Charles Church Staffordshire reviews

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Beware! Poor Quality Finish and Never-Ending Issues with 5-Star Builder

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1 star)This review only covers the issues from receiving the keys to my new property and doesn’t not include the issues leading up to this point.I am left with no choice but to share my deeply unsatisfactory experience with this so-called "5-star" builder. Boasting The Charles Church Commitment is our guarantee that your home has been built to the highest of standards appears to be nothing more than an empty marketing slogan. From day one, my new build property has been riddled with a myriad of issues, leaving me utterly disappointed and regretful of my decision. The laundry list of problems is not only extensive but indicative of a complete lack of craftsmanship and attention to detail.The most alarming problem has been the malfunctioning electrics. Since day one, the electrical system has been a mess. Despite numerous visits by their electrician, the issues persist, and new ones continue to crop up. This is not only a major inconvenience but also poses significant safety risks. I expected a 5-star builder to deliver on basic functionality, and this failure is inexcusable.The quality of the finish throughout the property is deplorable. The paintwork on walls, skirting, doors, and windows is far from the standard one would expect from a reputable builder. It is riddled with imperfections, uneven coats, and apparent lack of attention to detail. It's disheartening to see such a shoddy job on what a dream home should be. Then to be told they will only rectify issues that can be seen from 2 meters away in natural daylight is just infuriating.Moreover, the lack of alignment in the doors and windows is nothing short of appalling. The doors don't close properly, and the windows let in drafts and cold air. It's as if the builder didn't even bother with basic checks before calling it a finished product.The brickwork is another glaring issue that cannot be overlooked. The walls are noticeably out of plumb, making the entire structure look like it was put together by amateurs. The external window sill being uneven adds to the overall lack of care taken in construction.Additionally, the discovery of an open sewer pipe beneath the utility cupboards, concealed only by a flimsy plastic bag, is a disgusting and utterly unacceptable oversight. Such disregard for basic sanitation standards is unfathomable and speaks volumes about the builder's lack of professionalism and concern for their customers' well-being.On top of these issues, the external fence has been an absolute disaster. It's falling over, leaving the property vulnerable and unsecured. Furthermore, the garage is prone to flooding whenever it rains, which is a clear indication of poor construction and inadequate drainage.To make matters worse, a dangerous incident occurred when an internal door fell off its hinges, nearly injuring a child. It's evident that the door wasn't fixed properly, presenting a significant risk to the safety of the occupants.The list of problems goes on and on, and it's evident that the builder's 5-star reputation is nothing but a façade. I have tried to address these issues with the builder, but the response has been lackluster, leaving me feeling ignored and disregarded.In conclusion, I cannot stress enough how crucial it is to avoid this builder at all costs. I refuse to hand out the £500 RECOMMEND A FRIEND voucher. The quality of the finish and the never-ending issues are a nightmare that I wouldn't wish upon anyone. Do your due diligence, thoroughly research any builder, and ensure you choose one that truly lives up to their promises. This experience has left me with an enormous sense of regret, and I hope others can learn from my mistake.

Jonathan · 18 July 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I recently purchased a home here at Charles Church at Horton's Keep in Burleyfields, Stafford, and the entire experience has been nothing short of exceptional. Initially, the prospect of buying a house seemed intimidating, but meeting Tom Bill, the Senior Sales Advisor at the site Sales Centre, transformed my apprehension into excitement. Tom's patience and thoroughness in explaining every step of the process were unparalleled. He not only answered all our questions with clarity but also guided us to find a home that perfectly matched our needs while securing a great deal. The purchase process was smooth and stress-free, largely due to Tom’s support. His professionalism and dedication made what could have been a complex transaction feel straightforward and manageable. When it came to the snagging phase, we were initially nervous due to common tales of issues with new builds. However, after hiring a professional snagger who identified only minor aesthetic concerns, we were thoroughly impressed by the incredible support from Sean Whittall, the Site Manager, and Sean Rowley, the Assistant Site Manager. Both were outstanding in their professionalism, approachability and genuine commitment to ensuring every detail was addressed to perfection. Their proactive approach and dedication turned what could have been a stressful phase into a truly reassuring experience. Now, as we've completed the snagging phase and are working with Charles Church customer services, we remain very happy with their service. A huge thank you to Tom Bill, Sean Whittall, and Sean Rowley for making this journey so enjoyable and stress-free.

Marcelo · 26 February 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Excellent customer service

My husband, my little boy and I have recently been to view the Parklands site in Hessle. We were looked after by Rachel who genuinely couldn't do enough for us. She went above and beyond to make our experience stress free, despite being with a 2 year old! We were given details of our options, both verbally and via email to consider later at home. We were also shown around some beautiful properties. Now to make a decision...Thank you Rachel!

