A guide to living in Poplar

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

Living in my local area has a mix of positives and challenges. The location is very convenient, as I am close to a DLR station which makes commuting quick and easy. There are schools nearby, which creates a friendly community feel and means that local amenities like shops and cafés are geared towards families. There are also several open spaces within walking distance that are great for fresh air and exercise. However, there are a few downsides. Parking is very limited, especially during school drop-off and pick-up times when the surrounding streets become quite busy. This also means that traffic noise can increase throughout the day. It is a pleasant and well-connected place to live overall.

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

The building management has been slow to respond to issues. Parcels are sometimes left on the floor, some go missing, and bikes have been stolen from the bike shed in the car park a couple of times. Repairs, including water problems, also take a long time to be addressed.

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

Before moving in, I wish I had known about some of the management and maintenance issues. Parcels can be left unattended, bikes have been stolen from the bike shed, and repairs, including water problems, can take a long time to be addressed. It would also have been helpful to know that parking is very limited, especially during school drop-off and pick-up times. Despite the great facilities like the gym, meeting room, and lounge with landmark views, these practical issues are important for new residents to be aware of.

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

Living in my area is quite convenient as it’s just a one-minute walk from the DLR station, making commuting very easy. However, there aren’t many supermarkets nearby, so grocery shopping can be a bit inconvenient. The neighbourhood itself is generally quiet and safe, with minimal traffic noise and no major issues with anti-social behaviour. There are a few local cafes and small shops, but the range of restaurants and bars is quite limited.

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

The building management’s response to issues has been quite poor. They are often slow to reply, sometimes taking over a week to respond to emails, and occasionally claim not to have received them. Even when problems are reported multiple times—like the broken lift or the gym curtain controller—no real action is taken. Issues such as water outages or maintenance requests are usually resolved only after repeated follow-ups, and there’s little communication or transparency about when things will be fixed. Overall, the responsiveness and accountability of the management team have been very disappointing.

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

I wish I had known that the quality of service and maintenance would decline over time. When I first moved in, everything was perfect—the building was well managed, the concierge was helpful, and maintenance issues were quickly resolved. Over the years, however, the service has gradually worsened, with slow responses, unresolved repairs, and a noticeable drop in overall care and attention.

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

Good aspects: proximity to Canary Wharf (access to Jubilee and Elizabeth line) and to DLR station. Right next to a park with a decent bakery. Bad aspects: Very noisy in summer nights. people gather around drinking and yelling till late night. Noisy on some Saturdays as some car sales were testing their supercars. No decent restaurants of any kind nearby. The park is usually great but is always dirty and full of trash on Monday because people party there during weekend nights. Anti-social behaviours happened. A very dull neighbourhood overall.

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

Yes, although with delayed communication and defensive.

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

I wish I had known the area was noisy and had taken other reviewers' comments on anti-social behaviours seriously.

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

Great building I'll be staying for a few years yet so long as I can continue to afford London rents 😂

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

Building management is better than some buildings I have lived in

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

I did plenty of research in advance so there's not much I wish I'd known

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

There is the bare necessities round about in terms of shops but everything you could actually need, nothing really in terms of bars and restaurants but that is offset by the excellent transport links. There is little anti-social behaviour during the day but the nearby Langdon Park can see quite a lot of ASB at night particularly lighting fireworks which are especially disturbing for the higher up flats. You also get used to the DLR noise after a while and again it's offset by how quickly I can get to work etc.

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

They are typically very speedy e.g., when we had a boiler leak, but the persistent water issues over the past month or so have been problematic.

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

It might not be right if you're really sensitive to noise but the view and amenities are fantastic.