Uncle Elephant & Castle, SE11

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

Much improved on 9 years ago, although lots of gangs and police activity. Air quality awful. Well-located for public transport with tubes and buses. Nice view.

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

They refused to reimbursement for costs incurred with regard to heating the outside world for months while the wind literally blew through the apartment - winds are strong that high. Refused to reimburse the day they ask you to move out early before the end of the month - another £100 lost.

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

The company's disregard of maintenance & tenants and how much additional money this would cost beyond the high rents. Also the exceptionally poor cleaning of flats prior to moving in, and poor maintenance and addressing existing issues from previous tenants which we inherited.

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

The prices are rising and the local amenities do not justify the rental costs. There are places to eat and drink in the vicinity, but there are limited shops and services. You can hear the sirens and traffic even on the 19th floor. The parking restrictions make it hard for visitors to come and stay as there is literally no where to park. Insufficient recycling options in this area.

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

The lifts get fixed then they break again. The response to the rent rises (Y1: 26% and Y2: 7.6%) is that you can move out if you don't like it. Intercom didn't get fixed. Sky + would come and go. Never got fixed. The building creaks and that ain't gonna change.

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

The rent would always go up and never come down. The Concierge team, and the estates are lovely!

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

My husband, our chihuahua and I lived for almost two years at Uncle E&C and we absolutely loved it! We had a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom flat on the 18 floor with a view on north east London. Around the corner we still can see The London Eye and Westminster. Right in front of us we have a beautiful view on St Paul’s Cathedral and great London city views. You can walk easily in 15 minutes to the London Eye, which is really great! We could watch the sunrise and the reflection of the sunset from the balcony every day. We had family and friends coming over and they were all excited about the apartment, amenities and the astonishing views.

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

The team is really great. So friendly! Very fast, personal and responsive.

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

It’s a great place to live! Location is super! In 15 minutes you can walk to Westminster and the London Eye. Green area with shops, playground, restaurants and public transport nearby. The views are amazing. The apartment is really beautiful! The building and amenities are clean and properly working. Superb experience.

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

A company who markets themselves as differnet from 'bad landloards' but who have acted worse than any landlord I have expereinced. Beautiful apartments with very poor services. Typically one lift in Uncle Elephant and Castle is broken at any given time, however more recently the front door and inner door have been broken for weeks on end and the bin room is utterly disgusting! The Sky Bar is now not open until after 9am meaninig if you work from home you will not be able to use the space for morning office hours. Frequent private renting of the space limits residence use of the area. As my tenancy has come to an end, the rent increase was set at over £500 per month (after 12 months) I will not be renewing! Some of the concierges are really nice and frankly the only positive part of my experience in Uncle however others are quite rude to tennants. In my final months of tennancy, the UNCLE team have elected to send blunt emails stating that they will be accessing my apartment unlawfully (without consent) to show prospective tennants around on Sundays.

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

Poorly. The lifts are always broken and management love to apologies but actions would be more appreciated than empty words.

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

How bad a landloard Uncle are. 2.5 months before the end of tennancy they have ruind our enjoyment of the property with the serving of an eviction notice for no reason and to requesting convinienit times to access the property but rather stating that they will be entering at a given time.

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

HORRIBLE SERVICE. There is no hot water 5 days. When we ask them its same excuse. Everyday building has issues whether its a water or elevator etc.

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

no nothing just excuse emails and no solution. They dont try even to compensate for horrible service

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

Horrible customer service