London Finance Manager and Mum Marsha was able to research, view and check into her new rental home remotely during lockdown, relying on HomeViews reviews, videos and Fizzy Living’s excellent reputation in order to make her decision.
The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated Marsha’s decision to move. She had been living with elderly relatives and felt that she and her 3-year-old daughter needed to move out for all of their safety.
Marsha was able to use virtual tours and videos to find her new rental home. HomeViews reviews then gave her the confidence to choose her apartment at Fizzy Canning Town, despite not having seen it in person.
Independent reviews
“HomeViews was one of the two main reasons I moved here,” she explains. “I read all the reviews about Fizzy Living and the Canning Town location and I thought, ‘this looks good!’”
Marsha describes the importance of being able to read independent reviews about the positives and negatives of living at the development. She saw that Serina, the building manager at Fizzy Canning Town, was also responding to those reviews, which gave the development an attractive image.
“Nowadays we’re a society that loves to read a review before we do anything,” says Marsha. “So, with a bigger expense such as buying or renting I would say HomeViews really is invaluable.
“With HomeViews it was so easy for me to make this decision because I was able to hear from real people,” she adds. “It’s a really great tool.”
A seamless process
The second reason for Marsha choosing Fizzy Canning Town was the reputation of the landlord. She admitted that she wasn’t sure how the move would go during the lockdown, but had been pleasantly surprised by the “seamless” process – something she did not think would have been possible with a private rental property:
“I’m a Finance Manager working from home during lockdown. I knew that Fizzy Living provides electricity, gas and broadband all set up and included in your rent. That was a big factor – I can’t stop working while I wait for an engineer to install broadband.”
Marsha also highlighted a major concern she had about checking in and cleaning during lockdown. However, she was able to check in over the phone and pick up her keys in a coded security box. The flat had been cleaned and Serina simply talked her through moving into her new home over the phone.
“It went so well!” she remembers. “Serina was one of the main things that attracted me to Fizzy Living. She coordinates your move, deals with any issues and she’s really friendly and helpful.”
Safe and at home
Despite only having moved in a week earlier when we spoke, Marsha was already impressed with her new home. She describes feeling “safe and at home” in the purpose-built rental property and is looking forward to exploring and rediscovering the area she grew up in.
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HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, landlords and the Government to recognise high performers and help to improve standards in the built environment.
Fizzy Living owns and operates seven buildings in and around Greater London, providing just under 1000 apartments for rent. Fizzy offers renters good-quality accommodation, in easily commutable locations, and a management service that makes life simple.