Kidbrook Reviews 12

I have lived in Kidbrooke flat for four years. At first it was lovely and it was my own little part of the world and then issues started to come around and I mean big issues.

The pipes are the worst thing because every year if the temperatures get to about minus one my pipes freeze and there’s nothing I can do about it because they are in a void that is walled up and they hadn’t properly insulated the pipes. I’ve had eight plumbers come to my flat Including Plumbers that Kidbrooke have sent themselves and I can’t do anything about it because the pipes go through a place that Kidbrooke own.

What have Kidbrooke done you may ask, absolutely nothing. Two of Kidbrooke’s plumbers have said that the pipes require insulation. The other plumbers also said the pipes require insulation. I have emailed Kidbrooke multiple times to tell them the pipes require insulation but I can’t reach it because it’s been walled off. They said they would do it but nothing.

Last year the worst possible thing happened and these pipes froze caused so much pressure. It burst the pipes in my kitchen leaving my whole flat under 2 inches of water something I have continuously warned them about over and over and over again because I have been warned about it over and over again.

I bought in a plumber who wasn’t from Kidbrooke in to check the state of the Kidbrooke’s handy work and was, to put it mildly horrified. they were actually furious for me and they have told me that the best things to do is to take all of the plumbing out and start again now that’s an expensive job, so I got two other plumbers to come to make sure that’s what I should do. They both said yes but then Kidbrooke sent their Plumber and he said no it’s fine, who would you believe.

Then The guy who I think owns the company came to the flats downstairs, which by the way they said would take eight weeks of renovation. We’re now in month 10. nothing was being done for nine of those months. We just had skips sitting out the front, (oh and we still have to pay service charge 4000 a year) And when I say this conversation was the very definition of gaslighting. I found it really quite shocking actually.

His basic takeaway was I imagined the whole situation of the pipes. It was quite the spectacular display of gaslighting. and imagine my shock because he actually told me I was imagining things I was so shocked.

Two things I always keep receipts and I have it written down by all of these plumbers what the issue is. The second is that unfortunately for him as the freeholder of the building this will be his problem forever, I will eventually move on but the pipes will remain his problem forever, but for the moment while I still live here unfortunately they are also still mine.

I realised customer service really can’t do anything at that point apart from try and seem like they are doing something, by sending out plumbers with no intention of dealing with the actual problem if that’s how the guy who owns the company deals with a serious problem.

If anyone has any advice on what I should do I would be really open. I am actually quite desperate to sort it. It’s getting to winter and I get anxious living in my own home now.

Just visited a friend at her new house in Woking in a brand new home built by this company. I cannot tell you how upset she is with this builder. There are so many issues that need resolving and the company is refusing to carry our snagging identified by a RICs survey.

Their website says:
“At Kidbrook, we recognise that first class quality is an essential ingredient to our successful formula.”

So why are you treating your customers so badly. I’ve seen your shoddy work with my own eyes. It’s a million miles from first class quality. There are many other customers on this small development who have similar problems which you are not resolving. You have taken people’s hard earned money and now are treating them so appallingly.

Please just do what you are contracted to do and make these homes up to the standard they are supposed to be and stop acting like a cowboy outfit.

The quality of Kidbrook homes is poor! The after service following completion for snagging is woeful and any attempt to hold them to account is met with threats and abuse from their CEO William Togher. Absolutely shocking behaviour from what is allegedly a bonafide homes builder. 8 Properties in Woking - all shoddily finished and a response from a man who treats his clients with disdain. I would not recommend this company to anyone.

Avoid this company at all costs! They have building a bunch of houses adjacent to my home and it’s been nothing but an inconvenience since day 1. For some reason all the contractors feel it’s necessary to park down our road where there is limited parking anyway. The works are taking place on a completely different road and there’s even space to park round the corner closer to their job but they still park down our road anyway. Even the site manager parks down our road every day. We have reported this numerous times to Kidbrook and have always either been fobbed off with an excuse or been told someone will be in touch with us but No one ever has. The workmen have been rude and abusive on numerous occasions, spitting and leaving cigarette butts and rubbish all over the place. When our road becomes full instead of finding somewhere else to park they just decide to park on the grass verge which after all the weather we have had is now completely ruined and has gone from a beautiful green space into a pile of mud and tyre tracks. This company clearly has no respect for the surrounding neighbours of their sites and are most definitely not considerate contractors. We will be glad to see the back of them, I hope they treat their customers better than how we have been treated…. However judging from the other reviews that doesn’t look likely.

