A guide to living in Borough of Hackney

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

Good: - Cool local bars and ample food places - Several parks nearby - A Lime bike ride away from Central and the City - I’ve lived in a few parts of London and this was the most enjoyable and convenient. Bad; - Local Tesco closes randomly for periods of time - Overground is good but can shut on weekends so check ahead. One time it closed unannounced leaving a lot of people stranded. - Can be noisy. We did have to call the police once about a party in one of the rented commercial parts of the building that just seemed to get louder as the early morning hours hit. Also you get the random screaming in the street but unfortunately that’s a theme for most town centres nowadays. We also did get a random mini anti-Israel protest on a megaphone at 8:30pm on a Tuesday night singing bella ciao (badly) … that was annoying. I think people forget that others do actually live in the buildings around this area. - Parking cost an extra £125 a month on top of rent which felt extortionate considering people would often leave dog poo in the car park and we did get locked in on Christmas Eve night as we tried to leave for Christmas with half the Christmas Day dinner in our car! 3 hours later, after Grainger’s out of hours line lied (they hadn’t raised a ticket) and clocked off mid-call at 5pm (so much for an out of hours line) the guy had thankfully given me the number for the gate maintenance company so one of their engineers walked me through manually opening the gate.

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

HAHA. Good joke. “Building management responded”. Yes, no, they don’t respond.

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

I honestly enjoyed the lifestyle there in that part of town and our flat but everything else was stressful and the rent and parking was extortionate.

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

• Mix of 1, 2 & 3 bedroom flats, often restored with original wooden flooring, exposed brick or beams, integrated kitchens with induction stoves, dishwashers, and washer/dryers.

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

The building management has often been slow to respond, with many issues like repairs or security concerns left unresolved for week the most

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

I wish I had known how poor the building’s security actually was—front gates and communal doors often don’t lock properly,

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

There’s not much of option for supermarkets within 1 mile of distance. Even though we have Tesco express and ASDA quick shopping centres but these are expensive than regular supermarkets.

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

Their response is poor and inconsistent. Lift was left broken for weeks and no action taken until things got escalated and people decided not to pay rent till the elevator is fixed.

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

The garage entrance makes a lot of noise every time someone opens the gate. My bedroom at the 2nd floor exactly above the garage and also opposite to the gates entrance of spinner house (another building). This gives a lot disturbance while sleeping in the night.

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

Living in E9 , Hackney, offers a fantastic blend of city energy and neighbourhood charm. The area boasts a diverse range of local shops, from well known high street chains to independent boutiques, offering plenty of choice for everyday essentials and unique finds. The dining and nightlife scene is impressive, with a wide selection of pubs, restaurants, and bars catering to every taste and budget, all within walking distance. Green spaces are another highlight, there are both large parks and smaller, tucked-away spots where you can find either a peaceful escape or a lively community atmosphere. It really strikes a nice balance. Transport links are excellent, with easy access to central London and beyond. Multiple bus and train routes make commuting straightforward. The street itself is quiet and has a neighbourly feel. Bin collections are consistent and reliable, and the area is generally clean and well-kept. It feels like a safe place to live, with very little antisocial behaviour, though you may occasionally see some homeless individuals, never any trouble, just part of life in a city. Overall, it’s a brilliant place to call home.

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

They’re generally responsive and handle issues within a reasonable timeframe. Communication is clear and professional, and it’s reassuring to know that problems are taken seriously and not left to drag on.

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

One thing I wish I’d known before moving in is just how peaceful and neighbourly the building actually is, it’s something that doesn’t always come across during a viewing. Despite being so close to the lively parts of Hackney, there’s a real sense of calm here, especially in the evenings. I’d also mention how well the local green spaces complement daily life; having multiple parks within walking distance really makes a difference for relaxing or getting some fresh air. For new neighbours, I’d suggest getting to know the area on foot, there are hidden gems in terms of cafés, local shops, and quieter corners of the parks that you might not spot straight away. It’s a great mix of community and convenience, with a lot more character than first meets the eye.

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

There is so much potential with this neighbourhood. beautiful greenery and proximity to Piccadilly line. Positives ends there. - the service charge in this developments are sky rocketing year over year and there are back log deficits up to 2 years with notable amounts being requested from leaseholders. - the crime rate in the neighbourhood is getting worse and worse (phone snatching multiple cases / day and even a Murder in May). BH reaction was to stop security funding for phase 1 of its buildings and pass it to leaseholders. - to have heating / hot water you still need to manually monitor and top up your meter (in 2025!). to make it worse, the supplier is forced and apart from higher than average rates, charges every unit over £100 / year just for the manual top up service! I know probably BH will write the generic comment below. but I please ask for this review to be escalated to the management. over the past Months, there has been several emails sent by leaseholders and residents to BH and managing company on the issues and even a meeting held to hear the concerns but so far absolutely no action resulting in actual improvement of costs or other complaints mentioned above has been taken.

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

Extreme poor management company without any care for the funds / abnormal and way above average increase to service charge amount (now reaching almost £6k in 2025) for a 2 bed without parking, bike storage, Pool, Gym, meeting room or any other facility. let alone for units with such amenities... Owner are forced to use single heating supplier with manual top up metering system

What is the best feature of your home:

Location and natural surroundings / better than average build quality of the buildings.