Berkshire House

I lived here for more than 18 months, and it was pretty bad. Weekend live music made the place loud, while shoppers caused noise during the day. Whether the location suits you depends on what you're looking for. The other residents were usually respectful, and there are some great views from the top floor, but the building management was extremely poor. The floors never seemed clean, no matter how much I scrubbed. The mail room flooded repeatedly, and there was no security guard. People were often sleeping on the top floor. We were told we could decorate, but that didn't count for much since they definitely charged us for it afterward. The utility bills were a joke too. They didn't charge for all the usage as it happened, then sent a bill at the end that took the whole deposit. That happened to me and about 20 others who moved out. Read the contract carefully, though: they couldn't legally do that, because it said they would adjust the next month's bill, and they never did. I'd stay away.

The location is convenient, heating is efficient, and the bills are low. Maintenance was quick, and the apartments make good use of daylight and storage space. There are regular events, comfortable air-conditioned communal areas, pets are allowed, and you can find food from around the world nearby. A few drawbacks: west-facing flats get boiling in summer, and pets aren't allowed in the upstairs communal area. The extractor barely works and the drying function is weak. There's no private accessible green space, and a rude street preacher can make a lot of noise. Also, the Gwr fast trains to Paddington aren't reliable during rush hour :)

I wouldn't recommend Berkshire house to a friend. It was costly for poor, unprofessional service. The resident team entered my apartment while I was away, despite my explicit wishes, to "unblock a sink." I'd reported it two days earlier, but they refused to wait until I got back. The car park didn't feel any safer than public parking, and the bays are smaller than standard. The "disabled" bays were assigned to a high-end car owner who might not even live in the building. A neighbour crashed into my car, but management refused to share CCTV footage that could have helped with the insurance claim. After I complained about the poor air quality in my apartment, a resident next door told me their flat had mould and insects after a leak. My health got worse and I had to seek medical advice, which was to move out ASAP. Management didn't respond to my urgent air quality request for four days, despite my reporting the above. The reviews on home living are misleading because people are paid with amazone gift cards, which were worth £50 at one point. The double glazing also isn't strict enough, so high street noise gets in, giving me a headache, and cold weather means turning up the heating.

The apartments are modern, pleasant and well maintained, but they're small and expensive. All the add-ons pile up and make staying here poor value. You pay extra for unlimited or faster broadband, bills above the basic usage allowance, a pet licence, parking, and even renting the dining room in the shared space. The little charges just keep adding up.