ArtHouse, N1C

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

Great variety of food and activities. Great accessibility to stations. Unfortunately, can get a bit crowded during summer time. Can get noisy from crowd or traffic.

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

Response are a bit too slow sometimes or lack of action is taken.

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

Living on higher floor means further away from noise and better night views.

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

Everything nearby is pretty expensive, but otherwise love the area. Not too loud at night and I feel safe walking around alone even in the middle of the night while drunk

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

Generally very helpful. My washing machine wasn't working, and it was fixed while I was away on holiday, so that was great.

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

There isn't air conditioning in my flat, so knowing that I would've bought a fan sooner.

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

Access to basics and a neighbourhood vibe. However, in last 1.5 years it’s become too busy and loud. There are new bars (Gas station) that disrespect the fact they are based in a neighbourhood and are open way past the licenses hour. This invites antisocial behaviour from people who drink outside on the green patches, leaving dirt and food rests behind as well as often vomit when coming out early in the morning. Not for the lack of trying and constant cleaning by the wonderful maintenance and security teams!

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

Yes and no. Concierge team is very responsive and helpful but it’s impossible to get through to estate management. I logged a noise complaint but never heard back. Had to go through Camden Council to address it.

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

When we moved here 9 years ago, we primarily liked the transport links. Since then it became a neighbourhood with true soul.

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

Great range of shops and restaurants all within 5min walk, from high end to high street and chain stores to independent stores. Convenient transport links with multiple tube lines, buses, large train station and even Eurostar.

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

Concierge team is responsive and helpful but the management team that is not on site are slow on responses and do not find as helpful when there are issues.

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

The service charge is quite high given there are not much facilities provided within the property.

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

ArtHouse is in the heart of the Granary Square development - plenty of restaurants and bars, and quite a good range, from high end places for foodies in next door Coal Drops Yard, through to street food market by the Art School area. Waitrose is the on-site supermarket, which stays open late til 10pm - very handy if not the cheapest. Most of the year, it's reasonably quiet off-peak, but gets busy in summer on the lawns. It never fails to amaze me now the lawns are completely cleared of any litter each morning, leaving it pristine - the management of the area is really impressive. Having lived here for eight years now, I've really seen the growth of new shops, in fashion, interior design, tech (Samsung's London flagship is in Coal Drops Yard) - this reflects the artistic feel to the neighbourhood (the art school is a few yards away of course). It has a cinema, a leisure centre very nearby, and of course the combination of Kings Cross, St. Pancras, Eurostar and the tube make for an amazing set of public transport options.

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

The building management works through a management company, which has three residents as Directors on its board. This ensures that there is representation and that structure has worked well to keep a focus on everyday issues like lift repairs, waste management, redecorations and so on.

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

For a new build in 2014, I expected the heating to state-of-the-art. It is underfloor and very effective, but I had expected the heating controls to be easier to understand! The biggest positive surprise is how well managed the overall Kings Cross estate is - security staff are all around, friendly and visible. The neighbourhood has become very popular, and yet they keep it safe and clean - a great thing to see!