The Palm House, HA3

Since moving to the Palm House I've felt so at home, meeting new residents and building some many connections that I would of never have met if I lived in a normal private flat. The Building is always clean and the staff are always so friendly it really puts me in the right mood before I head off into the city.

I had the pleasure to stay at Palm House for 3 months. I had not previously stayed in a co-living building. However, my search parameters led me to Folk. The experience far exceeded my initial ideas of how the stay would go. From the facilities in the building, to the events run by the management company which were always first rate and varied to the amazing other residents. It is truly a place that you could either stay in your own studio or join in when you wanted to. The other residents made living there a joy and would recommend it to anyone. Especially people who this their first time in London/country or like me arriving back after a few years and know it is not always easy to meet people in a new City. Staying at Palm House is like making instant friends from varied backgrounds that enjoy spending time with you and respect your thoughts and backgrounds.

Love the modern design of everything, i am quite house proud so I do enjoy showing my friends and family over facetime how nice it is here! Especially the rooftop. The facilities have been easy to use too. I am happy to have found this place!........

Building: Eight stories in total, the Palm House is a nice looking building. It has a (short stay) parking area by the side, which your delivery drivers can use when bringing food, shopping or your moving in day bags! Studio: The studios come in a range of sizes. I chose the "biggest" size. It has a nice double bed, a deceptively large amount of storage space and an excellent supply of plug points (which have usb charging too, saving you plugging in a charger!). There's a full length pull down window blind - as you would expect, the window opens a limited amount for safety reasons. Sadly not enough to allow you to stick an air conditioner hose out of it, which means the studio can get hot in summer (June to August hovered around 25 deg C). The kitchen has a combi microwave oven built in, a mixer tap on the sink and an induction hob. There's a fire blanket next to the kitchen and an extraction system (intake near bed, out valves near kitchen and in bathroom) to reduce humidity etc. Sometimes a bit noisy, and can be on in the evening.... The TV is a good size and comes with a range of channels. It has an HDMI cable, so I've just plugged my Sky Stream box in it to get more ... eg cinema etc. Seating includes a work areas with two chairs and a small table. Not really big enough for two people at the table with computers and "stuff", but fine for just me. There is a "breakfast bar" with a stool, so you can sit there - so long as you don't mind being on the stool instead of a chair. The bathroom is bigger than I expected, with a shower and wc. Everything works fine but the flush is the type where you have to "press the button in", which takes more effort than some other types. Community areas: Once you leave your studio, you can go to the balconies on the fifth and eighth floors to get fresh (for London) air. But it can be windy! Floor eight also has the community kitchen (good size, with air fryers), laundry, "bridge" (quiet workspace area) and more. Normally there are only a few people up there, but it can get busier for events etc. There's a gym on the first floor (with free filtered water on tap to refill your water bottle), and a large workspace area on the ground floor - think wework. It can get busy, so you need to go and find a spot before it goes if you're picky! Building management: The team is friendly and helpful, with 24 hour staffing. Sometimes there's nobody at the desk, but in that case there's a number to call. I particularly find Daniel, Lily, Chante and Callum keen to explain how to sort stuff when I have questions - though the rest of the team are friendly too. App: there's a "Folk app" which allows you to book maintenance, vacuum cleaners, mop etc. You can also use it to send messages and it does have guides to refer to eg re appliances, renting and more. Verdict; It may not appear cheap (because it isn't really), but if you find your own place you have none of a) on site staff for security b) bills paid in the cost (no heating, council tax, electricity, water, gym access or workspace access charges on top). In Harrow this year that's likely to be a saving on £150 council tax, £30 heating and electricity, £30 water, £20 gym access and £30 (random) workspace - with no commuting time required. So you likely save around £300 per month or more - and you can't be sure equivalent facilities elsewhere would be the same quality. I've met a number of residents, and people are keen to chat and say hello. Mail and parcels are delivered to a secure area with an access code - but the couriers don't always scan each parcel so sometimes you have to physically check or look at eg the Amazon app to see if stuff has arrived. Verdict: It's better than normal renting - easy to meet people, you're not trapped in a flat and unlike some places that are coliving style, there are no extra costs to add). If you're doing a short space in London or waiting to move into someone permanent later, it can be a good option for the interim.

The design of the development is fantastic. The shared spaces like the coworking area, lounges, laundrette, and roof terrace are all well thought out. The MasterChef-style kitchen is a great addition, though I mainly cook in my own studio, which has everything I need, including a lovely balcony in my case. The development promotes a great sense of community, with a range of events and clubs that make it easy to connect with others. The management here is a step up from other similar places I’ve lived. Maintenance is quick to resolve any issues, and the staff are incredibly friendly, always with a “can-do” attitude. A huge shout-out to Lily at reception – she could easily win a ‘Best Host’ Oscar. She combines friendliness with a genuine interest in everyone, always making sure you feel heard and valued. Zayad, the cleaner, deserves a mention too for going the extra mile while staying super friendly. The community vibe here is brilliant. Callum, the events planner, is another highlight, bringing creativity and energy to every event. Absolute star coming up with events and clubs that bring the community together and gives us joy.