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Located in Gillingham, The Kell is a Build to Rent development managed by Way of Life. It offers 192 new apartments with a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments. As well as this, development is pet-friendly and residents have access to an onsite team with 24/7 CCTV security. Furthermore residents can benefit from secure bike storage and private balconies with views over the Chatham Docks.
The Kell, ME4 Reviews
Write a Review Upload PhotosModern, stylish, spotlessly clean, great security, superb views and an excellent management team!
Brand new building with a modern stylish design. Everything you could possibly need: bike racks, secure parcel room, secure mailbox, super-fast broadband, great building security, a great on-site team. The buildings are cleaned regularly so they’re always spotlessly clean. A lovely roof-top garden where you can sit and enjoy the views of the water (and weather!) as well as a communal sitting room (again with great views of the water ) if you fancy getting away from things for an hour or two. Over all, I’m really impressed with and more than happy to be living at The Kell.
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
Walking distance to a local supermarket (Asda), pub and a stones throw away from a large shopping centre with various restaurants, etc. (Dockside). Great transport links into London either by train or car.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
I was informed of everything from the moment I viewed the property and was kept up-to-date throughout the application process.
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
Susan, Patricia and the rest of building management team are excellent. Always willing to help, friendly and super-fast to respond to any queries or issues I’ve had. If the powers that be read these reviews: keep hold of them; they’re golden and in my opinion, a massive credit to your organisation!
Manager Response
Andy,
Many thanks for your fantastic feedback and we do hope you’re settling in well.
Your comments on the overall design, appliances and quality of the management team are really enjoyable to read.
As always, you know where we are if you ever need anything.
Best Wishes,
The Kell Team
Good short term property
The apartments are well designed but the have been issues with burst pipes causing apartments to flood. Building management team changed frequently when we first moved in but current team is very good. Roof garden and common room are well maintained.
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
Parking expensive both on and off site, poor transport links, limited restaurants, area can be noisy
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
High level of students within apartments who do not respect the building
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
Yes, the current team are very proactive and provide a good level of communication
Manager Response
Hi Tony,
Thankyou for your review of The Kell it is greatly received and if I can be of any further assistance within your stay with us please always let me know
Kind Regards Daniella
It’s not worth the money
Management has rarely survived at the Kell , to many complaints for them to handle I suspect . The flats were quickly taken over by people doing and selling drugs . There is a major pigeon issue come the warmer weather to the point you can not have your windows open or they come in , so noisy and messy . People party in the nice weather til early hours . The flats near by are also noisy . Parking is very expensive . Wifi / network has continuously got issues and often doesn’t work . The actual lay out of the flat and once inside I love my flat . It’s a shame about everything. Else . Most appear to be leaving rather than staying recently and I understand why . The rent is super high for the standard we get . Lots of new builds coming up around , they maybe better . New manager is now in place , who knows how long she will last , I must say though a general issues I find her very responsive, so there is perhaps hope .
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
Ideal for commuting as just 20 mins walk to the station . Ideal location for shops . The is a local park called the Strand it’s not somewhere I would call safe . Nonetheless it is popular. Around the station area it is full of drugs as is the high street. Lots of police at the station to try and combat this .
Easy to get on motorway . Whilst Gillingham isn’t the nicest of areas , I chose this as its on lower Gillingham and near work and near ish my sons school. The apartments looked classier than the most part .
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
Noise , drugs., poor management, pigeons , rent increase
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
When I’ve had issues I’ve had to chase to get heard particularly at the start of my tenancy
Manager Response
Dear Resident ,
Thank you for taking the time to write us a review. It is extremely important for us to receive feedback from our residents, whether positive or negative.
I am saddened to read about your experiences at The Kell thus far and I am keen to understand this more.
I would love the opportunity to discuss and resolve any grievances, as the Building Manager for the development it is my No 1 priority to insure, we have a happy community at The Kell. If you are happy to do so, please email thekell@wayoflife.com so that a suitable time/date can be arranged.
Kind Regards
Daniella
Terrible management and practices
Management of the building terrible. I saw so many staff came and go because management was that bad and the staff hated it there. The new manager is terrible also, she acts like she has so much authority and believes she can enter your flat WITHOUT your permission just because she gives 24 hours notice. Which is not legal nor true, the tenant must also approve the key being used and your fault being entered. She did this twice even thought after the first I asked her not too. She didn’t care and nor did the building a management when I brought to their attention.
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
Too much security, felt like a prison. I’ve also lived in a hostel before and it felt like that. Asda nearby so that’s good. Parking horrendous and overpriced. £120 a month! I paid much less in London. Spaces are tiny and not enough room. Good quality building. Weed smell throughout the whole building. Could not open my windows as it would come in very strongly. Even came in without my windows open through the buildings vent system.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
Everything. Had I known the things I would not have moved.
