We chose this development because we needed a flat that was close to East London (I work in Goodmayes, my partner in Becontree) but also wanted to be close to central London, so Stratford was the best area. Looking at properties around Stratford, Halo was the best value for the nicest quality e.g. it was smart, modern and had lots of facilities like washer/dryer and dishwasher.
We enjoy working with a professional rental landlord like Folio as they are completely electronic which was incredibly helpful as we both work shift patterns, so we were able to read through the contracts and sign the documents in our own time. They hired an efficient referencing company which was also online and easy to use/contactable. We were very impressed with Folio as they had the apartment deep cleaned and repainted before we moved in they arranged and paid for an incredibly comprehensive inventory check which was of benefit to both parties. They also were very flexible with regards to furniture and in fact, fully furnished the apartment, and then were happy to remove items that we already had. They always responded to our emails/calls, so we didn’t have to spend time chasing them. It was clear from dealing with them, that they were a trustworthy company and were not trying to insert hidden charges/shy away from repairs.
In regard to the management of the flat, the 24/7 concierge are incredibly helpful. They accept our packages, which again is very helpful as we are not always present/awake during 9-5pm. They are able to coordinate services for us e.g. fixing hot water.
My flat itself is modern with clean grey and white neutral tones in a very sleek design. My favourite room in my apartment is our living room – it’s amazing! It is open plan with the kitchen, and in that space, there are 4 light switches so you can manipulate the lighting as you need it. There is plenty of space for sofa sets, TV, computer and desk, dining room table with 4 chairs and then the kitchen space. The best part is of course the view of the London skyline and the amazing sunsets. In terms of noise, if the windows are closed it’s very quiet. Unfortunately though there is no air con and it can get very hot so we have to open the windows and then it gets more noisy.
My favourite facility at the development is the residents’ gym. It is great with exercise machines and weight machines (although no free weights). There is a “yoga/relaxation” room, as well as an “activities/TV/pool table” room. I also enjoy the garden at the bottom of the flats, there are interactive games as well as beautiful flowerbeds.
The flats at the development are quite separate, so it’s harder to have a community feel here. However, at Christmas and in Summer there is a social in the foyer. I joined after this so was unable to join the summer ball but will join the Christmas event.
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
We would definitely recommend Stratford as a place to live – there are lots of shops and restaurants. I like how convenient it is – the shops and tube are really close. My favourite thing about living in the area are the really convenient transport links for work as the TFL, DLR, tube and trains are all in less than a 10-minute walk away, with buses right outside the flat. Plus with Westfields and Olympic stadium present, lots of things to do when guests come over. Westfields has lots of different restaurants and bars with particular highlights as Roof East Ba in Stratford Centre and Rosa’s thai café, which are both lovely. I’m not sure about schools nearby but the GP is a 5-minute walk away and the dentist is also within 10-minutes. There are lots of health/beauty shops at Westfields as well as hairdressers. However, I do dislike that it can look a bit run down in some places in the area.
