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

There’s a good range of shops, restaurants and open space. A really nice walking path alongside the river. Transportation is great with Elizabeth line, dlr and the train.

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

I think the whole renting process and the staff is very informative. Parking is a bit of an issue. You need to get a temporary parking permit from the concierge and it’s usually maximum 4 hours stay.

What is the best feature of your home:

I like the balcony, it has a nice river view and I like the water pressure and temperature in the bathroom. And most importantly I love how safe it is to live here.

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

One of the strongest aspects of living at Woodberry Down is the location. The development benefits from excellent transport links via Manor House Underground Station and nearby bus routes, making travel into Central London convenient. There are attractive open spaces including the nearby reservoirs and parkland, which provide a pleasant environment for walking and recreation. Local shops and supermarkets are reasonably accessible, although the range of restaurants and independent businesses remains somewhat limited compared to more established London neighbourhoods. Parking can be challenging, and there are ongoing concerns regarding congestion, construction activity, and noise as the wider regeneration continues.

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

One of the most frustrating aspects of owning a leasehold property in the UK is the broad and often vague definition of what is considered “reasonable” under leasehold regulations. In practice, developers and managing agents can impose significant increases in service charges, provided they are able to justify them within the legal framework. For example, a service charge increasing from £3,000 one year to £10,000 the next may still be regarded as legally acceptable if supported by budgets or claimed expenditure, even if many leaseholders would view such an increase as excessive or unethical. The system can leave residents feeling powerless, particularly where transparency is limited. While leaseholders technically have the right to challenge charges through the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), doing so may carry financial risk. In some cases, lease terms allow landlords or managing companies to recover legal costs through the service charge, meaning leaseholders could ultimately contribute toward the other side’s legal expenses. This creates a perception of imbalance within the UK leasehold system, where legal compliance does not always align with fairness or accountability.

What is the best feature of your home:

The best feature is the convenient London location combined with access to green open spaces and reservoir views, which provide a sense of calm despite being within easy reach of Central London.

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

The local area is one of the biggest strengths of Royal Arsenal Riverside. There’s a great mix of shops, cafés, and restaurants within walking distance, and the riverside setting makes it a really pleasant place to spend time, especially in the evenings or on weekends. Transport links are excellent, with the Elizabeth Line making it very quick and convenient to get into central London. The area generally feels safe and well looked after, with regular bin collections and clean streets. It can get a little busier during peak commuting times, and parking is somewhat limited, but overall it’s a very convenient and enjoyable place to live.

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

One thing worth knowing is that while the area is generally peaceful, it can get busier during peak commuting times, especially around the station. Parking can also be a bit limited depending on the building. That said, the excellent transport links more than make up for it, and overall it’s been a great place to live.

What is the best feature of your home:

The best feature is definitely the natural light and overall layout of the apartment. The space feels modern, open, and well thought through, which makes it really comfortable to live in day-to-day. Combined with the riverside setting, it creates a really calm and enjoyable atmosphere.

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

I am writing to express my strong dissatisfaction regarding the parking situation and treatment of residents at Verbena House. I am a shared ownership resident, and like many of my neighbours, I am extremely disappointed with how this issue has been handled. We are not allowed access to parking, gym facilities, or even the ability to obtain a parking permit. This situation is unfair, especially when other buildings nearby have access to these facilities and permits. I have contacted the council multiple times, but the response has always been unhelpful. Staff have been rude, and no clear solution has been provided. I have also received more than five parking tickets simply because I have nowhere else to park my car. When I contacted PCM, they advised that the development needs to register our address for permits. However, when I contacted the Green Quarter/Berkeley, they stated that PCM is responsible for this. This lack of coordination has left residents like myself stuck in the middle, with no resolution. It is unacceptable that shared ownership residents are being treated differently and denied basic facilities, while still being penalised with fines. We need a clear answer on who is responsible and an immediate solution to allow us fair access to parking permits. This issue is affecting not just me, but many residents in the building. We expect this to be taken seriously and resolved as soon as possible

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

The development looks modern and well-designed from the outside, and the local area has good potential with nearby shops, transport links, and green spaces. However, the overall living experience has been very disappointing due to poor management and lack of fairness towards shared ownership residents. The biggest issue is parking. Residents in Verbena House who are on shared ownership are not allowed to apply for parking permits, which is extremely unreasonable. There is no alternative parking provided, yet parking enforcement is very strict, resulting in multiple fines. This creates daily stress for residents who rely on their cars. There is also a clear lack of communication and accountability between the developer, management company, council, and parking enforcement. Each party gives different information and shifts responsibility, leaving residents stuck without a solution. In addition, shared ownership residents do not have equal access to facilities such as the gym, which feels unfair considering we are part of the same development. Overall, while the design and location are positive, the management, lack of support, and unfair restrictions significantly impact the quality of living. This issue is affecting many residents and needs urgent attention.

What is the best feature of your home:

The development looks modern and well-designed from the outside, and the local area has good potential with nearby shops, transport links, and green spaces. However, the overall living experience has been very disappointing due to poor management and lack of fairness towards shared ownership residents.

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

very disappointed with my home purchase at Woodberry down. the management that hand the building over is so bad carpet dirty and doors all cracked around the frames. the first floor carpet of Residence tower was replace with a cgeap one compared that what Berkley put when i bought the flat. THEY KEEP INCREASING SERVICE CHARGES WITHOUT BEING TRANSPARENT. YOU WILL BE HIT WILL FALSE BILLS AND SO MUCH SERVICE CHARGES

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

That the management will be so bad and making money on top as the service charges are too much and not transparent

What is the best feature of your home:

Nothing special as the quality is cheap tape and joint on all wall and its not being skimmed on hallways and busy area and now Residence Tower look so bad. the steel of all balcony is rusted and no one is taking care.