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
No not sufficiently without making excuses all the time
Good
The building is in a good location its always kept clean quite. The extra hall hiring is really good and unusual for a landlord to give it out to tenants for free. Also the bike parking area is also helpfull staff are really friendly. The mail room comes in handy when am not available to receive a parcel.
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
The property layout is really good but I think it could do with a better heating system and also free parking for tenants like other surrounding properties
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
Wish I new there no Parking around the area the place I was told about parking. I was given wrong information
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
The Internet went down the other day and I received a quick response
Manager Response
Dear Resident,
Thankyou so much for taking the time to leave us a review it is greatly appreciated and we welcome your positive comments on the accommodation and features of the sitting room and parcel room that appeal.
Always here to help
Kind Regards Daniella
Fantastic
The development is wonderful. The staff have been so helpful and helped us settle in really well. The facilities here are so clear and lovely and we have only been here one day and love it so much already. The flat itself is so lovely and the kitchen is done perfectly
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
The property is really close to supermarkets and there is a good entertainment selection around. It is close to the train station and the main roads
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
I wish I had known that there were trolleys for move in as we discovered this when we have almost moved all our stuff in
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
The building management have been fantastic. Our gate fob was not working and they replaced it straight away. Lovely people!
Manager Response
Hi Ellen,
Thankyou for your review, I have loved welcoming you to The Kell with your partner and I am so pleased that you are settling in well and enjoying the development and your apartment.
I’m always here to help
Warm Regards
Daniella
Honestly, I’d avoid The Kell
I’m suspicious of all the positive reviews that popped up around October 2022, which is when The Kell hired a new building manager, who offered tenants some posh biscuits in exchange for a positive review on this very website.
In short, The Kell is very over-priced, poorly managed – both by the on-site team and the head office – poorly built and thoroughly disappointing. If you’re considering a move here – I’d reconsider another of the many residential developments that have popped up in the area.
We moved in last year, as the first tenants to live in our flat.
When we arrived, everything seemed like it was relatively well built and of semi-decent quality for a build-to-rent property. However, more than a year down the line – as I write this review, we still live here but will be leaving the moment our tenancy ends – things aren’t faring too well, and the apartments are starting to show their age already.
We’ve seen other apartments that have since been vacated, and they look like they’ve been lived in for decades – not occupied for less than two years. Keep this in mind if you’re planning a move here, as the management team don’t appear to spruce them up before new people move in. The finishes in the kitchen, bathroom(s) and bedrooms are terrible (bad paintwork etc.) – and extremely low quality.
The bathrooms are poorly designed.
The on-site management team don’t seem to stay for long, so no long term issues get sorted. The staff we’ve encountered have either been rude, de-motivated or lazy. Some of them tick all three of those boxes.
It takes ages to get legitimate issues sorted – that’s if they get sorted at all.
Annoyingly, with maintenance issues, we’ve reported, we hear nothing for several days, and then without any notice whatsoever, we get workmen turning up at bizarre times to attempt to fix whatever the issue is. However, more often than not they’ve sent an electrician to do a plumbers job, so the problem doesn’t get fixed anyway.
The only staff members that have been consistent since we’ve lived here are the cleaners, and they do a fairly decent job and are often here on Sundays doing their best. However, the management could probably do well to hire a few more cleaners, as there is a skeleton staff expected to clean 14 floors across two buildings.
Way Of Life itself are a bit of a dire company – the head office staff we have dealt with tend to pay lip service to issues raised. Their other properties are a bit more glamorous – and probably more proftiable than The Kell – so I suspect they don’t much care what happens here, which is probably why they don’t give it the resources it needs.
The building is advertised as Pet-Friendly – although you are charged extra if you want them to live here. However, there are a tenants here who don’t seem to like dogs – and are often quite vocal about it. Perhaps when conducting viewings, it’s wise to mention to potential tenants that people here have dogs / cats / birds and if they’re not comfortable, perhaps it’s not a good idea to live in a so-called pet-friendly building. Though I guess it’s hard to be honest with people if it’s going to harm the bottom line.
The Kell is also close to Asda – which again presents its own problems, as some tenants like to bring their trollies home and leave them outside. One would assume this building and the adjacent development would have some agreement with Asda to make sure they collect their trollies. But no. This does further cheapen the area, and becomes hazardous when they block doorways etc.
There’s also a bit of a drug problem in the building – predominantly weed (and the people here smoke the cheap stuff, so it absolutely stinks) and previous tenants have mentioned they’ve left because of this, especially those with kids.
Your apartment will come with “high speed” internet – however, it’s notoriously unreliable and often goes down for hours and hours on end. The current building manager refuses to accept responsibility for the WiFi… this comes despite the fact it’s being provided (by Freshwave) as a utility in the same way as, say the white goods.
Unfortunately, I don’t really have anything positive to say about The Kell – other than its close proximity to London makes it easy to get away from.
