We took out a three year tenancy and rather than rent it furnished we opted to buy furniture between us, as we both felt this was somewhere we’d likely be looking to stay for a long time, and our views haven’t changed on that.

It’s duel aspect, so at one angle looks out on the residents only gardens and on the other onto the railway line to Paddington, as well as giving us distant views of planes coming in and out of Heathrow.

That might not suit everyone, but we like the comings and goings, neither of us moved to London for peace and quiet and rural settings, we like the urban, so when the doors to the balconies are open we don’t notice the noise of passing trains, and when their closed we cant here them anyway as the doors and windows are triple glazed.

We particularly liked the layout of the flat we chose, its main area is spacious and divides up well between kitchen and relaxation space. It has two well sized balconies, one is big enough to take a table that can accommodate 4 people, and a storage bench for sitting on, the other, (same size), serves well as an outside seating area with room for plenty of plants.

The kitchen has everything you need including built in fridge freezer, dishwasher, and microwave.

The bedrooms are both good sized doubles with fitted wardrobes, mine has a very big ensuite, his has its own balcony.

There’s also a shared shower room and a utility cupboard with a washer dryer.

My flatmate has worked from home since the pandemic, I’ve still been going out to work and I’ve been quite jealous of him. He’s had space to set up his laptop and screen, inside and outside, (depending on the season), without it disrupting the home, and generally had a comfortable secure environment to operate from.

It all seems well soundproofed. We barely notice the neighbours around us, and my flatmate made a point of tracking down the people above and below us to see if they could hear us and apparently they couldn’t.

I think the structure of the flat also keeps our bills down. Our heating is barely on throughout the year.

As mentioned the development has residents gardens, and a 10th floor roof terrace with views out to Wembley, Central London, and Heathrow.

In non pandemic times there are also throughout the year social gatherings, and even during the pandemic Fizzy has endeavoured to keep its residents connected and entertained, and though we’ve both been in full time employment its worth noting that they’ve taken into account the wellness of their residents who might be finding it hard both financially and emotionally to cope during the last year with various initiatives and a rent freeze.

I also love the underground parking. Aside from my normal job I’m also a part time Uber driver, and the convenience to Heathrow for me is fantastic in getting business. Plus also, in the winter, being able to go down in the lift and get straight into my car without scraping off ice and warming it up is a novelty that hasn’t worn off.

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

Truth is I don’t spend a lot of time in my local area. I work in Wembley, do what shopping I need during that time, and get takeaways uber’d to me. When I have free time I prefer to spend it in Central London. But I do know that Hayes is well served for supermarkets, takeaways, convenience stores, Doctors, and even a sports centre, (all within short walking distance).

The development has a climbing Centre attached to the building, and there is a Cinema being built next door that I’ll certainly use.

Communication links are great, the train station is a short walk away and takes you direct to Paddington and will be a crossrail station on completion of the line, so should be even faster to get into and across the city.

Also Heathrow is very near, making flight arrangements convenient.

The whole area is under development, with new build apartment complexes under construction which should see lots of local amenity improvements also, (though right now the neighbourhood around Fizzy is a bit of a building site, which comes with the sort of disruption you should expect).

It’s not a genteel neighbourhood, and never has been. If you’re looking for Chiswick or Notting Hill you wont find it, but you wont be paying for it either.

If you’ve got no extreme pretensions it’s a perfectly decent area, and what it might lack in sophistication it makes up for in functionality and convenience.

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

Cant get Sky Q. On moving in had to downgrade to Sky HD

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

Quick and efficient, always easy to contact, we have no complaints.

4

Facilities

5

Design

4

Location

5

Value

5

Management

When we discovered this development, the website stated that there would be an on-site concierge to deal with deliveries. When we came to view our flat, there was a manned desk at the door that we were told would be present every day. As soon as the building filled up, Fizzy removed the desk and moved it to the building next-door in order to sell the same to new residents. After questioning Fizzy, they removed all mentions of the concierge from the website.

