Portobello Garrow House, london

Stayed here from 2017-18, so some things may have changed/improved since but nonetheless, I wanted to share my experience. My first impressions of Garrow House were very negative. The room I was given was drastically different than the one advertised online. It was definitely less than half the size of what was shown online. The staff later confirmed that it was the same class of room which was unbelievable. To add fire to this impression, the room I received was in complete disarray. There was rubbish on the floor, some of the furniture wasn't neatly placed, and the door handle to the bathroom was falling off. All of this for GBP 251 per week.. However, after writing a formal complaint overnight, I saw a staff member in the morning (security at night couldn't do anything about it so I stayed in that room overnight) and was shown other room options of the same class. The one I ended up choosing was almost 3x as large as the original I was given witch more furniture too. That one was actually quite nice and I had a chest of drawers, 2 wardrobes and a dining table. Over time, my experience was fine at Garrow House, but the first impressions do count. Personal highlights: - spacious room (after given a few to choose from) - a few nice gyms in the area - bus station right outside and opposite the canal that goes to/from central London in 20min during the night - Circle and Hammersmith and City tube lines are newer and therefore spacious (more enjoyable journeys) - canal provides some really nice views occassionally - access via fob/card so no need to carry chunky keys - very big Sainsburys - flexibility to extend stay into the summer for a few weeks - some students with master key access so if you do get locked out of hours, you can contact them and they'll help Other observations and things I didn't particularly enjoy:. - Laundry was quite expensive (3.3GBP wash, 1.6GBP dry) - Elevator was very frequently out of order. I reckon a total of 2-3 months from my 10 month stay - the only large chain grocery store was a 10min walk - walk to the tube was also 10 minutes and through a very dark small park. Having experienced London for longer now, I would not walk through there again during the night - it doesn't feel safe. There's a way around that adds 2-3min - staff not particularly standout, but ok. - heating was down 2x for a few days each time during winter - not particularly a sign of solid infrastructure or maintenance - It's cheaper than other accommodations but I wouldn't say it's worth the savings. Live in a nicer location and at a better managed property company As a whole, my stay was ok. But due to my experience, especially compared to other accommodations I was in afterwards, I will not be returning or recommending Homes for Students to future students.

The management is excellent, especially Fay and Akeem. They are very kind, understanding, and always helpful.

Don't book this apartment. It takes about a month to wait for the repair. The neighbour is very noisy and complained to the administrator many times, but it hasn't been resolved.

### Review for Garrow House Student Accommodation I had a fantastic experience staying at Garrow House. The rooms are spacious, well-furnished, and come with en-suite bathrooms, providing great comfort and privacy. The communal areas are excellent, featuring a cozy common room with a TV and pool table, and a well-equipped kitchen. The location is convenient, with easy access to public transport, shops, and restaurants. The staff at Garrow House are incredibly friendly and helpful, ensuring a safe and secure environment with 24/7 security. Overall, Garrow House offers a perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and community for students. Highly recommended!

Perfectly situated with many convenience stores, closest being 2 min walking distance. This accommodation has excellent connectivity and is exclusively tailored for individuals seeking studio living. The staff here is kind and helpful, especially Ackeem and Leslie. 🫰🏻 The accommodation is really good except the never-ending maintenance issues which are dealt with but keep arising anyway. Only reason being that the property is old. Also, weirdly no 2 rooms have the same facilities even though they are priced the same 🤷🏻‍♀️ Still a good accommodation though