A guide to living in North West London

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

Do not move here under any circumstances. This development is sold on a fantasy, not the reality. The area is dead, depressing and poorly served, with almost nothing open except a small Co-op. Reaching the shopping centre or Tesco means walking through underpasses and surrounding areas that feel unsafe and neglected. There is ongoing anti-social behaviour in the park, yet security seem completely ineffective. Transport is awful: trains to Brent Cross West are constantly cancelled, making commuting miserable, and the only fallback is a 20-minute walk to the Northern line through a rough and unwelcoming estate. The most offensive part is how aggressively this place is marketed to people who do not know London, as if this is “central London” and somehow acceptable. It is not. On top of that, residents have been strung along with empty promises about amenities that still have not opened. This place is misleading, overpriced and deeply disappointing. After speaking to multiple people, leasing is heavily to blame. *Name Removed* and *Name Removed* will say anything to close a deal.

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

Building management will listen and acknowledge concerns, but the main problem is that very little meaningful action follows. Issues are noted without being properly resolved, whether that is problems with the gym temperature, the parcel room chaos, poor internet in the work-from-home space, or the way shared amenities are managed. The overall pattern is one of polite but ineffective management, where residents raise the same complaints repeatedly without seeing real improvement.

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

I wish I had known how much of the development is style over substance. It looks impressive when you first view it, but the reality is cheap finishes, poor management, weak transport links, underwhelming local amenities and shared spaces that come with restrictions and extra charges. I also wish I had known how heavily the place is marketed in a way that makes the area and lifestyle sound far better than they really are. Also, the utility bills are incredibly high! You can not get out of them and there is a standing charge of £40 per month for heating. This is before you've even used anything.

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

Beaufort Park is a lovely area in Colindale, with a lot of different shops and restaurants within walking distance. The area is quiet and modern, and there are nice green spaces too. At the same time, it is only a short walk to the tube station for the northern line, allowing for good connection to central London and other areas. Would 100% recommend living in this area

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

They have always responded quickly and professionally. They kindly take into consideration any issue that we raise and work hard to fix it quickly and efficiently. Shoutout to Matt and Cameron for their great work again!

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

That renting doesn't have to be stressful! Living here is honestly the best!

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

Wembley Park is a clean and safe area to live in as long as you remain on the main streets. There are plenty of restaurants and grocery stores around. Dandi Wembley is about 16 minutes walk from the Metropolitan/Jubilee line, which is not too close but manageable.

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

Not very helpful. I have had several occasions when the management team would simply ignore my WhatsApp or Dandi App messages (their preferred platform for communication with residents), when I raised issues which they were the one at fault.

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

The property seemed affordable compared to other flats, however considering that the utility bills were double than I imagined, in the end the overall price was the same as other properties.

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

The local area has very limited shops — only a small corner shop nearby, otherwise a 15+ min walk to small supermarkets. There is one bus stop in front of the building, but buses are often crowded and sometimes skip the stop during peak hours. Roadworks over the past two years have affected bus and walking routes, with overground stations a 15–20 min walk and the underground about 30 min. The overground often experiences delays. Parking is difficult, though there is a car park across the street. Traffic noise is low, but the train track right across the building causes vibrations and noise despite good insulation. On the positive side, there’s a nice park 10 min away and Westfield is about a 30 min walk.

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

Management at ILA (iLiveAround) has mostly ignored emails and requests, rarely providing updates or support when problems arise

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

I wish I had known how unresponsive the building management (ILA/iLiveAround) can be. Emails and requests are often ignored, and during past issues like power outages or heating problems, residents had to manage much of the inconvenience themselves. Also, the area has limited shops nearby, and transport can be crowded or delayed. It’s worth knowing that while the flats and insulation are good, day-to-day support and communication from management can be very frustrating.

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

The shops nearby are very good, you have a range of different ones to chose from. The tube connection to central London is also very convenient.

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

Yes, Ken has always been very responsive and helpful.

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

The move went very smoothly, very convenient to have a gym, reception and mantainance in one place. It removes quite a lot of hustle