This would not be an issue if this were a safe area, however unfortunately almost every resident here has had parcels stolen at some point. Just last weekend, the door to the communal “F Club” was smashed open. A few months prior, Fizzy’s office was broken into and their laptops stolen (which they chose not to notify us about). One resident even had their belongings stolen from the lobby when they were moving in!

Fizzy refused to do anything about the security issues for multiple months, and even lied about their intentions. We were told that the concierge was never intended to be permanent, and that “operationally, it is no longer needed”.

It was not until we formed a tenants’ union and requested a meeting with them that they agreed to put a member of the property management team in the lobby from 9-5 Monday to Friday and a security guard out of hours. We have been told this is a temporary solution, so in Fizzy fashion it is likely this will disappear again at some point.

There is no adequate signage for the development. Receiving deliveries is a lucky dip – you never know which building the driver will go to! Almost every delivery driver complains about the lack of signage. We have reported this to the Fizzy team a number of times, their solution was to install a small plaque on one of the buildings (which, to nobody’s surprise, did not resolve the issue). Even the emergency services are unable to reliably identify the building. We are told that this will be improved with some larger vinyl signs and totem poles in the future.

The internet, which was one of the positive things I commented on previously, no longer works in the evenings and this will be the case for the foreseeable future. OFNL (the network provider) have said that there is not enough capacity for the size of these buildings. Fizzy were notified of this in December but did not notify residents of this due to their email servers being down when the email was sent.

The quality of the finish in the units is very poor. The paint used is water-soluble, so any water on the walls (including the kitchen backsplash!) will cause the paint to smear and/or rub off. The paint on the walls and skirting boards chip and flake off extremely easily. The vinyl flooring has been glued to the heated floor, causing the glue to melt and vinyl to come off.

The bin room is almost always full, due to some residents who are extremely lazy and cannot pack down their recycling or even put it into a bin. This, along with a leak, led to there being rats in the bin room for a long time…. although I am told that they are gone now.

Almost every issue that you bring up to the property management team will be deflected on to a third party. Due to the fact that this is a new build, it is currently in a “defects period”. This means that any issues have to be resolved by the building contractor (Vistry), rather than Fizzy’s own suppliers. Unfortunately, Vistry are useless, and will leave you waiting for repairs for weeks. As much as I appreciate that Fizzy cannot do anything about the third parties they are required to work with, they cannot in good faith say that this is “hassle-free renting”.

Post doesn’t seem to arrive half of the time, and when it does, it’s weeks late. I’ve made several complaints with Royal Mail but not one has been followed up on. I’m missing multiple cards from over the holiday period.

The referencing process was a complete failure, with Fizzy telling me I was not earning enough money to afford the rent. In the end, we had to delay our move-in by a week in order to give Fizzy enough time to complete the referencing. This was a week of rent that we paid for and never received because we were told it would be too much paperwork to change the contract.

My surname was spelled wrong on half of my documentation, which is just pretty demoralising to be honest. I spent plenty of time on the phone to suppliers asking them to change my surname because Fizzy got it wrong.

Oh, and if you want to book the communal spaces you have to pay for them now. And pay for them to be professionally cleaned. Great, right?

In general, living here has made me feel stressed, and at times, unsafe. I would recommend waiting for a few months before considering moving to Fizzy. Not only to give them time to resolve the litany of issues that we are experiencing, but also to give them a chance to reconsider their pricing, as the value they provide does not match the current price tag.

Although Fizzy have promised to resolve some of these issues, there is just no way that anyone could consider this a premium rental experience. I feel like I have fallen for a bait and switch scam.

The only positive thing I have to say is that the majority of residents here are fantastic. I have met a lot of great people here, and we have all been united by our shared resentment for Fizzy Living.

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

With the Hallsville Quarter development in full swing, the number of local shops and restaurants keeps increasing. This is exciting and makes up for the noise and dust created by the ongoing construction.

