Start Living at Lakeside North, DN16

Very good quality material used in property. No issues with the material used in property. I could have only wished for slightly larger room size. Property management have been a bit of let down lately and would have hoped for better management in regards to various property maintenance issues.

The housing quality itself is pretty much average. My main complaints are about the management, which if you are renting, is something you should take EXTREMELY seriously. My first experience with poor management is when I asked to remove a co-tenant from my contract. As expected, they asked me to pay a fee (I believe it was £25), as "administration" charges. After taking this money, they sent me the initial contract over and over despite repeatedly pointing out that my "new" contract still didn't reflect these changes. This was not fixed until the day I moved out. Lastly, I still haven't received my deposit back. Even after many calls to TDS and sending Start Living proof from the TDS scheme that they have not received a response. I spent over £800+ pounds professionally cleaning , painting to make the house almost in the same condition as I moved in. They still charged me £30 for a issue with a badly positioned door chain that even though I never used it, caused a minor damage, which I was completely happy to pay. But to this date, they were too lazy to click a few buttons that I now have to go and see a lawyer (and spend money) to get a statutory declaration from the deposit protection scheme stamped, and the costs of tis are completey on me. The supposed property manger, or Senior Client Portfolio Manger( I actually have no idea what they do), has been brutal. They have no empathy. I have sent them extremely polite / calm messages and all I have been told is that "I can't help you, contact TDS (Tenancy deposit Scheme"". When I had clearly sent proof from TDS communications telling me that the property manger has not responded to my deposit refund. The last I heard is that they are "forwarding the email to accounts". This review is promoted by extreme inaction from their part. If you are considering moving into this property, you will be overpaying for a property and if you ever decide to move out, forget your deposit for a few months, which will cause you considerable pain

The Lakeside development presents a mixed bag in terms of residential satisfaction. The design and layout of the development appear quite basic and lack distinctiveness, which might not appeal to those seeking unique architectural features. The houses are tightly packed together, exacerbating the sense of congestion within the development. This layout has resulted in practical limitations for residents, including a noticeable absence of space-efficient solutions such as coat areas or garages. The garden spaces provided are limited, pushing some residents, like myself, to install personal enhancements such as sheds to maximise outdoor utility. Inside the homes, the space management issues become even more apparent. The lack of thoughtful amenities like coat hanging spaces or adequate storage solutions in entryways contributes to a cluttered living experience. Additionally, the absence of garages means that vehicle security and storage for larger items can be a challenge, influencing the overall convenience and security perception of the development. On the maintenance front, the quality of built-in appliances and the response to issues can be underwhelming. For example, our dishwasher malfunctioned just a day after the warranty expired, and the response time for service and repairs was frustratingly slow, highlighting inefficiencies in the developer's aftercare service. Overall, while the Lakeside development offers basic housing, it falls short in delivering an inspiring living environment, marked by design limitations and subpar maintenance responses.

On-suite is wasted space as the master bedroom is more like a box room once the bed is in there etc. The house was painted in the same type from top to bottom. I.E, the bathroom should be bathroom paint etc. The garden grass is full of plastic web..

The houses are designed for maximum space and have white goods already in the property, neutral design and easy to maintain. Outside areas are managed well and kept tidy. Always hard to get hold of management and speak to someone but the online fixflo report problem service is managed quite well and effectively.