Charles Church East Sussex reviews

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Great

Great. Particularly good customer service from Kelly at Lambourn Meadows.

Mr · 21 December 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

If you enjoy the bitter taste of disappointment, this is the developer for you…

This absolute calamity of events by Persimmon / Charles Church is as embarrassing to type as it must be to read.First issue: our plot was double booked. Quite how this can happen is beyond belief, but it happened to us. 3 weeks after reserving our plot we were informed that it had been double booked and we had lost the reservation. Second Issue: When our plot was released for full reservation, we were offered a full kitchen upgrade, turf and outside tap. The rep left the business in the days between releasing the plot and our meeting to sign. On turning up to sign, Persimmon / Charles Church pulled out their bag of disappointing surprises and we were told that the upgrade was cupboard frontals only. We assumed this to be an error and signed to secure the plot under a query that we had been promised a full kitchen upgrade as we had traveled a long distance to sign. Management refused to uphold the kitchen upgrade and their response had all of the empathy you could expect from a house brick.Third Issue: You’re Bricking Me…?Our house was initially being built with the wrong bricks. This has since been rectified but having regard to everything else here, it starts to reflect a lot… Fourth Issue: Persimmon / Charles Church will pressure you to exchange contracts within 45 days (which we did) but they will be in no rush to build your house within your mortgage offer period. Fifth Issue: (I know… this is getting tragic isn’t it…) We proceeded to select the kitchen upgrade ourselves it in the end (We reserve my position generally in this respect). We picked our finishing touches and we were happy with our selection. Until Persimmon / Charles Church came along yet again with their bag of disappointing surprises. Despite having placed our finishing touches order many months ago & being told to place the order very early in the process to avoid “any delays” (believe me… Persimmon / Charles Church need no excuses to incur any delays, they are quite accomplished at doing that themselves), and receiving written confirmation that the finishing touches had been ordered with the suppliers months ago, Persimmon / Charles Church decided they can’t source the kitchen & utility worktops we ordered (they can… I have spoken with the supplier… they are just choosing not to for “better margins”…), this is after they have installed the rest of the kitchen items and flooring. What Persimmon / Charles Church offered was not to the same quality or specification in terms of material or even colour. So if you have any expectations for a matching interior, or one that meets your expectations, think again, if our experience is anything to go by, Persimmon / Charles Church will change their mind and offer you a hodgepodge bric-a-brac option to suit themselves. To rub salt in the wound, they will initially ask you to pick the different options from pictures on WhatsApp and ask you to make a decision that day to avoid any delays… We have literally gone from delight to despair. Never have I incurred as many issues with a company as I have with Persimmon / Charles Church, it would be comical if it were not so tragic. It is extremely sad to see that a company can fall so short of meeting the most basic of customer expectations. You would be mistaken to think that it is their first rodeo at building houses. A message to management, when things go wrong, it doesn’t take much to put things right. But it should not be up to the end user to pay or suffer for any of your mistakes. Put things right, learn, put measures in place to not repeat. It’s not that difficult. Do not bully your customers. Have a word with yourselves and build some integrity (pun intended…)

Bg · 18 July 2022

★★★★★ 4/5

Trustpilot

Regular updates and photos of our build…

We’ve had regular updates and photos, illustrating our build stage from Darren at Harlands Park, which has been great and makes you feel apart of the journey as your house gets built! We also had a very friendly experience with Steve, who showed us around when we went to have an on site visit of our plot. Christine has also been helpful, and has always got back to us in a timely manner. Looking forward to seeing the house again and hoping it will be everything we want it to be and more!

Gem · 16 July 2022

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Terrible experience with new house at…

Terrible experience with new house at Woodhorn Grange Ashington. 105 snagging items and other issues. House rushed before Christmas with poor decorating, damaged features and bath leak that has come through ceiling. We even had swear word written on breeze blocks in the garage which was a nice touch. Response not good enough from management.Lucy not had any request for further info?

J · 8 January 2024

★★★★★ 2/5

Trustpilot

Completion rushed to ensure done by end of Q1

All essentials in place when we moved in eg boiler/carpets etc. However, significant minor cosmetics issues in all rooms, turf not laid at back garden, and wrong oven/hob/extractor installed (our choices still on order). Extra kitchen cupboard installed in wrong location and no dishwasher installed. Heating downstairs didn’t work. Feels like move in was rushed to ensure completion for end of Q1, rather than when house was actually ready for completion. I hope that the issues are rapidly resolved as part of the snagging process.

