The Glade, Croydon, CR0

***Vendor's comments:*** "Five years ago, I had been searching for a home as a first-time buyer when I wandered into this property; I made an offer very soon after. I immediately fell in love with the natural light shining into the kitchen and living room. It has the added bonus of being at the top and back of the building, so it is peacefully quiet and private. The two floors make this apartment feel like a house, and over the years, it has become our home, my partner and me.

We love the openness of the downstairs space and we added the bespoke plantation shutters to create a cosy and welcoming area to relax and cook in. The kitchen and living room have hosted many dinner parties and get-togethers with friends; we’ve got so many good memories here. A designated parking space on the driveway has meant parking was never a concern, and there is ample space on the roads nearby for when visitors come to stay.

Upstairs, we have two lovely bedrooms, both doubles—a rare find. We have the bonus of an en-suite shower, which has come in handy when hosting friends and family from afar. The second room doubles as a spare bedroom/office and has been so useful when working remotely and having family and friends to stay with. One of the other key things we added to the master bedroom is the bespoke, built-in wardrobes and drawers, so we now have plenty of storage. If that's not enough, there is also access to the loft via the second bedroom, which has electricity and a boarded floor, which is again a great plus in terms of extra storage. There is also space under the stairs that we are currently using as a mini-utility room.

The communal garden, shared between just five of the apartments, is peaceful and low-maintenance. Again, the morning-to-afternoon sunshine falls directly onto the garden, making it the perfect space to relax with a picnic or run around with kids! We also have a bike store at the front of the property.

The building warranty is still in place, and we have a low service charge, providing us with great peace of mind and security. The local area has many good primary and secondary schools, making it a great option for families.

We’re in the middle of three well-connected stations: Elmers End, Beckenham, and a quick bus or tram to East Croydon. Commuting and getting to Gatwick Airport or into central London is quick and easy. We often use the street parking near Elmers End to head into the city for work or a date night uptown. We’re just a short walk from West Wickham and Beckenham High Streets. Shops, pharmacies, restaurants, and salons are all just 10 minutes away, and we often take a wander to one of the many local independent coffee shops on a Sunday morning. We also love the fact that we have so many options on Deliveroo, with Croydon, Bromley, and Beckenham restaurants in our catchment area. We will certainly miss having all of the Boxpark options at our fingertips!

We have been very happy in our home and have loved living here. We had planned to stay in Croydon for a good many more years, especially with all the exciting development happening in East Croydon, but we are moving due to changing jobs and wanting to be closer to family. We’ll miss our lovely first home, but we look forward to handing the keys to the next people who can make their own home here."