A guide to living in South East London

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

Pros: very central, quiet, lots of buses and 2 tube stations very near Cons: very dirty, there's garbage everywhere, lots of junkies constantly gathering in front of our entrance door, homeless people living in the commercial bin room

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

I wish I knew there will be so many junkies / homeless people gathering around.

What is the best feature of your home:

It's bright, quiet and warm. The layout is ok, although it could have been better in terms of functionality of the spaces.

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

Unfortunately Can’t score any higher, the tenants are smoke weed and it comes through the ventilation system.

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

Modern new developments in Kidbrooke near the station

What is the best feature of your home:

The flat itself is nice and spacious 2 bedrooms, unfortunately very hard to live in it with the smell

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

The local area is exceptionally poor in a variety of shops, whilst the only two small off-licence shops on Dorset Road are open over limited hours. A number of shops on Dorset Road close to the junction with Kibworth Street were shut down a few years ago as a result of local authority compulsory order for the redevelopment of the site. Despite the regeneration plan also including some shops, their construction and availability to private businesses is years away. Additionally, the LTN scheme that was imposed by the local authority some years ago, banning all motor vehicles access through Clapham Road as a "rough and ready” and easily implemented measure has become a constant source of stress and frustration to many residents and is damaging local businesses alike. The scheme falls short of addressing the problems that the ban of access to and from Clapham Road has generated for motor vehicle users who live or have business associations within the area. Residents and services providers are forced to access our homes or business only through South Lambeth Road having to endure unnecessary stress and anxiety as a result of additional traffic and driving time, including an increased risk of road accidents, through busy Vauxhall and Harleyford Road that is frequently jammed. Not only because we can no longer access our homes through Clapham Road but also because we can no longer access our nearest convenience stores Lidl and Tesco - unless of course we embark on a tour around Vauxhall and Kennington or Stockwell and Clapham North in pursuit of a turn back to Clapham Road.

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

Yes, but slowly and often well overdue. Services must be provided with reasonable care and skill, which unfortunately is not the case with NHG management. Any apology or other redress offered as an admission of bad service received is undoubtedly void if there is no record of improvement.

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

The merger between NHHT and Genesis that signalled an ever-deteriorating level of service quality and value for money.

What is the best feature of your home:

Its interior design and decoration give a positive note to the otherwise negative aspects of living in the area.

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

The central location of this development can’t be beaten, I’ve used the tube about 5-10 times since 2019. Otherwise walking or buses and Thameslink do the job. The regeneration of Elephant Park is also a plus, I take my son there a few times a week, especially in the summer. Anti-social behaviour can be an issue as we have drug addicts around our development all the time, but isn’t it everywhere in London. They usually do no harm.

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

How much the service charge and heating bills would go up. If not for our residents association we would be screwed with bills!

What is the best feature of your home:

Quiet, well insulated, super central. I love having two bathrooms, and a spacious balcony.

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

I like the area we live in — it’s a pleasant neighbourhood. However, there are several issues that need attention. Transport links have worsened since we moved in: the bus that used to take us into the city no longer runs. Most residents now rely on cars, but this car free developmenet andSection 106 parking restrictions are still enforced. This means we often have to park far away and walk or take public transport, which is very inconvenient. I have requested that the Section 106 terms be revised to reflect the changed transport situation, but so far, nothing has been done.

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

That it would be so difficult getting hold of housing officers

What is the best feature of your home:

The flat layout. The best feature of my home is the large, sunlit living room that feels warm and inviting.