A guide to living in South East London

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

Living in Elephant and Castle has its ups and downs. On the positive side, the transport links are fantastic. I can get pretty much anywhere in London quickly, and having so many buses and two tube lines nearby is a huge convenience. The area has changed a lot recently, and the new shops, restaurants, and public spaces have definitely made it feel more modern. I also really like how diverse the community is; there’s always something interesting going on, and the food options are great.

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

Whenever I’ve raised an issue, the building management has generally responded fairly quickly and kept me updated. While communication isn’t perfect every time, they do make a genuine effort to resolve problems promptly.

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 is how busy the shared areas can get during peak times, especially the lifts and communal spaces. It’s not something you really notice during a viewing. Also how expensive the parking is. Overall small things, but they would have been helpful to know in advance.

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

Range and quality of shops are good. Transport links are good. It feels safe in some areas, and some doesn’t feel okay to walk by.

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

Junior has come to help us with the bathroom leaking issue we faced. He is so great at his job, he pointed out the solution and got it fixed. Later when I mentioned about the other issues we faced, he got them sorted out one by one. He literally got all of my 6-7 issues solved in a very short time. He is very friendly and kind, it’s been a pleasure meeting him.

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

How great of a place it is to live. We really feel like home here

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

Lack of amenities: There are no decent-sized grocery stores nearby, which makes daily shopping inconvenient. Parking problems: Pre-booking a parking slot takes time, and even then, you often still need to walk a significant distance from your space to the building. Challenging building access: The main entrance isn’t on the ground floor, so carrying heavy items is difficult. You either have to take the stairs or walk all the way around the building. Confusing/segregated entrances: The building has two separate entrances for different sections. Some residents mentioned that one entrance leads to council flats. Either way, delivery drivers frequently get confused and struggle to find the correct entrance. Noise and safety concerns: Being right next to the O2 means constant noise, especially from loud or drunk crowds. Groups of teenagers tend to gather in the area — particularly under the bridge — and there have been instances of harassment when walking home. There is no concierge physically present in Building One. The lifts are often out of order, and the gate has been left open several times due to various incidents. I have also encountered strangers from the O2 area entering the building, and other residents have had parcels stolen. Boiling hot in the summer (no provided AC in the flats).

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

For example, the constant noise from the O2 crowds, the safety concerns under the bridge at night, and how inconvenient it is to live without a nearby decent-sized grocery store. I also didn’t realise how difficult parking and building access would be, or how often the lifts would be out of service. And most importantly, I wish I had known how unhelpful and rude the property management team could be — something you would never notice from a short tour. These are things you only experience after moving in, but they make a big difference in everyday life. If you’re considering living here, I’d recommend paying attention to the practicalities and speaking with current residents before making a decision.

What is the best feature of your home:

The best feature is the river view from the apartment, but that comes at a cost, as described above — including safety issues, noise issues, parking problems, and their signature terrible property management team.

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

All I see is the good aspect of living in my local area where am able to access anything I want and anything I like and that alone makes me feel comfortable and good

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

The building management has been very swift and prompt in their response to calls for any issues

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

How swift and easy the process was and how seamless it is

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

Area is nice with Greenwich and deptford providing very different and great London experiences. Greenwich obviously beautiful and green, with it's charming old market and park. Deptford high street has soul, with an eclectic range of Carribbean, Asian, Italian restaurants which are five stars. Very trendy and unique bars as well. Being so close to the river is very special, you get away from the traffic and have panoramic views of London and can enjoy a charming side of Greenwich with a riverside walk. The slight negative is the street on the weekends, without parking rules it's chaos with people parking on the road and it's already tight and busy which makes for a frustrating and stressful experience at times on the weekend.

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

There is an app where we can ask questions and request for maintenance or anything and it's usually resolved that week. But there hasn't been many issues in our 18months here.

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

Perhaps that I could secure three years here and freeze the rent. Doing that now.