Gentoo Homes Houghton-le-Spring reviews

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Avoid GentooHomes!

Quite easily the Worst customer experience I have ever experienced. I know buying a house is stressful but buying a Gentoo Home is genuinely a painful experience.How Gentoo homes managed to get a 5 Star Rating in the past is beyond me! Everyone I have dealt with associated with Gentoo is either a liar, or useless. Constant delays, inaccurate information they had to move one sales executive off the site entirely due to his incompetence and lies. Their complaints procedure is a joke, none of them are willing to take responsibility and constantly blame each other for their failings. When you complain to the so called “Managers” Instead of talking to them I would have been better off punching myself in the head repeatedly for 20 minutes as it would have the same outcome, get no further forward and have a splitting headache.Now that we are in the home the finish is cheap, materials are cheap, and the work carried out is equally as cheap.From lights not working, to bathrooms falling apart, doors not closing, damage all around the house, inside and out, outside brick walls built poorly and unsafe, no shed, no fence no shrubs, so much for curb side appeal and no sign of any of it getting fixed or replaced so I’m having to sort it out myself.If you’re thinking of buying a Gentoo home, I would really reconsider!! There is better, cheaper higher quality alternatives in this area if I could go back in time and not buy this house I would, I’d be less stressed and mentally better off just setting fire to all my money and sleeping in the ashes.Check the pictures that go with this review so you can see exactly the quality Gentoo think is 5 Star!I will update this review as necessary, we are now almost 4 weeks after completion and we are still waiting for our home to be finished, fence still not fitted, plants still not planted, tiling is still horrendous and none of our initial snags have been rectified, the two things they did come out to do where done so poorly that I have just started to fix thingsReceived an email for the chance to recurve £250 vouchers if I recommend someone to buy an available property and they complete at The Fairways there genuinely isn’t anyone I hate that much to do that to them.

Adam · 23 November 2022

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Do NOT buy from GentooHomes

Quite easily the Worst customer experience I have ever experienced. I know buying a house is stressful but buying a Gentoo Home is genuinely a painful experience.How Gentoo homes managed to get a 5 Star Rating in the past is beyond me! Everyone I have dealt with associated with Gentoo is either a liar, or useless. Constant delays, inaccurate information they had to move one sales executive off the site entirely due to his incompetence and lies. Their complaints procedure is a joke, none of them are willing to take responsibility and constantly blame each other for their failings. When you complain to the so called “Managers” Instead of talking to them I would have been better off punching myself in the head repeatedly for 20 minutes as it would have the same outcome, get no further forward and have a splitting headache.Now that we are in the home the finish is cheap, materials are cheap, and the work carried out is equally as cheap.From lights not working, to bathrooms falling apart, doors not closing, damage all around the house, inside and out, outside brick walls built poorly and unsafe, no shed, no fence no shrubs, so much for curb side appeal and no sign of any of it getting fixed or replaced so I’m having to sort it out myself.If you’re thinking of buying a Gentoo home, I would really reconsider!! There is better, cheaper higher quality alternatives in this area if I could go back in time and not buy this house I would, I’d be less stressed and mentally better off just setting fire to all my money and sleeping in the ashes.Check the pictures that go with this review so you can see exactly the quality Gentoo think is 5 Star!I will update this review as necessary, we are now almost 4 weeks after completion and we are still waiting for our home to be finished, fence still not fitted, plants still not planted, tiling is still horrendous and none of our initial snags have been rectified, the two things they did come out to do where done so poorly that I have just started to fix thingsReceived an email for the chance to recurve £250 vouchers if I recommend someone to buy an available property and they complete at The Fairways there genuinely isn’t anyone I hate that much to do that to them.

Lennon · 23 November 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Cottier Grange Review

We had some serious concerns after reading the reviews from previous phases, we also compared other newbuild sites in the area too, but the house, area and location were perfect for us, and the drive into the estate is truly stunning. So, we decided to purchase our new house in Cottier Grange, Kerry on the sales team was excellent and kept us informed and updated at all stages.

Tony · 10 August 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

DO NOT BUY A HOME FROM GENTOO!

** See addition below**

Esosa · 21 May 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

⭐ 1 star

⭐ 1 star, Avoid Gentoo Homes at all costs especially their SCHOLARS GARDENS DEVELOPMENT.

Anthony · 21 August 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Smooth Purchase at Scholars Gardens, Chapel Park

We recently purchased our new home at Scholars Gardens, Chapel Park with Gentoo Homes, and the experience has been excellent.

Jordan · 3 October 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

We are buying our Gentoo home in Newcastle…

We are buying our Gentoo home in Newcastle and have found the help, support and service from Lynn, Jack and Sheena to be exceptional. They have provided valuable advice, timely reminders and excellent customer relations.