Living next to Canning Town station continues to be useful, and this will only get better as Crossrail stations open nearby at Custom House and Canary Wharf.

Waste management is a big issue in the area. The streets are always littered with rubbish, and bins are not collected on time.

The noise from traffic and the trains is immense. Residents on the track-side were advertised that there is “no noise” but the trains are definitely audible 24/7.

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

* Make sure you listen to the ambient noise levels when you view
* Don’t get scammed by the pet license (some residents do not pay this)
* Read the contract! A lot of the things that are advertised by Fizzy are not actually provided

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

Residents have repeatedly brought up the security issues for almost 6 months, and got ignored by Fizzy every time. It took two break-ins, tens of thefts, and multiple residents complaining before any action was taken.

And then there’s the roof terrace where we have been able to meet our neighbours (which is such a rarity in London… really) and even participate in Doggy Yoga! The views from the roof for New Year were lovely; we often go up to watch the sunset across beautiful London, and in summer the cats love sunbathing out on our own private balcony, looking towards Canary Wharf. We’re so happy here and definitely feel like we made the right decision!

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

Great local amenities, transport links, lovely eateries. The police station down the road does mean it can be a bit noisy at times, but the windows keep out the vast majority of noise!

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

The walls do scuff quite easily so you have to be careful when you move in not to bump into them too much – although they do wipe clean quite easily.

4

Facilities

4

Design

5

Location

4

Value

5

Management

If you’re a remote worker, this is the place to be. They’ve got everything covered. The gym is great, and there’s a co-working space where you can get your work done. And guess what? Free coffee! Plus, there are plenty of cool spaces to hang out and chill. Oh, and even though the pool, sauna, and jacuzzi aren’t open yet, I can already tell they’re going to be awesome additions.

The facilities here are top-notch. The design of the place is modern and stylish, and they’ve paid attention to every little detail. It’s really impressive.

The building management and property management teams are on point. They’re super efficient and always quick to respond to any issues or concerns. They take good care of the property, keeping everything clean and well-maintained.

Honestly, I think this is one of the best places to live in the area. The facilities are great, the team is awesome, and the design is fabulous. It’s a fantastic place to call home, whether you’re a remote worker or just looking for a comfortable and convenient living space.

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

Living in the Bloom nine Elms accommodation near Battersea Power Station is a dream come true! This area has so much to offer, making it an ideal place to live.

First of all, you’ve got all the essentials right at your fingertips. There’s a supermarket just a short walk away, so you can easily grab groceries and other necessities. And don’t forget about the fantastic brands like M&S that are within walking distance. It’s incredibly convenient to have these options nearby.

But the real highlight of living here is Battersea Park. It’s absolutely stunning! The park is a beautiful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can take peaceful walks through the well-maintained gardens or even go boating on the lake. It’s the perfect spot to relax and enjoy nature, and it’s right on your doorstep.

When it comes to practicality, living in Bloom nine Elms has got you covered. Bin collection is a breeze with systems on each floor, so you don’t have to worry about trekking too far to dispose of your trash. And if you need to hop on the tube, Battersea tube station is just a short walk away. It’s incredibly convenient to have easy access to public transportation.

Parking is usually available in the area, which is a big plus. And here’s a neat perk: your guests even get 30 minutes of free parking in the building. It’s a great way to ensure that your loved ones can visit you without any parking hassles.

The traffic around here is generally not too bad, and the building itself does a fantastic job of keeping out noise. So you can enjoy a peaceful and comfortable living space without being disturbed by traffic sounds.

Living in the Bloom nine Elms accommodation near Battersea Power Station is an absolute joy. You have everything you need nearby, from shops to restaurants. Battersea Park is a stunning escape where you can relax and unwind. Transportation is convenient, parking is usually available, and the area is peaceful. It’s truly a wonderful place to call home.

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

Some rules are very strict could be little better as we call it our home

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

Yes your queries are sorted within 48hours, so you dont have to wait.