A guide to living in South East London

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

Area is in process of redevelopment so it is unstable due to constant construction, displaced previous community, anti social behaviour and transient wealthy transplants that all coexist in a very small area. While there is a decent artificial park and selection of chain restaurants, there are worries regarding safety due to rife phone theft problem and mental health issues of certain community members. Development is in a convenient location for transportation but it is a central area which means it is noisy and busy.

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

Management has been extremely dismissive and standoffish until you do extortionate amount of work to prove them wrong, and even then they find ways to skip answering, avoid admitting fault, providing partial solutions without any accountability. When we were locked and stuck in a lift for 90 minutes, despite security guard writing down our flat number and having had maintenance to let us out, there was no management follow up and they managed to find a way to blame it on us as they weren't informed while their own systems of protocol failed. They always try to have both realities exist - you being wrong and them pretending that they also acknowledge that they could have helped you if you only just did this... Basically they have no capacity to say 'we are sorry we missed this, let us fix it'. It is like dealing with someone who has narcissistic personality disorder.

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

I wish I knew Lendlease were going to sell this development to Greystar, I would have NEVER in a million years moved here.

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

The local area is really good. Super easy to get into central London and very quick to stations like London Bridge and Waterloo. Walk from station to the apartment feels safe. Easy access to local shops with new ones coming to the development soon.

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

Quickly and efficiently, however the external contractor dealing with fixing the vibration of our cooling unit is slow.

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

How well sound-proofed the apartments are - it's impressive.

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

This location is wonderfully central, just a 10-minute walk to Bermondsey station and 15 minutes to London Bridge. While the immediate street is purely residential, a short 5-10 minute stroll takes you to Rope Street Market and Bermondsey Street, offering a good selection of shops, restaurants, and cafes. A few important things to note for prospective tenants: First, this is a 'car-free' development. We (and our landlord) were unaware of this until moving in, which means residents are not eligible for on-street parking permits—a crucial detail if you own a vehicle! Second, while the area feels quiet at first glance, expect some urban background noise, specifically from the nearby Sainsbury’s loading area and some persistent commercial HVAC systems. Lastly, it is a diverse, mixed-residential neighbourhood, which does mean some anti-social behaviour, at times (e.g. a 10 year old riding an electric motorcycle crazy fast on pavements and streets in the area). As with many dense urban areas, street cleanliness can be a bit inconsistent, and rubbish does occasionally build up in the smaller service alleys between buildings.

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

The noise from Sainsbury's loading area (the metal carts clanking once or twice a day, every day).

What is the best feature of your home:

Size of apartment and how quiet the neighbours are. Our Landlords are wonderful too.

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

Pearl Yard is in a fantastic location with excellent transport links, making it easy to get around London. Bermondsey and London Bridge are both easily accessible, and there are plenty of supermarkets, cafés, restaurants and local amenities nearby. I also enjoy being close to the Thames, with great walking routes and open spaces. The area has a vibrant feel while still being convenient for everyday living. The building is well maintained, bin collections are managed efficiently, and I've found the neighbourhood to be pleasant overall. One of the biggest positives has been how straightforward the whole moving process was, thanks to the excellent support from the on-site team.

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

Every interaction I've had with the management team has been excellent, and Farhan in particular has been outstanding. From the very beginning, he has been incredibly professional, approachable and responsive. Any questions or concerns I've raised have been dealt with promptly, and he has consistently gone above and beyond to make the moving process smooth and stress-free. His communication has been exceptional, and it's clear that he genuinely cares about residents and takes pride in providing outstanding customer service. Farhan has been a real credit to the Pearl Yard team, and he is one of the main reasons my experience has been so positive. I honestly couldn't have asked for better support.

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 much I'd enjoy living here. The quality of the building, the residents' amenities and the sense of community have exceeded my expectations. I'd also tell any new resident not to hesitate to ask the management team if they have any questions during the moving process. Farhan was incredibly helpful from day one and made everything straightforward, from answering questions promptly to ensuring the move-in experience was as smooth and stress-free as possible.

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

It’s a great area well connected to central London with lots to do. Despite the location it’s not super busy around the development. Parking can be a bit difficult in the Southwark area though.

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

Very quickly and Dorin has been incredibly helpful

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

Parking in the Southwark borough can be difficult if you have a car