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Conditions of the Entrances on the Ace way are no longer maintained, and window never cleaned 4 times a year as planned.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