About Optivo

Optivo are one of the largest housing providers in the UK. Established in 2014, the company manage around 45,000 affordable homes across London, the South East and also the Midlands. Optivo’s aim is to “invest in the quality, safety and environmental sustainability of homes, provide great customer experience and also, be a leading provider of high quality affordable homes”. The company has launched a strategic plan to have started the construction of 7,000 new homes by 2025, 85% of which will be affordable.

Optivo Developments

Optivo at Embassy Gardens is an Optivo development listed on HomeViews. It comprises of 80 apartments, 38 of which are available for shared ownership. As a part of the bigger development by Ballymore, residents here have access to a wide range of amenities. As well as this, Optivo at Embassy Gardens is ideal for walking access to Vauxhall’s transport hub.

Optivo Reviews

I believe i am getting good value for what i have and have had no problems with the building management.” Verified resident at Optivo at Embassy Gardens

You can read more reviews from Optivo residents by clicking on the properties below. Similarly, do you live in an Optivo development? Click here to share your experience with the HomeViews community. As well as this, if you can’t find your residential development listed on HomeViews, you can click here to submit your listing.

Number of Developments

5

Ratings

3.40 Rating

Rating (based on 51 reviews)

Excellent

27.45%

Very Good

39.22%

Average

5.88%

Disappointing

7.84%

Very Poor

19.61%

Developments

MAP

Showing all 5 developments

Optivo reviews

Reviews

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Showing 51 reviews

Segregation and nonexistent customer service.

We moved into our shared ownership apartment (Key workers) two years ago and realised that we were lucky to find an affordable(ish) home so central. We accepted the compromise that Ballymore had situated our block at the back of the building near the train tracks. We were not, however, prepared for the poor service and outright disrespect shown to us by Ballymore. This was apparent from the day we moved in and we were told we could only park our removal van outside the building for half an hour. From that day, every interaction we have had with Ballymore and the concierge team has been a battle. We have the typical “poor door” out of sight of the main entrance but we are also being treated like scrounges when we ask for the services we pay for such as hot water which regularly goes off without any warning.

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

The development is situated close to the river in a central location but is still very much a work in progress.

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

I wish I had known the extent of the discrimination we would be shown as shared owners.

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

They take weeks to reply (if at all) and make vague promises which are never fulfilled.

1
Facilities
1
Design
4
Location
3
Value
1
Management
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Design for Segregation of Social Class with great piece of Architecture work!

Loving the design of the apartment, buildings and surrounding landscape. And also, the location of the development is great!

But unfortunately, the treatment for Shared-ownership residents in this development is very poor. There is no one that we can speak to wherever there’s an issue ongoing in the building, and we did not get any updates with the latest engineering work in the developments.

We do put in large amount of deposit and have to work hard to obtain a mortgage to get our first house. But often got threatening like tenants by the segregation of the design in the development and the management.

The best example of segregation in the neighbourhood:
Darby’s, for me the best Steak restaurant in the area which is located at Phase 2 Legacy building. They did not include us as part of the Embassy Garden family, where the private tenant will be able to get 10% off and was invited to their opening night. None of us got any sort of notification from our management and also Ballymore.

I was asked about my residents status when I called the Legacy building Private concierge to complain about the Party and music noise after 12 midnight in the neighbourhood. And the response wasn’t great when I told them I’m not the private tenant. Should I perhaps call the Police next time round??

Conditions of the Entrances on the Ace way are no longer maintained, and window never cleaned 4 times a year as planned.

Designated gardens for different residents type. There are more gardens for private tenants only in the development and its access by an electric fob. But the roof garden was initially for the use of Shared-ownership residents. But recently it has Social housing tenants using it for their leisure. How is this segregation of leisure space different from the segregation playground scandals back in 2019? Especially the needs of open space during the COVID-era.

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

Pros:
Great landscape with high quality of landscaping choice of greenery.
Architecture responsive well with the site
Great choice of colours and materials on the architecture design
Close to the upcoming Nine Elms Station (Subject to the completion of the access through the railway arch)
Great connection to the existing cycle network nearby

Cons
Obvious Segregation over the tenant type with and poorly serves by the management of Ballymoor and Housing Association,
Grouping Shared-ownership residents with the Social Housing Tenant into the same type of Residents in the area, which they called it as the Affordable Housing Tenant. They often refer us as the Ace Way, due to our entrances are located on the same street.
Service Charge for the Shared-ownership Residents is too high for residents who don’t have access to any amenities apart from the Bicycle storage, especially it is the price is not far off from the Private Tenant.
Segregated Entrances for non-private Tenants and the interior finishes of the entrances are the same between Shared-ownership and Social Housing. Extreme hierarchy of class is exhibiting in this development.
Not allowing any negotiation of letting Shared-ownership Residents to perhaps upgrade our service charge to be able to use the amenities.
Shared-ownership Residents do not get any invitation for the openings or discount for the restaurants nearby, which the Private does.

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

Bad communication between us and Housing association, also Ballymore. Lacking of updates on the latest engineering works around the neighbourhood.

Complaints are not responding well and we were having a hard time to organise a Residential Association due to the restrictions from the Housing Association.

1
Facilities
3
Design
3
Location
2
Value
1
Management
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Ballymore is horrible

I am share ownership in this development.
We don’t have any service, no concierge, no Allowed to go to amenities. We treat us a second class citizens.
They management is terrible.
We pay a expensive service charge and we don’t received any service.
The quality of the properties is horrible. Everything is cheap done

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

The areas is still on development. There are not too many shops at the moment

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

Very bad service

1
Facilities
1
Design
1
Location
1
Value
1
Management
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Amazing from the developers. Let down by the council

Very happy with Persimmon so far, they have been very quick and easy to fix any snags. The builders on the site have gone beyond what they would need to do to help residents out.

Unfortunately from talking with the developers it is the local council who have not allowed this development to live up to its full potential, allowing the residents to really get their money’s worth. In some ways the council have put the aesthetics of the development way above security and safety for those living here.

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

Small village with lots of green areas and local shop.
Mostly quiet but sometimes spoilt by the bellowing of the residents of the council properties.

No street lights in the development which is not ideal. The development could have been made better if the council allowed garages and changed the location of the pavements.

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

The development is close to the train line and a small crossing further up, the train has to sound its horn for the crossing.

What is the best feature of your home:

The amount of space that is used and the functionality

5
Facilities
3
Design
5
Location
4
Value
4
Management
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These reviews are the subjective opinion of a HomeViews member and not of HomeViews

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