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
Close to Asda and Lidl, which makes the weekly shop nice and convenient.
However, overall, Gillingham/Chatham is quite a deprived, run-down area, despite regeneration efforts that have been going on for decades, but with little progress.
So it’s kind of akin to living in a very overpriced council estate. I have nothing against council estates – however, I certainly wouldn’t pay almost £2k a month to live in one.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
We were initially told that they would be selective about the tenants they allowed to rent here, but that doesn’t seem to be the case – hence the drug problems, loud neighbours. I live here with my family, but above us are some extremely loud students who constantly move furniture around at 3 am, and generally make things even more unpleasant. We have raised this to the building manager, but again – more tumbleweed.
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
Some issues are resolved, but often slowly. Some issues – especially the long-term stuff – gets ignored or forgotten about as the on-site staff don’t stay around for long.
Manager Response
Hi Pam,
Thank you for taking the time to write us a review. It is extremely important for us to receive feedback from our residents, whether positive or negative.
I am saddened to read about your experiences at The Kell thus far and I am keen to understand this more.
I would love the opportunity to discuss and resolve any grievances, as the Building Manager for the development it is my No 1 priority to insure, we have a happy community at The Kell. If you are happy to do so, please email thekell@wayoflife.com so that a suitable time/date can be arranged.
Kind Regards
Daniella
Roger’s review
Good facilities. Some tenants create the down side with dogs urinate in lift and they do not clean it up. Also tenants overfill the rubbish bins near the door when there are several empty bins available.
Lifts a bit slow in general overall very good
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
Close to supermarkets and main roads. Very convenient for me.
Parking is limited and balcony very exposed
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
Car park space quite tight and limited with no space for visitors
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
I have had no problem s but always approachable and pleasant
Manager Response
Hi Roger,
Thankyou for your review of The Kell, and I’m sorry to hear there are a few areas that you feel could be improved upon, glad your overall experience is positive and I will ensure as the Building Manager that I address the points you have made. Always here to help many Thanks Daniella
If you’re looking for an apartment for a small size family in Gillingham then you’d love the Kell
The design at the Kell is superb and up to date. The apartment is spacious open plan living with ensuite master bedroom and fully furnished to taste.
The managers of the building are very warm and excellent at what they do. They attend promptly to any concerns you raise.
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
We are well surrounded by local shops within walkable distance eg Lidl, ASDA and Tesco. The transport network is great as there are a number of bus stops within the neighborhood and the train station is a short away.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
That would be the fact that parking isn’t available for all tenants
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
They are very responsive with issues of maintenance. The only time I raised a concern it was fixed within 48hours.
Manager Response
Hi Godwin,
Thankyou for your positive review of The Kell is wonderful to hear your feedback and we will continuing to maintain the standards that our residents expect.
Always hear to help
Warm Regards Daniella
Amazing Way of Life!
The building management and property management people are excellent, There was a small leak in my apartment but it was fixed the next day. The guys on reception are very helpful with any inquiries you have about anything including parking. The design of the building including the lifts Are excellent. I have found it to be quite a warm building and I haven’t actually turned on my heating at all, I am now into my 2nd year there And I am very happy to stay.
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
Fantastic building I have just renewed my lease. The security aspect of the building is out of this world, There really is nothing like it in Gillingham. There is some noise from the Commercial units nearby Which can be a little annoying At night.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
Security is priority for me, even down to the carpark. You will not find better around here..
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
Yes and always responded promptly and professionally.
Manager Response
Hi Nev,
Thankyou for your positive review of The Kell and your apartment, its wonderful to have this feedback and we are thrilled to have you with us continuing your stay.
Always hear to help
Warm Regards Daniella
I give the Kell a 100% trust me when I say I’m impressed!
I really appreciate the designs and facilities and the building management and property management. I give them an excellent one, especially those at the reception. Furkan and Colleague, they are very welcoming and patient putting on a smile always and very professional. I really got attracted to this place because of them. Their communication skills is 100% and I really love it
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
A good proximity to variety of shops.
Very close to major bus stops
Don’t like the parking availability, we don’t need to pay for parking space with separately.
Bin collection is excellent and everything else is very good.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
I viewed the apartment and was happy about all I saw except the residence parking which I didn’t totally understand or like the idea of paying a separate fee apart from the rent
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
They have been excellent, and times when they need more time before acting they do well to communicate properly
Manager Response
Hi Debbie,
Thankyou for your fantastic review of The Kell, its wonderful to hear your feedback and it is greatly appreciated. We are thrilled that you like the design and facilities of the building and receive a warm welcome.
Always hear to help
Warm Regards Daniella
Facilities
Balcony
Bike Parking
Coworking
Communal Gardens
Lounge
Parcel Lockers
Parking
Pet Friendly
Secure Storage
Security
WiFi Included
