City View Court - your views most welcome

[EDBuyer]

Hello,

I'm considering buying a flat in City View Court on Overhill Road. It seems like a nice building but I wondered if anyone has experience or thoughts? Areas i'm interested in:

Atmosphere in the building, is it friendly?

The management company / arrangements - the service charge is quite high but are things actually managed well

Has any crime occurred?

Quality of life on Overhill Road

Planned works on the building, i.e. any plans to have all the windows replaced at great cost to leaseholders etc

Many thanks,

EDBuyer

[UncleBen]

Try a solicitor, and a visit - both should answer all of your questions.

[EDBuyer]

Thanks UncleBen, i'll certainly be doing both those things, but if there are people with any existing knowledge it would certainly avoid me spending time investigating. In this market i'm keen not to pursue something that turns out not to be for me.

[Voyageur]

A sensible enough question for a local forum - hopefully someone will give you a more helpful answer (I would try to assist but I don't live in that area).

[UncleBen]

It is a helpful answer. Its what potential house buyers do. Maybe the OP is a buy to letter with a huge portfolio and is pricing locals out of the market and relies on forums to make his decisions?! I'd also be wrong if i'd posted crap area,high crime,bad neighbours?

[EDBuyer]

I understand the concern about buy to let investors, I can assure you i'm very much the opposite. I'm a first time buyer trying to own a modest property in an area close to where ive rented with a view to having children - hence the research.

[Otta]

I doubt there's a lot of space for kids in there, and you're not very close to any schools.

[Jeremy]

Goodrich school is pretty close, right?

[fl0wer]

The main problems I hear about are not on City View Court itself, but on Dawson Heights development almost next door. These are variously complained about as being crowded full of people who feel let down by the block management, discontented tenants who don't keep an Association together. They complain that it's a place where crime rules & too often used for fly-tipping, drug dealing, raucous parties, joy riders, etc. How true that is, your local police would have to reveal.

Below Dawson Heights is green space which is nature reserve, footpath takes you to Goodrich School in a few minutes. Excellent services in ED for prospective parents, NCT & yoga groups to prepare for pregnancy and keep fit afterwards, toddler club, nurseries, play & picnic facilities in the parks, swap and low-cost baby equipment always changing hands in the EDF & other noticeboards, and charity shops full of hardly-used garments and toys.

[Otta]

Jeremy Wrote:

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> Goodrich school is pretty close, right?

Oh yeah.

[EDBuyer]

Thanks very much Fl0wer & Otta much appreciated. I'll check the crime.co.uk site and have a look at Goodrich catchment areas / Ofstead reports.

[BeccaL]

We live on Overhill the other side of the hill and Dawsons Height development is fine. Some music but not more than any other road I wouldn't think. Can't comment on block management but haven't seen much in the way of antisocial behaviour, and go through the estate to get to and from Goodrich each day. If looking for school, look at the distance as the crow flies from the block to the school, as the last distance offered for school places is pretty low at the moment (see threads on the family room discussion for more detail on that). Southwark will be able to give specifics but from memory it's about 500m or so - not a great distance given that it's a 3-form entry school.

[fluffy]

Wondering where people have heard such awful things about Dawsons Heights? Very quiet, occasional music etc but never late at night. Fly tipping from outside residents dealt with swiftly by in house staff. On site caretakers 24/7. Usually just lots of resident kids playing outside and enjoying independent play in one of the few places in London where kids can still safely just go out and play on their own. No idea where this 'crime rules' idea has come from, simply doesn't exist.

[caz]

I agree with fluffy, I've lived opposite Dawsons Heights for over 20 years and apart from very occasional loud-ish music on hot days when windows are open it's very quiet, seems well maintained and is very family friendly.

[Louise1961]

Hi, I live in Cityview Court and have done for several years. Personally it is one of the nicest places to live. If you are looking at one of the flats with a view then it will be lovely for sure! We have had very little crime over the years. A few problems with the garages but most tenants have installed additional locks. The block has cctv.

It is close to schools - Goodrich and Horniman both come under the catchment area. Nearest pub is The Rose - about 7 minutes walk.

Personally, I am unaware of any problems with Dawson Heights as mentioned in some of the feeds above.

I have lived here several years and love it. Very pleasant and supportive neighbours with a real community feel.