attached - easily solved by asking for the correct ones.

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

It's a well positioned locality, right in front of the Canning Town station, and nearby Lidl, Morrisons, Starbucks, McDonald's and many other prominent shops.

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

Our two lovely Resident Services Associates, Paul and Angela are always at hand to help us whenever we need them, whether it be fixes within the house or general enquiries. They even personally installed pigeon netting as we had issues with pigeons in our balcony and promptly ordered the installation of spikes in key areas.

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

The ease of living here would make you feel like you wouldn't wanna live any place else.

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

The area is very convenient with a good range of local shops and essentials nearby, including Lidl, Morrisons, and a post office within easy reach. There are also some decent restaurants and cafés in the surrounding area, and it’s easy to find open spaces (docklands) a short distance away for a walk or fresh air.

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

Building management has been very responsive and efficient in dealing with any issues we’ve raised. Everything from appliance-related problems to general wear and tear has been addressed promptly. Paul and Angela in particular have been great at following up quickly and ensuring concerns are properly resolved.

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

One thing to be aware of is that the on-site gym is slightly under-equipped, although it’s not a major issue since there’s a The Gym Group right next door. Also, access to the upper floors is strictly controlled via key fob. It’s great from a security point of view, but it can sometimes be a bit of a hassle when letting delivery drivers or guests in.

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

We have just moved in and there hasn't been anything bad to note. Generally pleasant and vibrant. A stones throw away from the mall and station.

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

I've had no issues so far and all the initial reading have been provided.

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

The actual street entrance to the building that I am living in is a bit busy on a main street.