Barratt Homes

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:

Get Every Promise in Writing Before You Exchange Anything promised by the sales team in the sales office must be in writing and attached to the contract or lease as an appendix. If it is not written into the lease or clearly shown on the approved drawings, it is not protected. If you do not secure those promises legally, the developer can later: • Change the design • Remove features • Leave areas partially incomplete • Rely on “design change” clauses After completion, you cannot complain about the difference between what was promised and what was delivered if it is not written into the lease. Design Changes and Incomplete Works Design changes are often used to justify alterations after purchase. You may be shown visitor bays and loading bays during marketing. Later, you may discover: • Visitor bays are removed • Loading bays do not exist • Layouts are different from what was shown • Certain works remain unfinished Once you complete, you are bound by the lease wording, not the sales presentation. Managing Agent and Parking Enforcement Relationship Where FirstPort is appointed as managing agent and Parking Control Management operates enforcement, they work closely within the development structure. Residents are not provided with clear information about: • The commercial relationship between these parties • The financial arrangements behind enforcement • How enforcement income is structured • Who ultimately controls parking policy The business relationship between developer, managing agent, and parking company is not transparent to residents. Aggressive Parking Enforcement Residents can receive large numbers of Parking Charge Notices. Charges are issued for: • Brief stopping • Loading and unloading • Double yellow lines • Hatched areas • Areas near entrances Residents are told they have no right even to stop for one second without a permit. Trespass is normally a matter for the landlord. However, parking companies rely on contractual signage and treat stopping as breach of contract. Residents who are not legally trained may feel pressured into paying significant sums. Those with stronger legal awareness may challenge successfully, while others pay under pressure. Escalation of a Civil Parking Dispute In one case involving a civil parking dispute, accusations were made and police were called. An arrest followed. Police later stated that it was a civil matter and release took place. A civil parking disagreement escalated into a criminal process before being recognised as civil in nature. Service Charge and Management Costs Service charges include substantial management fees. Approximately one third of the service charge can relate to management and administration. While the development remains under construction and until all leases are sold, residents may experience ongoing disruption while paying full service charges. In time, the freehold may be transferred to another freeholder and the managing agent may change. However, the lease obligations remain binding on leaseholders. No Loading Bays and Planning Limits In some developments, no loading bays are provided. The explanation given is that providing loading bays would exceed the maximum parking allocation permitted under planning approval. The result is maximum parking allocation, but no dedicated loading provision for residents. Access, easement, and reasonable enjoyment are not reflected through practical loading facilities. Hidden Parking Structure and Permit Types There are multiple permit categories operating simultaneously, including: • Allocated bay permits • Resident permits • Visitor permits • Temporary permits • Contractor permits • Developer-retained space permits Residents are not clearly informed: • What percentage of spaces were sold • How many spaces are retained by the developer • How many permits exist compared to physical spaces • How enforcement rules are determined The structure resembles a financial revenue model rather than a resident-focused parking system. Lease Wording and Visitor Bay Clauses Residents may be told there will be visitor bays and loading bays. They may be shown these areas during site tours. Later, the lease may state wording such as: “If visitor bays are shown on Plan A to Z, the leaseholder may use them for up to 24 hours with no return within 24 hours.” After completion, the referenced plan may show no visitor bays at all. If the bays are not shown on the official plan, there is no enforceable right. The wording appears protective but depends entirely on what is shown on the attached drawings. Once you complete your purchase, changing the lease is extremely difficult. Leases are standard across the development and not easily amended regardless of which solicitor acts. Final Position Once contracts are exchanged and completion takes place, you are bound by the lease. What was promised verbally does not override what is written in the legal documents. Understand the lease fully before committing.

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

I wish I had known that what is shown during the sales process and what is legally secured in the lease can be very different. Parking arrangements, visitor bays and loading access may look straightforward during a viewing, but the actual rights depend entirely on the lease wording and approved plans (Blank Plan). I also did not realise how strict and enforcement focused the parking management would be, or how significant the service charge allocation to management costs would feel in practice. I would advise any new buyer to read the lease in detail, especially sections on parking, plans, permits and management powers, before committing.

What is the best feature of your home:

It feels as though Barratt Developments, FirstPort, and Parking Control Management operate closely together in a way that prioritises collecting money from residents through service charges and enforcement rather than providing fair and supportive management.

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

Great houses, great location and fabulous Customer Service..... mostly. The country side and a canal are very close at hand. We have a dog that enjoys the walks around our house. Big radiator in the middle of the kitchen wall is not ideal.

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

I thought the fuel bills would be a little less than they are with the energy efficiency installed in the house.

What is the best feature of your home:

Well designed. Our house feels very homely. We love coming home!