Kidbrook homes very generously sponsored our summer fair this year (Westfield Primary School in Woking). The staff we dealt with were really helpful, friendly and responsive.

A very charitable company keen to help support the local community in which they are developing their properties. The children absolutely loved the donkey's we were able to hire for the day, which we named after two of Kidbrook's developments, Whitestone and Austin!!

Thank you once again!!

The customer service is truly appalling. The amount of times we had to send emails asking for updates is just surreal. Some of those emails went completely unanswered. Whenever we asked for details, explanations, anything more meaningful than 'we're working on it', we were completely ignored. Just dreadful experience overall.

This is a follow up with my last review. After speaking to the director and Becky, I realised the issue not fixed isn't Kidbrook fault. It lies on the electrician for providing both us and Kidbrook incorrect information and make both look bad. We were told something different from what information that was pass to Kidbrook and giving us the impression that's the issue lies on Kidbrook to get a new electrician to come and fix the issue. Regarding the feedback on the quality house. No doubt, the house is of good standard and tbh, better than most new builder and that's why we go with Kidbrook in the first instance. I think the problem we are having is snagging issues and misunderstanding/miscommunication from both side. Thanks for contacting the boiler manufacturer

Would give 4.5 score if possible. Apart from a 3 month delay from when we were promised, (I know some of the delay due to covid causing staff issues)
Still waiting for the road and driveway to be completed.
We are very pleased with our home. Finishes are to a high standard, garden a very good size compared to some new builds. With minimal snagging issues, which was sorted out in less than a month of moving in. The site manager went above and beyond with getting things right for us. Very pleased and I have had friends who have brought new builds from other builders and have commented on how well the house looks.
Would recommend a kidbrook homes.

The customer service is absolutely shocking. As per earlier review. Little to no communication, emails ignored. We moved in over 2 years ago and the snagging issues are yet to be resolved/concluded.

Outrageously bad service. Customer care team should be called ‘don’t care’ team as they’ve been extremely slow getting back to us on some snagging issues and completely unresponsive on others.

It's just not worth it.

I wish I'd seen this sort of review before buying a new build from Kidbrook Homes. They've frustrated me to no end and have caused SO much additional stress - Kidbrook operates like no company I've ever come across.

Key issues:
• No formal process for snagging whatsoever
• Unbelievably poor communication all-round (on-site, by phone and in email).
•Lack of proper site management has meant the site is still incomplete 10 months after first becoming occupied (and 8 behind their plan, apparently). There have been three different site managers since January.

And in our case:
• Property not ready on completion day
• Defects (not cosmetic snags) outstanding 9 months on.
• Kidbrook have re-snagged the property three times after losing documents or switching contractors.
• Contractors/tradespeople would turn up with zero notice or planning to carry out work, which would then be a nightmare to rearrange.
• Work agreed in writing as a condition of offer (e.g. replacing a window; replacing dead turf) is still incomplete 9 months after moving in and 11 months post-agreement.
• The company director visited the property to inspect our home's defects and offer reassurance. In his own words, they're 'not just some faceless company'. Afterwards, to my surprise, Kidbrook stopped answering my calls and instead handed our case to a solicitor. We were totally lost for words.
• The development's landscaping is still unfinished and more closely resembles an abandoned wasteland covered in rubble and weeds. We moved in 9 months ago and it's an embarrassment.

From speaking to various neighbours and tradespeople, we're not alone in our frustrations and would urge anyone to seriously think twice before even starting to engage with this company.

DO NOT BUY A KIDBROOK HOMES PROPERTY.