Vonder Bradstowe, HA1

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Rating: ⭐☆☆☆☆ (If negative stars were possible, this would deserve one) This property used to be a true five-star residence under Greystar Management — a team that set benchmarks in professionalism, efficiency, and resident care. For over seven years, I experienced outstanding service across every function — from the front office to maintenance, property management, and accounts. Unfortunately, ever since management shifted to HCGB, Vonder, and LRC, the quality of service has declined drastically. The once passionate, proactive, and resident-focused culture has been replaced by apathy, delays, and complete lack of accountability. Whether it’s the lettings, credit, repairs, or management teams, there is no sense of ownership or enthusiasm to do justice to their roles. Even viewing requests now seem like an inconvenience to the team rather than an opportunity to serve potential residents. It’s deeply disappointing to see how a property that once stood as a model of excellence has lost its charm and credibility. My seven years of pleasant stay and admiration for this place have been completely tarnished by this shift in management. If there were an option for negative stars, this experience would certainly merit one. For now, a single star will have to represent the deep contrast between the former Greystar era and the current mismanagement.

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

Management finds it below their dignity to respond to tenants issues

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

do not trust the new property management team and do not expect any response even for dire exigencies

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Living here under HCGB has been a nightmare. When HCGB took over Bradstowe House from Greystar, we thought we’d give them the benefit of the doubt. Big mistake. Our lift has been broken for nearly three months — three months of carrying shopping, luggage, and even heavy deliveries up the stairs — with nothing but the same excuse: “We’ve ordered the parts.” No timeline, no urgency, no progress. Under Greystar, issues were handled in a day or two. Now, we feel ignored. Simple maintenance requests vanish into thin air, and our daily lives are made harder by a management team that doesn’t seem to care. It’s exhausting, frustrating, and completely unacceptable. If you’re thinking about renting in a property run by HCGB, save yourself the stress and look elsewhere.

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

We are totally ignored under HCGB management team and would want everyone to avoid renting any apartments which under HCGB maintenance

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

If HCGB was the property management team I would have definitely avoided renting the apartment

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Greatly assessable shopping for day-to-day runnings, home improvements and restaurants/groceries from various outlets

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

Yes, but you would have to very patient. As it’s not completely in a timing manner. Eg exhausted fan stopped working. Issue raised on the 3rd, engineer assigned on the 15th and we are still waiting for the engineer to come through. It’s just one of a many issues that had been put forward.

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

How warm this building can really get during the summer and the poor circulation of air flow due to how windows throughout the building have been constructed.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Very convenient location close to Harrow-on-the-Hill station, high street and shopping centres with Morrisons just opposite the building.

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

No, they are slow and unresponsive. There have been errors and mistakes from the account credit control department which constantly issued wrong chasers to tenants who already paid their rent.

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

There used to on-site maintenance support which was responsive and reliable before the change in ownership and management prior to November 2024. The concierge service and on-site management team of four would support all issues from rent payment to renewal, furniture provision, maintenance and repairs etc. Unfortunately the existing property management no longer provides any support since the change in November 2024.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Its a good location with lots of high street shopping and eating options. Parking is in the basement and is decent.

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

They don’t respond for days, there is no way to escalate and they just avoid addressing any concerns.

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

I would have not extended my lease if I knew about the transition from Greystar to VONDER.