Samantha · 11 July 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Brilliant team at Charles Church Uckfield

I am in the process of buying a house on Harlands Park, Uckfield. Having already visited the Taylor Wimpy development and found the sales rep hard nosed and unempathetic, I went with low expectations. My experience couldn’t have been more different. Francesca was/is highly professional with a sense of humour. She has made the initial process smooth and easy to understand. As my move in date gets nearer I have now met Steve who showed me around my new house, Mick who has helped build it and Darren who sends me WhatsApp updates every week. Yes, they are a business but everyone I’ve met genuinely wants their buyers to be happy with their new homes. I can’t wait to move in.

Joy · 28 June 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Great service throughout

From the minute we decided to purchase our property in Festival Park we have had nothing but great service. Brianna was extremely helpful, she guided us through the purchasing process as this was our first property in the UK. Although we has a few snags these were dealt with promptly by Joe and his team. Can’t fault the entire process.

Lisa · 19 August 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Charles Church Harlands Park

Since reserving our new house 10 days ago I've got nothing but praise so far for all the people at Harlands Park. Steve went out of his way to arrange a convenient time for us to view the house. Francesca was very helpful and informative, making the reservation process very straightforward. Darren introduced himself as the site contracts manager the next day and we're looking forward to seeing the final stages of the build.

Graham · 30 October 2023

★★★★★ 4/5

Trustpilot

Your local representative Carly has…

Your local representative Carly has been extremely helpful and helped to ensure the move went smoothly. I was disappointed that you do not carry out snagging and the fixing of this prior to moving in. Other new build companies endeavour to get this completed before completion and often do a lot of the snagging themselves.

Linda · 19 October 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Delivering the wow factor

An important milestone which took place this week is the house demonstration day. Every new owner is given a full demonstration of their new home with a detailed explanation of how everything works. Steve from the Harlands Park construction management team met us on site. This was our first opportunity to see the finished house with all the personalised options we have chosen. Now thinking back to when we sat in the sales office with Francesca making all the decisions on floorings and fittings and wondering how they would look in reality. We are very pleased with the end result and now even more excited to be just one week away from moving into our new home. Making the right choices is only part of what makes the end product so special. Without the effort and attention to detail that everyone in the team has made, the end result would not have delivered the wow factor that has been achieved. Our thanks to Rob and Francesca in sales, Darren and Steve for keeping us regularly updated on progress, Mick and everyone else who has been involved on our build. We are also looking forward to making new friends as we get to know our neighbours at Harlands Park. Dennis and Tina

Dennis · 21 April 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Happy in our new Charles Church home

So far, we are very happy with our new home. Sales team on Herons Park, Angmering are knowledgeable and helpful, especially Jane. House appears to be finished to a very good standard. Minor issues have been resolved quickly and efficiently thanks to Dom, the on site Customer Services Manager who is also receptive to our comments and concerns, and provides useful advice. Builders/tradespeople are friendly and courteous, all remedial work being carried out competently and skilfully. Despite the ongoing building work, the site is always kept clean and tidy, and noise levels kept to a minimum.

Mrs · 28 March 2023

★★★★★ 4/5

Trustpilot

Very satisfied with all staff

Very satisfied with all staff, showhome, getting good information regularly. House is very good with backup staff on hand should you need them for any problem.

Phyl · 23 September 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Charles Church - a mixed experience

We bought a house through Charles Church (Durham) and the overall experience has been mixed. Sales Experience - ExcellentJanice (Sales) was very helpful and kept us informed on the progress of the house up to the point of completion. She was always available to answer any questions and helped with choosing the flooring, kitchen, tiling etc. On moving in day, Janice gave a helpful demonstration of the house and helped with the snagging form. She even brought tea/cofee and cakes - Janice was amazing and a genuine asset to the company!House Build Quality/Site Manager and After Care - PoorWe were disappointed by the number of issues with the property and time it has taken to resolve them. There are still issues that have not yet been resolved, 9 months after moving in. Update: a number of further problems with the property and the slow/inadequate response from the After Care team has resulted in me amending the review to one star. It has been so disappointing that the customer care has been so poor.

Paul · 23 March 2023

★★★★★ 4/5

Trustpilot

Thank you the contractor.

While we are in the progress on our new home paintings and decorations by the property contractor, the manager, Darren keeps updating us with photos of the interior building progress. We found it very helpful for us to plan our purchasing and documentation for our new home at Mascalls Grange in Paddock Wood. Thank you, Darren and his team.

