A guide to living in Borough of Barnet

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

Watermint is a wonderful place to live, offering a nice balance of connectivity and comfort. With a Sainsbury's only 1 minute away, everyday shopping is quick and easy and the Thameslink station is only an 8-minute walk from the development. The apartments are beautifully designed and modern and the well-maintained gardens and green spaces add to the peaceful atmosphere of the community.

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

Yes, the management and the on-site team is very responsive to any issues that arise.

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

I wish I had known that the construction nearby is sometimes a bit too loud.

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

The area has a good range of local shops, restaurants, cafés and bars, with plenty of options for everyday needs and socialising. There are also open spaces nearby, which are great for walks and relaxing. Transport links are convenient, with good access to public transport and connections to other parts of London, although services can sometimes be busy, particularly during peak hours. Living on the street is generally pleasant and convenient. Parking can sometimes be challenging, and there may be occasional traffic noise, but overall the area is a nice place to live. Bin collections are generally reliable, and the neighbourhood is reasonably peaceful and well maintained.

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

Building management has been very helpful, professional and responsive whenever I have raised any problems or concerns. They take issues seriously, listen carefully and make an effort to resolve matters as quickly as possible. Their communication is clear and their friendly approach makes it easy to feel supported and reassured. Overall, I am very happy with the level of service and support provided.

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 in was the availability of parking and the parking arrangements. It would have been helpful to know in advance where residents can park and how convenient it is. My advice to new neighbours would be to check the parking options before moving in, as this can make everyday life much easier. Overall, it's a lovely place to live!

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

Reception staff are so lovely and helpful. Accommodating with warm smile at all times. I had twins recently, the reception staff (Cosmin, ofeila, Vasileia & Gabrielle) have been beyond helpful. Helping medical staff, friends and family to my apartment. Cosmin and Vasileia are Very friendly towards children, always greeting and spending time with my older son. Maintanance staff Cris is very helpful and any issues, Immediately gets fixed.

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

Nil issues so far. Building management sort out issues right away from other reviews.

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

ask all the questions. Flexible move in dates are available

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

The local area has a good range of shops such as Sainsbury’s, Costa and B&m as well as restaurants and some amenities, with convenient transport links making it easy to get around. There are also some lovely open spaces nearby. Overall, it’s a convenient place to live, although traffic can sometimes be a little challenging.

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

The team is always quick to respond to any problems or concerns and makes sure issues are dealt with efficiently. Their communication is great and Farid is a great help.

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

As of right now there is nothing additional I wish I knew prior.

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

For me, the local area is secondary to my actual apartment. I did not move to The Watermint for the local area, but I can appreciate that it is neither awful nor particularly pleasant. The development is surrounded by car garages and businesses, rather than a high street or local restaurants, so I would bear that in mind if you're a local shopper kind of person. The transport links are disappointing, but perhaps that's because I'm used to living more centrally. The Thameslink station is a 10 minute walk from the development, which is not bad, but the Thameslink service itself is notoriously unreliable. That is not The Watermint's fault, and I can see it only improving if TfL go ahead with the West London Orbital Overground line that is proposed to terminate at Hendon and intersect with the Elizabeth Line in the coming years. That would be a huge upgrade for the area and reliability. The Hendon Central Northern Line station is just a bit too far to walk to - we rely on the speedy Superloop bus service or a cheap Uber. It's good to have that option, but we do wish we had a closer tube stop. Living on Edgware Road is good if you have a car (like me) but it does get clogged with traffic often. It's a shame, but again, nothing to do with the development, more about where it's situated. It's nice and easy with quick links to the start of the M1 in non-rush hour. However, I will warn you that TfL have just begun the mammoth task of redeveloping the Brent Cross flyover, which is expected to take until 2028 at the earliest. This was a huge blow for us and we did not realise this would be happening; it has decimated Edgware Road, Hendon Way and the surrounding roads significantly, so please bear in mind if you have a car and rely on it!

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

I do just think staff are a bit unsure and perhaps have not managed a property on this scale before. There have been numerous issues that I've asked to be addressed in circulated emails (for everyone's benefit) and none of these have materialised. There are silly rules at Watermint, such as not allowing laundry on balconies or dogs in the gardens (?!?!), but these are often not followed by residents and that leaves rule-abiding residents in a weird position.

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

There are a few, and perhaps these are reflective of poor research on our part, but I will say them nonetheless: - The location is not great, and the walk to Thameslink is significant. You cannot walk to the Northern Line, which means you rely on buses and Ubers when Thameslink is down (often). - The Brent Cross flyover revamp from TfL has basically ruined the local roads. Do not buy a car if living here and you don't already have one. Parking is extortionate anyway. - The construction noise is worse than anticipated and there's no sign of it going away anytime soon. Management send out vague emails about the works, but they're not particularly helpful.