Legal & General Affordable Homes

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

It's a very good area, lots of shops, cafes, restaurants and good transport links. Disappointed that they didn't allocate a parking space to each flat, which would have been good and fair. So only certain people had the privilege to have a parking space or even 2 spaces in the underground car park. Traffic noise is there, but isn't that bad once you get used to it.

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

Shared ownership is actually a bit of a con. You can only buy a certain percentage because on paper you don't earn enough for the banks to lend you more money, but the rent part is so high that paying that with your part mortgage comes to around the amount you would pay if you were able to get the full mortgage.

What is the best feature of your home:

It's hard to think of what is the best feature, as the general workmanship is to a very poor standard, that the whole flooring is uneven. But the carpet in the bedroom is quite nice.

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

Quiet. Local amenities approximately 1 mile away. Transport links are brilliant. Oakwood station just down the road

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

Wish we had access to Trent Park’s gym. But saying that, Trent Park is a short walk away, so you always have access to that

What is the best feature of your home:

Kitchen. Full of brand new appliances. And broadband for most suppliers ready installed

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

It’s great being close to Westfield - lots of options for food and drink plus activities! Also great travel links to the city

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

I haven’t had any issues with the building but they did do a routine visit to ask

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

The bills are higher than expected as gas and electric are separate with separate standing charges

What is the best feature of your home:

The location - it’s great being near Westfield. I also love the size of the bedroom

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

The development is in a great area. Aldi is right next door which is perfect and extremely handy. There’s a pub/restaurant right round the corner which serves great food and has a lovely outdoor space that allows dogs too. Southend airport is within walking distance (20 mins) with even more shops to choose from. Prittlewell train station is also within walking distance (15 mins) and runs very frequently, starting early and finishing late which is very handy for London workers. Priory park is right next door with an abundance of green space and a great place to walk dogs, have a picnic, or just a morning/evening walk. Some more food choices around the corner (10 min walk) such as Chinese food, Subway, bakery, etc. Traffic noise is fine, the roads on the development are generally quiet. Parking can be a bit chaotic at times, but everyone has their designated spot(s). Bin collections are fine with some dog poo bins available at the start and end of the development. A very friendly and neighbourly development, with everyone looking out for each other.

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

Not all issues - e.g gardening. They don’t remove the weeds, they just mow over them so they return within a week or 2.

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

I told the building management company they should make a ‘tip’ sheet for first time buyers. As they were marketing at this demographic, there were a lot of things I didn’t know - how to turn the water on for the dishwasher and washer/dryer. How to configure the existing cabling to allow satellite TV (they were going to send an engineer out until I played around with it enough - they themselves should have a troubleshooting guide). Etc.

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

Traffic. Close to road on front side on road emergency services used Bus park in front of building so always buses parked outside

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

I am not directly involved in group but there is some back and forth between residents and management

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

None. Building was as advertised and the documentation clear