Hendon Waterside, NW9

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

Know what you’re getting into. We spent hours looking at online reviews and were ultimately swayed to buy two years ago by some of the glowing reports here and in other places. The harp is stunning and the walking trails are a real highlight but that’s where anything positive I have to say ends unfortunately. FirstPort are a walking scan and do nothing…almost literally. It’s been hell trying to resolve issues with them, most notably security-based ones. The area is Afghani dominant and that is all well and good until you have to deal with the gangs, the anti-social behaviour (they use like bikes to deal drugs and steal phones), the constant littering, threats (homophobia and the like) and breaking into blocks constantly. The local councillor, Ernest, has tried for a year with these issues but between Barratt, FirstPort and the local policing team, nobody seems willing or able to fix or assist in any way. It’s a dump. Take your hard-earned money somewhere else, these properties aren’t likely to rise in value based on the inaction and general state of the area.

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

They haven’t. Years of emails go ignored, we are actively gaslight by them and then when they offer to meet and supply dates (at their request), the radio silence begins. People feel unsafe, unheard and bitterly disappointed and angry.

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

How awful FirstPort are and how many gangs operate, at will and seemingly without fear of consequence, in this badly run down area.

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

Near to train station and there are now some new shops in the area. There is the current absence of a good restaurant.

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

Yes - all addressed very swiftly and in an understanding manner.

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

It may have been good to understand the electricity meter is in the basement which means I cannot currently get a smart meter due to no reception

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

The area is not safe properly Management is awful The people who live here are I unorganised

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

Management is awful no one care about any issues Just I can say zero

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

Bad

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

set back off the main road, the development is super quiet & you can't hear passing cars. the apartments well lit and receive a good amount of sunlight. as the area is still being developed - the parking spots are very limited

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

9/10 basically amazing of the course of the 7 years, bar 1 issue which i thought was really poor on their part

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

limited number of parking spots

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

There is quite a lot of anti-social behavior in the area, lots of drug dealing, theft & crime. I see or hear about a car being broken into around three times a week which is unfortunate. I've witnessed a lot of drug dealing and often people doing drug in the children's parks. There is a lot of litter on the development but that is down to the management company not being efficient.

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

The building management are below average, unfortunately for the price you pay for service charge they are useless; I have enough examples that I could sit here a write all day.

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

I think any questions you have about where you live ensure the sales team put it all in writing as we were verbally lied to so that they could get a quick sale. I'd also say you need lots of patience and expect to have to chase often in order to get a response from Barratt, aftersales, and the property management company first port.