Dr · 3 July 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Wellington Gate Site

Zoltan attended our property for a day and half and all the work done was to a high standard! He arrived on time both days also. He explained what he did with each snag when it was completed, thank you so much

Sophie · 19 December 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Do Not Buy a Charles Church Home

Charles Church are now owned by Persimmon Homes who build the worst quality house ever. We bought on the reputation of Charles Church of old. How wrong we were. WARNING - PLEASE DO NOT buy a Charles Church or Persimmon Home now. They are absolutely riddled with problem after serious problem. Their customer service is also poor. They give you the impression they have your money and they do not care. I would give them 0 stars if this was an option. The entire process has been sole destroying and caused extreme stress.

Patricia · 17 June 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Thanks and appreciation to Wayne who…

Thanks and appreciation to Wayne who refitted kitchen work tops and sink and hob. A knowledgeable and professional craftsman who delivered a truly outstanding service. He had provided remedial assistance previously, again first class; no doubt we shall be requiring his services again.

Satisfied · 2 December 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Purchased property, aftercare and customer care team are a joke

I have purchased a property with Charles Church in Regency Park Creigiau. At first as you would expect the service was great, the usual exchange of funds and key handover out the way, and then the service goes downhill in a big way. I have an inadequate garden, of which I am months and months waiting for responses and resolutions to (when my neighbours garden has been sorted) Even senior management have ignored messages from me, and now the next step will be seeking further advice outside the organisation, and escalating to the governing body. This really is a shame, as just shows they are fine up until hand over, then any snagging and issues you are left in the dark with no resolution or even timelines as to how this will be resolved.Countless times I have had promised builders/painters turning up who have never shown up. I have been promised calls from customer care 'managers' that have never happened. And their own contract manager cant even reply to messages I have been sending, and when I have requested the directors details - I get ignored. This is shameful customer service.

Andy · 26 May 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Harlands Park, Uckfield - great experience

We’re in the process of buying a house from Charles Church at the Harlands Park development in Uckfield. The Charles Church team have been brilliant throughout, Darren especially has gone out of his way to help us, going above and beyond. He also takes the time to send us regular updates and weekly pictures of the house as it’s being built which is such a nice touch and shows that there is genuine care for the customer journey. Really happy so far, can’t wait to see the house for the first time and move in, not too long to go now.

Ross · 26 May 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Just like to thank Charles Church…

Just like to thank Charles Church (persimmon Homes) for my wonderful home they built myself and the family at Golwg y Glyn, fforestSite team was very helpful and after service care that we received from the customer care team was very professional and nothing was a problem for themThank you Charles Church

Andrew · 4 July 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

All good! Still!

This is the second review I have written for our new house at Mascalls Grange. Everything has continued to be excellent. Darren has kept us updated every step of the way with photos and information. The house is now in the final stages and looking great. Thank you for everything so far. Can’t wait to see it.

Rebecca · 25 March 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

A place to call home!

We had a limited window in which to get our new home sorted and I am pleased to say that throughout the process we felt fully supported by Charles Church. The build stood out as being better quality compared to others I have experienced in my field of work as an interior designer. Lorraine and Abi from the sales team at Coopers Grange, were lovely throughout the process, and even though we are moved in we still see them on site, they always have a smile on their face and are always really helpful. Upon key handover day both Abi and Lorraine along with the site managers all welcomed us to our new home and fully explained the process in terms of snagging and how it would be dealt with, we felt really confident and as though we had all of the information we needed when moving into our first home.We really appreciate the aftercare we are receiving, the on site team of builders and site managers are helpful, friendly and welcoming too. Being on a working site still it is really nice to know that the teams are really helpful and respectful too. We love our new home!

Giverny · 21 April 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

New Home

We are still in the early stages of buying our home, but Angela Edgar, the Sales Executive on site, has been particularly helpful and supportive. We are impressed by the way in which the site is managed, and how responsive Charles Church has been during the reservation process.

