About Folio London

However, having lived in the development for 3 years we have gradually seen the decline of some facilities where damage to communal doors etc have taken far too long to repair. In some cases there are still issues that are not resolved which can only be put down to poor property / site management. There is also a growing problem with security on the development e.g. underground bike -sheds are easily broken into. The security clearly needs to be addressed however management are taking far too long to resolve key issues. We also feel that management should be much better in keeping residents updated of the situation and what they are doing to improve things.

Overall a good development however it’s the management side that needs to be more proactive and communicative with residents to move forward.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

Royal Albert Wharf is still very much a new development with new sites opening every year. There are local shops (co-op, off licences) for convenience as well as a great pub (gallions pub) only a short walk away. The development is also a short walk from Gallions DLR station and a bus ride away from gallions reach shopping centre or retail park.

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

It would have been nice to have known more about the local area. There are a lot of new developments and there are lovely places to visit all around the docklands.

If there is one thing you would change about your flat or property what would it be:

Larger outdoor private space with more storage available.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

I like that Westfield is so close but I don’t like the other side of Westfield – towards Maryland, it’s pretty underdeveloped and a bit dangerous.

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

Living on a high floor – it can take a while for the lift to come.

The outdoor space is nice, but it is open to the public which sometimes means loud unattended children while people are working from home, and on one occasion, someone intentionally damaging the development’s newly-planted trees. The apartments that do not face the gardens are much quieter.

It’s a lovely place to live on the whole.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

Stratford is an incredibly convenient location. The transport links are extensive, and residents benefit from the nearby Westfield Shopping Centre and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It’s not too quiet or too noisy, and there’s a variety of areas to explore, including East Village, and Stratford High Street. Parking is available at the development for a monthly fee, or Westfield and Stratford International for visitors. Bin collections are regular and reliable, and traffic is only loud at rush hour if you have your windows open, or if you live on the side nearest the train tracks. This is all likely to change however, if the planning application for the MSG Sphere goes ahead.

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

1. There’s a school nearby that’s very loud, 2. There’s a planning application for a gigantic entertainment venue to be built right next door which will block the view for many apartments and cause noise and congestion. 3. The flats that face the sun in the morning are like a greenhouse. 4. The outdoor space is open to the public, but paid for by the residents, and not much can be done about noise and vandalism. 5. The development has an arrangement with specific ISPs so you can’t just choose your own. 6. The heating/hot water company that you have to use (you can’t switch), Insite Energy, has a terrible reputation and are a nightmare to deal with.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Sent a maintenance person, or contacted the resident(s) causing the issue.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

St James Estate is a quiet and pleasant place to live. It has good transport links to the Old Kent Road. From there you can be in Central London in 20 to 30 minutes without traffic. We are close to the major sight seeing places. There is a cycle path to Greenwich or London Bridge and further. We have two major supermarkets accessible within 5 and 7 minutes.
I find the neighbours are pleasant even though it doesn’t have the same community feel as it did when I arrived 10 years ago.
Sometimes the drug dealers use the secluded places in the estate to do their drug business and it gives the estate a bad reputation.
The police are often informed and this deters the drug dealers.

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

I wished I had known that my rent was the highest on the street and that was amongst houses with 3 bedrooms. It still remains one of the highest but I found out that was because mine was the most modernised house at the time.

4

Facilities

4

Design

5

Location

3

Value

4

Management