Living at Ten Degrees is a step up in terms of convenience and lifestyle. Having East Croydon station on our doorstep makes it so easy to commute to work and for meeting friends in the city – it really is so easy getting in and out of central London. The surrounding area of East Croydon also has lots to offer with Box Park on our doorstep, as well as a choice of local parks within walking distance. It’s very diverse culturally and we enjoy the combination of families, couples, and individuals living in the building – it seems to meet everyone’s needs!
Parking – we don’t actually have a car but we have guests who have driven over. They parked on College road behind Ten Degrees, which is next to Croydon College. They were able to find parking easily and pay an hourly fee.
Bicycle storage – we both have bikes which we lock in the basement of the building. This area is very secure and it’s easy to take our bikes in and out of the building.
Transport – the trams run to Ikea and surrounding areas which is useful for accessing local parks and shopping. The trains from East Croydon are also excellent for commuting into central London as well as getting to Gatwick and other destinations. The only thing we noticed is that sometimes the train does not run from East Croydon to Clapham Junction on weekends because they are doing construction on the line. There is a rail replacement bus but this takes an hour which is inconvenient. We have also used the local buses to get to Crystal Palace and other areas. Basically there is a wide choice of travel options.
Bins & recycling – we chose to purchase small bins which fit under our kitchen sink and empty these a few times a week. It’s easy to go down to the ground floor where the bin and recycling room is. Sometimes people from other flats carry bags which are messy and leave a trail of food/mess along the corridor. However, we are fortunate to have a cleaner who cleans daily and makes sure the mess is cleaned up.
Noise – the apartment is well insulated and we can’t hear much noise with the windows closed. However, we have noticed that it is quite windy and you can hear the noise of wind circling the building at times. There is also occasional noise of traffic/construction but this does not bother us.
Bills – We pay around £500 a month in total for council tax, electricity, wifi, etc. This was more than we expected to pay but it is worth it for the lifestyle in the building. The more bedrooms you have in your apartment, the more you will pay for council tax as well.
Parks – there are a number of parks around East Croydon and we specifically like walking to Park Hill Recreation Ground. It only takes 5-10 minutes to walk there and it has a beautiful view over the city and has a children’s play area, basketball court, tennis court, etc. We have also used the tram to access Lloyd Park and Wandle Park.
Supermarkets – Waitrose and Sainburys are the closest supermarkets, but you can walk down to the Croydon High Street to access a wider range of shops such as Lidl, Iceland, etc. The tram goes to the high street as well if you prefer not to walk or are carrying heavy items.
Please review your development:
The management team have been amazing – especially Maria & Camilla who made our move so easy and have supported us every step of the way. We misplaced our keys on our first day and Camilla was able to provide us with a spare key in the interim while we were unpacking and looking for the one we lost! The building is cleaned daily and we enjoy using the gym and attending fitness classes such as yoga and power pump. The staff are available 24 hours to help and are all very friendly.
Communal work areas – there is communal wifi you can log onto in the reception area and it is strong enough to support Zoom/Ms Teams meetings. We often work in the downstairs area during the week when we are working from home and take meetings – all the other residents are very respectful and understanding of each other. The complementary coffee machine is also a delight.
Gym – the roof top gym is stunning and it isn’t too busy. It is easy to show up at any time and access the gym for stretching, walking on the treadmill, or more intense weights workouts.
Fitness classes – there are weekly fitness classes which take place in the evenings and are free for residents. These are great!
Games lounge – we use this often when friends visit and have found it an exciting way to show off the building and the view. It’s easy to book through the app.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
The one thing I wish I had know is that the hallway carpets can stain easily. I do a lot of out door exercise and often have muddy shoes. So, I now know to take these off at the back entrance of the building and to carry them through to my apartment. Otherwise they create a lot of mess and I have to report it to the reception for the cleaner to tidy up.
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
The management team are available via email, telephone, and you can also approach them at the front desk. There are always multiple members of the team available to help and we haven’t had any issues asking for help or reporting any issues.
