To ask about life on London council estates?

[zatarontoast]

I've been watching Council House Britain, featuring council estates in Southwark. They appear to be the complete antithesis of estates in my city, which are run down, full of antisocial behaviour and not particularly pleasant on the eye. On the programme everyone seems to be so happy, takes a look of pride in their home and the outside balconies always have lovely window boxes. They just look really clean and generally nice places to be. Is this just editing or is this a true representation?

I've lived on a low rise estate in zone 1 for 17 years, and I also grew up in a high rise estate (different part of zone 1). My current flat is OK - it doesn't have much of a sense of community, I don't know my neighbours well. Which suits me as I don't really want nosy neighbours. But it doesn't have much anti-social behaviour either - certainly not stabbings or obvious drug dealing. There are a lot of poor families here who speak English as a second language. So lots of deprivation and low incomes and all the stress that comes with it. Everyone is preoccupied with their own families and problems and I keep myself to myself.

There isn't a high proportion of owner occupiers - some flats have been bought, but usually rented out to young professionals (who are happy to live here as it's not unsafe and close to lots of startup companies, nightlife etc). Personally I'm content to be living here as it's a great location for getting anywhere in London, there are good amenities nearby and I have a secure tenancy with rents less than half of the private sector. It's been slow to gentrify but there are more and more private flats being built nearby, which has brought better shops and businesses to the area.

The high rise flats where I grew up are nicer, they have a concierge and communal gardens (we have gardens but they're not as nice and nobody uses them). I still know people there who complain about behaviour but it's stuff like letting dogs foul, playing music loud - so not pleasant but not drugs and stabbings. The flats are big, with lots of storage and large rooms.

real mixed bag. the best are pretty good. the worst are pretty unspeakable.