Elaine · 18 April 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Louise and Sheena making the home…

Louise and Sheena making the home buying process so much easier and always being so helpful. Lovely and welcoming ladies working at churchfield. Thank you so much.

Dayna · 14 July 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Trying to apply for a 2 bedroom house…

Trying to apply for a 2 bedroom house to be told because my son doesn't stay 4 night a week I can only have a 1 bedroom, Gentoo penalising single fathers and preventing them from spending quality time with there children

MR · 29 December 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

From sales to customer care

From sales to customer care, the whole company is just a shambles. We have been lied to over and over again and still to this day are no further forward. My mental health is in the pan through buying a house from this company.

Tyler · 28 October 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Nicole at Gentoo has been amazing…

Nicole at Gentoo has been amazing during our first time buying process. Nicole has been patient with us, answered every question and made this experience a warm and welcoming one.

Rach · 29 June 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

No customer service

No customer service , don’t keep appointments, no respect for private property as use it as their own storage facility.

Graeme · 6 March 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Sweetbriar Park

We recently moved into Sweetbriar Park in Darlington more than a year after first selecting our plot.

Kean · 6 May 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Churchfields development

We’ve recently purchased our forever home at the Churchfields development in Sunderland. From making enquiries to receiving the keys to our new home was a stress free experience. The sales team, site manager and customer care teams have been brilliant. Our new home is amazing. Not a lot of snagging issues at all but the few minor issues we found are being rectified quickly. We feel that all the staff are all genuine and caring. Having moved to the area from the other side of the country, I have to say how peaceful and quiet it is living on this development and all of the neighbours are lovely too. We’re very happy here :-)

Kerry · 13 October 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Nicole has been wonderful today…

Nicole has been wonderful today explaining all of the plans and very patient answering all of our questions.

Medicalbootcamp · 8 July 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Just moved into a new build on…

Just moved into a new build on Sweetbriar Park in Darlington .

Charlie · 24 March 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Service Was Great!

Louise and Lee at the Sunderland branch is Amazing.

Alex · 28 March 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Hi guys

Hi guys, we are also incredibly frustrated with Gentoo our house has taken 1.5years in build and it’s still not built. Gentoo will be in breech of contract at the end of the month and not one single apology from a senior manager they have zero customer care!! We have left bad reviews on trust pilot and google and not a single reply . This is a company has no clue about customer satisfaction. You have all been warned !

J · 24 January 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

We have been living in a brand new…

We have been living in a brand new Gentoo home at Sweetbriar Park, West Park Darlington for nearly two months.

Anna · 6 August 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Avoid this company if you’d like your…

Avoid this company if you’d like your house built inside of 2 years !! They have had my 10% deposit for 1.5years and still not buIlt my house. These cowboys have no control over the workers on site and don’t have a clue how to prioritise builds. They are now in breach of the contract we made and have let me and the family down. We will be definitely taking our deposit back.

J · 20 December 2022

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Their new builds are horrendous

Their new builds are horrendous, do not buy, had a roof surveyor out and he said the roof is one of the worst he has seen, gentoo dont want to know. Also had 2 new front doors because they bowed, my patio doors don't join properly and we have had a big draft coming through, cracks in ceiling and many more snags STEAR CLEAR OF GENTOO NEW BUILD HOUSES.once you have bought the house they don't want to know

Scott · 28 February 2022

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Gentoo Homes- Probably The Worst House…

Gentoo Homes- Probably The Worst House Builder. I have purchased a home on your development at Cottier Grange. I have had countless snagging issues from within 5 minutes of getting the keys. The quality of the finish is terrible. I have been trying to get things resolved but speaking to your team sometimes is going around in circles as they see half the picture. They do not fully listen and see what you are explaining, making assumptions and only providing half solutions to fully rectify a solution. I am extremely unhappy about the build quality and terrible finish throughout, the hardware is of poor quality and degrading in weeks.I have shown patience and given plenty of time to get things resolved with the team involved in this shambolic mess. My good will and patience is at end now. Some of the issues multiple radiators not working, shower not working, bath not fitted properly, leaking sink, flooring lifting up , roof tiles not fitted properly, drainage problems , hob not working properly and this is only a few of the major items. This property should never have been passed to be handed over to a customer. Its a disgrace.

Zahid · 4 August 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Churchfields Sunderland

Everything has gone through brilliant from start to finish,if there has been little things,that need doing in the house,they have been done,Michelle in show house office and Shaun have been amazing,we are in our 70s and this has been hard moving at our age,but everyone has helped us,including Kerry who started us on this journey.

MR · 17 October 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Amazing Adele! Sweetbriar Park!

My journey started about 2 years ago! There are been a lot of up and down, it is not been a smooth journey at all. The only thing that we are pleased about is been having Adele next to us all the time.

Teresa · 23 September 2023