Starla Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I found a couple of link relating to the Kew Riverside Development, so guessed the topic belonged in the Greater London thread. I'm talking about the development next to M&S off Mortlake Road. http://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=153419&st=30 http://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=36956&st=90 Holy cr*p what a joke these places are. I went to view one of the 3 bed, 3 bathroom penthouses at the weekend. Not to buy (I'm not that rich/stupid), it was a flatshare. Hard to say what it would market at, but pick a figure between £600k and £800k+ I was expecting something mindblowing, what I saw was a pretty average flat, with a roof terrace. Here's the clincher and why these flats must be a nightmare to sell or rent, it's the parking... Parking: So the guy who showed me round the placed asked if I had a car. I do. He explained he has a car and there is only ONE designated underground parking space. I said that's not a problem as I can park on-street. Except you can't, parking is banned anywhere on site, you'll be clamped or fined. So the nearest option to park your car is about half a mile away in side streets, except a lot of those roads in Kew operate permit holders only parking. Apparently people used to park next door in M&S ca park, but they've just introduced clamping now. If you want anyone ot visit you in a car there are FIVE (yes 5) visitors spaces for the entire development, you need to book them in advance, and no staying longer than 24 hours. Let's hope you're not about to die either, because all visitors, including medical staff have to stop and report to security who will allow them to park temporarily. From looking at the numerous flats for sale on RM, it seems normal for these places to have ONE space. WTF? http://www.kew-riverside.net/ Pets: You have to apply to the management company, it costs £58.50 for approval, and they can remove your pet at any time. I haven't even started on the 5k pa maintenance fees, the pricing or anything else. AVOID. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finallysold Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 is there one parking space in the development or is it one parking place per flat. anyway, seems like a nightmare to live there if you have to get your pet approved. 5000 pounds annual maintenance charge is a real whopper. more than 400 pounds a month. what are they offering for this amount apart from routine maintenance. is there a gym etc in the complex? even then it is an astounding amount. I found a couple of link relating to the Kew Riverside Development, so guessed the topic belonged in the Greater London thread. I'm talking about the development next to M&S off Mortlake Road. http://www.housepric...ic=153419&st=30 http://www.housepric...pic=36956&st=90 Holy cr*p what a joke these places are. I went to view one of the 3 bed, 3 bathroom penthouses at the weekend. Not to buy (I'm not that rich/stupid), it was a flatshare. Hard to say what it would market at, but pick a figure between £600k and £800k+ I was expecting something mindblowing, what I saw was a pretty average flat, with a roof terrace. Here's the clincher and why these flats must be a nightmare to sell or rent, it's the parking... Parking: So the guy who showed me round the placed asked if I had a car. I do. He explained he has a car and there is only ONE designated underground parking space. I said that's not a problem as I can park on-street. Except you can't, parking is banned anywhere on site, you'll be clamped or fined. So the nearest option to park your car is about half a mile away in side streets, except a lot of those roads in Kew operate permit holders only parking. Apparently people used to park next door in M&S ca park, but they've just introduced clamping now. If you want anyone ot visit you in a car there are FIVE (yes 5) visitors spaces for the entire development, you need to book them in advance, and no staying longer than 24 hours. Let's hope you're not about to die either, because all visitors, including medical staff have to stop and report to security who will allow them to park temporarily. From looking at the numerous flats for sale on RM, it seems normal for these places to have ONE space. WTF? http://www.kew-riverside.net/ Pets: You have to apply to the management company, it costs £58.50 for approval, and they can remove your pet at any time. I haven't even started on the 5k pa maintenance fees, the pricing or anything else. AVOID. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver surfer Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I rented in Kew Riverside for about 18months in 2006/7. Here's why I moved out, 1. Parking is tight, one narrow underground bay per flat unless you pay extra. There's an ongoing battle between the estate management and non residents who try and sneak their cars into the above ground visitor parking bays. 2. At one time the gym and swimming pool were closed because of non-payment of management charges and they had to lay staff off! 3. The flat above mine flooded and for a month I had industrial de-humidifiers in my flat and in the stairwells. I heard that floods had happened in several blocks. 4. There's a pikey social housing section within the development. 5. There's no gas supply, only electric, and the heating is by underfloor electric. It's very unresponsive, taking about two or three days to heat up or cool down, so useless in a changeable climate. 6. The riverside footpath is lovely in daylight, but it's a gay pick up area at night and there's lots of full throttle gay shagging going on in the bushes! 7. The majority of the estate is owned by absentee landlords, many overseas. In my block there was only one owner occupier, an elderly couple who regretted buying as they didn't have any friends on the estate as everyone was transient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
righttoleech Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Paying top dollar for a home guarantees you nothing these days. The BTL scourge despoils everything in it's path. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starla Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 FinallySold - One space per flat, although some have an extra one if you pay more. There is a gym and a pool, but it would have to be gold plated to justify the service charge. Silver Surfer - I'm glad you replied because I read your views on the place in a previous thread. I'm genuinely fascinated by the day to day practicalities of the place from someone with first hand experience. 1. Parking - So let's say you had one designated underground space, and a car driver wanted to visit you, and the visitors bays were all full (5 between 100's of flats?), where did they park? M&S have introduced parking restrictions now. I was thinking that hypothetically if I had moved in and a mate wanted to come round in a car, I'd have to ask my flatmate (with the car parking space) to go out for the evening and drive round the block until the friend left and the space was free again! 4 & 6 Pikey social housing in development and rampant cottaging on tow path is icing on cake. 5. Bills must have been large with underfloor electric only? Totally impractical. 7. I believe a lot of ex pats from my company are housed there, so turnover will be fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheresitgoing Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 These places are also accessed by driving past the local tip and are penned in by the sewage works and Public records office. It does amaze me how much they attract people, especially people who want to rent. I think the period property available around Kew is a much better bet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikthe20 Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 These places are also accessed by driving past the local tip and are penned in by the sewage works and Public records office. It does amaze me how much they attract people, especially people who want to rent. I think the period property available around Kew is a much better bet. Isn't the crematorium there also? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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