About Metropolitan Thames Valley

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

Local area is good. Good transport links and quality of town centre.
Parking on the development is awful, a handful of visitor parking spaces for hundreds of residents and no disabled spaces.

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

Unknown costs and increasing service charges which will not be reflected in the level of service received.

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

I genuinely would reconsider even buying the flat in the first place. Being a first time buyer and shared ownership these flats are meant to be a gateway for people to get onto the property ladder but my flat is quickly becoming a stress that your home shouldn’t be.

Facilities – parking good but could do with guest parking. Roof terrace very nice with views into central London. Would benefit from having a seating area up there. Communal garden – nice facility/option to have. Rarely use it as it’s overlooked and prefer private balcony. Could do with replanting in some areas. Communal spaces cleaned regularly.

Building/property management – seems reasonable as service charge is quite low. All maintenance issues I’ve reported have been actioned and resolved quickly. in general building kept clean and tidy.

I have had some issues in resolving minor defects work as company is slow to reply to emails.

No major complaints- overall feel like I have got very good value for money.

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

Shops: Big Sainsbury’s near by and Lidl under construction locally. Other shopping in immediate area isn’t great but it’s easy to get to bigger shopping areas (Wembley park/Westfield s/Ealing Broadway) on public transport or by car. Close to DIY stores and ikea. Overall pretty convenient but could be better.

Hospitality: Nice Pub down the road. Nice coffee shop by station. Lots of Indian/asian restaurants and other takeaways locally. More hospitality venues planned/under construction will benefit the area. Good nightlife/venues slightly further afield e.g. Ealing or Wembley park – both easily accessible – also a theater in Wembley park and bowling/cinema etc in nearby Acton. Overall it’s ok but could do with more choice in the immediate area.

Open spaces: there is a sports ground/park nearby as well as a park overlooking Wembley in the immediate area. These are nice enough but can sometimes be issues with litter. There are nicer parks a short walk/cycle down the canal towpath (canal is also nice if walking in a westerly direction). Would be nice if the more local parks were better looked after. There is a landscaped park area under construction in a new development.

Transport: Bus stops outside building and other bus routes leave from nearby Sainsbury’s these go through Wembley and Wembley park or south to Ealing Broadway. Short walk to Alperton tube on picadilly line (zone 4) slightly longer walk to hangar lane for central line (zone three) both have regular tubes into central London. Outstanding road links – easy access to NC & M40.

Street: busy road but not invasive due to triple glazing. Can be loud on balcony. Issues with litter in the area need to be addressed – lots of empty drinks cans etc.rubish collection seems regular enough (weekly) Private parking in development – parking on road is free overnight and on Sundays. Space quite limited.

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

More info on other development in the area including the commercial space below the building.

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

I would install Aircon or a cooling system for the summer months.

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

Nowhere near enough parking. Good transport links, bus stop next to local shop 100 yards away.

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

Parking is a joke. If I’d have known this place was so poor for parking I wouldn’t have moved here. Build quality is also very poor, it seems the developers intentions were to get this complex up for as cheap as possible to gain the highest margin of profit. Unfortunalty after living here for 8 months I am now looking to move into a new home.

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

Lift and intercom systems have had to be fixed many times. Why not just get it right in the first place? But any thing that has been broken in terms of community use has been responded to quickly.

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

The development is on an industrial estate and to get to any decent shops you either need to drive or get the bus. We were told we would have a row of shops but only one has been built and the rest of the units are being turned into flats. There is a national park close by which has some lovely views and a proper kids play area.
The ‘park’ on the estate is a death trap waiting to happen though with it just being chunks of wood attached together there are no swings or slides etc.
Parking is an absolute nightmare where not every property has been allocated a space, a PCM company has now been employed against the residents wishes. There is only 6 visitor spaces allocated for 5 blocks of flats which is ridiculous.
We pay for a grounds keeper, window washer and cleaning company in our service charge but none of these have visited the development in months leaving the area looking very unkept.
The main road is dangerous and is used as a race track for boy racers which has been ignored by MPs, Police and MTVH.
Anti-social behaviour is also ignored with peoples mental health taking a massive hit due to lack of help from MTVH.
The flats themselves are lovely, with nice big rooms and windows and decent appliances installed but i know some residents have struggled with leaks and damp already.

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

Perfect for those looking to get on the property ladder but dont plan on it being your permenant home

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

Terribly, we are still living in noise hell despite constant complaints. Can never reach anyone and when you do get through your promised a call back that never happens.