Williamson · 25 August 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Leaves much to be desired. AVOID.

Avoid - we looked round a show home in Jan 2021 in Essex, and we “early bird” reserved a property that we were told we were expecting a Q1 2022 completion date. In August 2021 I received a call to say I should be able to reserve my plot in a few weeks time. This didn’t happen. The expected completion date came and went and the plot had not been started. The sales team have no idea what is going on and constantly move the goalposts telling us “you can reserve in August 2021, should be before Christmas, should be just after Christmas, oh it won’t be until May/June 2022 now” Bearing in mind that early reserving does not set the price, when the plot was started and formally released (March 22, not May/June as advised by the sales team!) it was £65k more than we had first seen it advertised 14 months earlier. We felt this was an obscene amount of money to put the price up by in 1 year given the average UK salary is around £30k so this increase is more than 2x the average salary in the UK. Upon telling sales staff that this is now unaffordable and asked for my £100 deposit back as entitled to in the agreement. I have now sent two emails to them and I feel like I have effectively been ghosted by them and I start a potentially long process to reclaim what is rightfully mine.I don’t like leaving negative reviews but honestly this company are absolute cowboys and I can’t even imagine what problems would lay ahead if I had actually bought the house on offer.

Emma · 31 March 2022

★★★★★ 4/5

Trustpilot

Friendly, smooth and professional

The team on site and customer care were helpful through the whole process with regular updates, and made time for us to visit during the build. Our options and legals processes were smooth and we moved in within the window given.

Customer · 9 December 2024

★★★★★ 4/5

Trustpilot

House is beautiful but Customer Service isnt great

We love our new home and we have no major issues but unfortunately it has been a stressful time getting to this point. We were not able to view our property at any stage of the build and only saw it for the first time a few days before Completion. We were also given no choice on when completion would take place and the house was unfortunately not ready, we had people still inn painting on the day we completed. We feel our home will be worth it in the end as it is a great layout and size but we really wish we had a better buying experience thoughout the build.

Rachel · 30 March 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Manor Grove, Lydney experience

From day 1 that I first enquired about Manor Grove, Emma(marketing) and Kieran(construction) have been amazingly helpful, friendly, polite, and i could not have wished for more from them, even if solicitors were a bit slow in getting us exchanged.

DN · 23 December 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Everything was explained step by step

Everything was explained step by step. They were very helpful and informative. The team at Herons Park made it a good buying experience.

Heather · 21 March 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Amy was very helpful and provided the…

Amy was very helpful and provided the information I needed for my first house.Even when I email her she's always very helpful.

CAMERON · 19 April 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

A joy

We are in the process of buying a house and the whole process so far has been a joy. Our moving in target is July to September (2022).Quick mention for Amy from the sales team who was friendly, knowledgeable and very well organised from the first time we met her. She had a comprehensive knowledge of the options when we went to sort out some finishing touches. She was very patient and not at all pushy when we were choosing things !Like another reviewer we live some way away, and Amy has also been kind enough to send us updates with pictures as the build progresses as we are not able to regularly drive past.

The · 26 March 2022

★★★★★ 4/5

Trustpilot

Great experience so far...

Great experience so far with Charles Church. Reservation process was very straightforward and we haven't felt pressurised while our own sale has gone through. The regular photo updates from the site manager on how how the build is progressing is a nice touch. If there's one negative, we'd have liked to have been sent more plans/images/artists impressions of what the house will look like so we can visualise our future home, rather than only seeing the plans at the reservation appointment.

Allan · 21 March 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Adam Knight @ Morley park

Kate has been a super star from day one and couldn’t have done more to help us in the whole process. The house was presented to us in a high standard. It’s early days and I’m sure a few teething troubles will present themselves along the way but hey handcrafted products are like that. The whole team have done a fantastic job and we couldn’t be happier with our purchase so far. Morley park plot 302

Adam · 28 October 2018

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

First time buyers - Mascalls Grange, Kent

Myself and my wife are in the early stages of purchasing a new build on their Mascalls Grange site in Kent and so far the sales team and the contracts manager Graham have been great with us. Very helpful, easy and efficient communication and regular updates on the build as it progresses. Can’t fault them so far!

Sam · 26 February 2024