A guide to living in Borough of Barnet

The development is modern, beautifully designed and offers fantastic facilities that really enhance the overall living experience. The flats are well presented, and the amenities are a great addition especially the gym. The building team has been amazing, always responding quickly to any queries. Thank you to Chante, who has been fantastic from the very beginning and has gone above and beyond to make The Watermint feel like home!

The Watermint has great potential, but it's not quite realised yet. I think that it could be, with some more well-trained staff and attentiveness from the development, as well as once building work is completed. I'll try and take my feelings in turn. First off - the positives. There are many positives, and I'll try and be as balanced as I can. The design and interior design of the complex is lovely, and the communal areas always smell nice. The staff are lovely (when around) and the actual setup is good; there's a lot of potential that I am sure will grow as the development continues construction. The Sainsbury's downstairs is absolutely fantastic, massive and brand new. There is the Royal Mail Delivery Office across the road, and also parcel lockers too. The apartments are very nice, and the communal gardens are very well kept. The appliances in the apartments are all brand new/modern and the internal filtration/air circulation in each apartment is something I have never come across before (it's effectively a modulated air system that detects moisture/cooking and pumps in fresh air for you automatically). The apartments have heat pumps, which are very efficient, and underfloor heating, which is great. The bathrooms are beautifully done and look almost hotel-like. I cannot comment on furnishings as we're unfurnished. However, the first and main failing of the Watermint is their staff. They are often unreachable, unresponsive and the concierge is almost always unmanned. They ensure in your contract that the concierge is 'discretionary', so there's nothing you can complain about. Most of the times I go downstairs, the concierge is empty and the delivery issues this has caused are huge. As delivery companies rely on the concierge and do not bother to ring us via the intercom/make further enquiries when the concierge is empty (all the time), we always miss deliveries. It's getting really frustrating and I have raised this with management and have had no response. I am only asking for a rethink on the system we currently have, but have had nothing back as of yet. To be clear, the Watermint is the rental component/arm of the larger Silkstream development, which is owner-occupied. Watermint has access to all Silkstream amenities, including the gym and cinema room, which are really nice. The frustration with this is that the Silkstream concierge is so much better than ours and is always reliably staffed. This is a sore subject for me; why is ours so much worse? I've thought about getting deliveries to there instead. On the whole, the management is not great or particularly responsive to issues. When issues have been raised, I have sometimes been met with template responses, and sometimes not at all. The delivery issue is getting out of hand and something needs to be done about that. Even if it's just putting a permanent sign outside saying something to the effect of 'If Concierge unstaffed, please call individual apartment numbers on intercom' as the system allows us to open the door remotely, which is great. The concierge expectation was high for us, and it's not been put in practice, which has been disappointing. Also, the car park has had numerous issues with access/gates, which have resulted in difficulties despite me paying for parking. When it comes to value, I don't think the Watermint professes to be cheap or good value for money; I see it as luxury for the area. I'm not sure the price tag is reflected in the service received, but oh well. None of my gripes are enough to make me leave, I just feel it's not run as well as it could be. I would really like a more reliable concierge service or just a fix. Compared to the owners at Silkstream, we are hard done by. A big thing to bear in mind before moving is the construction. The development is set to be rather large; this is clear from the plans. However only three out of the dozen residential buildings are currently complete. You must bear this in mind before moving. The construction noise has been incessant and loud and disruptive. We sort of knew this would be the case, but it has stopped us enjoying our outside space. I can only hope it'll improve. As the complex is so new, how many of these are teething issues is impossible to say, but I think it will improve over time. It just depends how much time you're willing to give the place to get up to that level you desire.

Fell in love with it the place minute I saw it. Nice new apartments with all the amenities I was hoping for. New gym, jacuzzi, sauna, roof top terrace for BBQ, game rooms, co-working space and walking distance to covered Padel Courts. Brent Cross West also provides easy access to central London, Luton, Gatwick, and connections to Heathrow. Really couldn’t be happier.

The new development features beautifully designed apartments fitted with brand-new furniture and finishes throughout. Most importantly, the property management and concierge staff are very friendly, professional and responsive. Our move in was totally smooth!

Living at The Watermint by Berkeley in NW9 has been a generally positive experience, offering modern apartment living in a convenient and well-connected part of London. The development has a contemporary design, well-maintained communal areas and a pleasant residential atmosphere. The apartments feel modern and comfortable, making it a suitable place for individuals, couples and families looking for quality accommodation. One of the biggest advantages is the location. There are supermarkets, local shops, parks and other essential amenities nearby, making everyday life convenient. The transport connections are also beneficial, allowing residents to travel to central London and other parts of the city for work, studies or leisure. The surrounding area is continuing to develop, which adds to its potential appeal. However, there are a few areas where the development could improve. Traffic congestion and noise can sometimes affect the overall environment, depending on the location of the apartment. More greenery, additional community facilities and improved management of communal spaces would further enhance the residential experience. It would also be beneficial to ensure that maintenance requests are handled promptly and that the common areas remain consistently clean and well maintained. Overall, The Watermint is a good option for those seeking modern housing with convenient access to London’s amenities and transport network. While there are some minor drawbacks, the development offers a comfortable living environment with considerable potential. With continued attention to maintenance, resident satisfaction and the surrounding environment, it could become an even better place to live. I would recommend it to people looking for contemporary apartment living in NW9.