Barratt Developments PLC

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

I live at 9 Queensland Road as a tenant. It's the building at the end of the road which is right next to the train tracks. I'm not really bothered during the match days even though you need to check the transportation links as they don't operate in certain times. What makes this place unlivable for me is the train noise. The passenger trains operate every 5 minutes between 6am-10am and 4pm-7pm. Other times it's every 10 minutes. If they were trains just passing by, I wouldn't be bothered, but they stop at Drayton Park station and there's definitely extra noise when they stop, make a signal sound to open and close the doors, then they depart. The cherry on top is the commercial freight trains. They are so loud and they operate 24 hours, so you can wake up to their sound whether it's 3am or 4am. It's just impossible to sleep without earplugs. If there were no train tracks nearby, this would be an great place to live but the trains turn it into a nightmare location if calm and peace are important for you.

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

I wish I had known there were loud commercial freight trains operating during night time.

What is the best feature of your home:

I really like the location and the neighbourhood. It's safe and friendly.

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

The local area has some useful shops, open spaces and transport links, and the location may be convenient for some buyers. However, my overall experience has been affected by estate management issues, parking restrictions and uncertainty around shared facilities. Buyers should check parking availability, visitor parking, loading arrangements, bin-store arrangements, traffic movement and any management restrictions before committing to purchase.

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

I wish I had known that the shared facilities and parking arrangements for each zone especially the zone I purchased shown or discussed before purchase should be checked line by line against the lease, approved planning drawings and estate documents. I would not assume that anything shown in sales material is legally available unless it is clearly confirmed in the legal documents.

What is the best feature of your home:

The best feature is the location and the general convenience of being within reach of local transport links, shops and open spaces. However, this has been significantly affected by my experience of the estate management and parking arrangements and change in design and breach of planning permission etc

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

We moved into our new home in the Orchard Green area of Kingsbrook a year ago. It's a lovely place to live and David Wilson Homes made it so easy. The house is well built with any small snags dealt with quickly and without fuss. The estate is well managed and we have no regrets.

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

I wish I knew there was no personal door on the garage. Also no over the bath shower in the family bathroom.

What is the best feature of your home:

There 2 separate lounges with attractive canopy style window in the open plan kitchen lounge/diner

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

The local area is great, access to the Olympic park and a short walk to Westfield shopping centre. Pudding Mill lane DLR station is a very short walk, with it only being one stop to Stratford station. The building is located on a busy road but is gated and set back far enough that there's rarely an issue with noise. Parking availability is only for those with a registered bay with this being enforced by an ANPR camera.

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

The mismanagement of the building by Firstport is something I wish I had known, but thankfully the building is finally being improved.

What is the best feature of your home:

The location is great as well as access to important transport links.

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

Wonderful apartment. Good neighbours. Natural sun light, south facing. Good landlord and agent kept communicating, landlord was flexible regarding furniture or changes. Recent building. No maintenance issues. Good space and great storage. Good balcony. Communal gardens were generally cleaned. Good isolation and great windows. Warm flat. Heat bill was included in the rent.

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

Building facilities - could have more Only communal gardens and parking available

What is the best feature of your home:

Natural sun light, low monthly bills, spacious Below average bills