Gloria · 18 July 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Lauren & Ed, Silverwood, Garforth

Myself and my partner reserved our property at Silverwood, Garforth, on August bank holiday weekend and completed / moved in the week before Christmas. The girls in the sales office, Chloe & Karla, were great at keeping us up to speed throughout the transaction and had good knowledge of our property type, (even more comforting when you’re buying off plan). We’re really pleased with the end result and glad we spent that little bit more on the kitchen & bathrooms. Everything has been done to a really good standard and it’s a beautiful home. We’ve had a few snags, yes, but nothing major. More importantly, the snags we identified have been dealt with so efficiently and without query - we couldn’t have asked for a better team of people looking after us. I’d have no hesitation recommending the team or site! We moved from North West Leeds to Garforth, and settling into the area well. Lots of nice walking routes close by and transport links are great!

Lauren · 13 March 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Charles Church customer experience

Jamie and Andy were exceptionally helpful, willing to go the extra mile. They made the experience well above average and looking forward to continued customer support with any issues in the future. They are an asset to the company, good service is often hard to find these days. Well done to the whole team very good standard of product.

Ron · 14 July 2024

★★★★★ 4/5

Trustpilot

Customer experience

The attention given to us by staff onsite has added to our positive experience, both Denise in the sales office and site managers we have had the pleasure of dealing with throughout the journey. Steve has been looking after us really well and nothing seems too much trouble for him. He actively helps us get things sorted and both keep in touch, good communitation. They are very pleasant when we see them both on site too. Some areas where our experience could have been improved would have been if we had experienced fewer changes of site manager as feel we did have to repeat some of our requirements a number of times to each new site manager Also if completions were spaced out so not as many were happening at year end as we felt it was a rush to get us moved in with some works unfinished. Not a reflection on site/sales staff though who did all they could in the circumstances.

Ben · 7 March 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

I can’t recommend more highly

I can’t recommend more highly, buying a property from Charles Church. There customer service, in particular the excellent communication I have received from purchase throughout the build has been exceptional. I would like to thank Darren at Harland’s Park personally for the weekly progress pictures and updates. This personal touch is something that makes me review so highly.I can contact Darren on-site with any questions and I always feel listened too.

Michelle · 4 November 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Bay window fix

Mick has attended my property a couple of times to resolve an issue relating to Bay Window. 1st visit resolved the issue, and 2nd visit (today) was to redecorate affected areas. Mick has been fantastic, and very thorough, explaining what he was doing, as well as carrying out to a high standard. Thank you to Mick, and Persimmon for support.

Ian · 11 June 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

De Vere Grove

De Vere Grove, Earls Colne, 72 Rogers Avenue. We moved into our lovely new home on 29/02/2024.Natalie guided us through our journey from leaving a deposit to completion and far exceeded our expectations. Very professional, polite, friendly and courteous. Big thank you Natalie for all your help. Brad the site Manager is also very helpful and friendly. Recommend anyone looking to move to Earls Colne.

Jason · 5 March 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Harland Gardens at Cottingham - customers don’t matter.

Harland Gardens at Cottingham is supposed to be open this weekend 11 - 6, but nobody bothers to answer the phone, so presumably they haven’t bothered to open. Just an answering machine message referring you to the website. Pointless making a journey to a development that hasn't bothered to open!Charles Church is is a Persimmon-owned company, so I suppose that’s pretty typical of their attitude towards inconvenient things called customers. Persimmon have an appalling reputation for poor build quality, which is presumably carried through to Charles Church houses. Customers just don't seem to matter.Now looking at other sites in the area where they have a better attitude towards potential purchasers, and probably a better build quality too.This is the reply from Charles Church - my answers are below, because without them apparently the review may be removed.Hi John,Many thanks for your feedback. I'm sorry to hear of your disappointment but please be assured we take every review very seriously and would like to help, where we can. Where we are unable to see your contact details we have instructed Trustpilot to gain these. Please do respond with your plot number and development and once we have received this we will pass it onto the relevant management team to investigate further.Best wishes,AdaThere is no plot number, but the development is the one shown in the review - Harland Gardens, Cottingham, East Yorkshire. As I correctly stated, it was impossible to speak to a real person all weekend over the telephone because all calls were put straight through to an answering machine. I was enquiring about buying a house on the development but needed to be sure that the site was open - there was nobody to confirm that it was open (all weekend) so I gave up on the basis that if sales customer service is bad, aftersales customer service is likely to be even worse!

John · 6 February 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

The house is beautiful and exceeded…

The house is beautiful and exceeded expectations. Service has been brilliant too and nothing has been too much trouble. love my new home. Thanks again

Caroline · 1 October 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

New home disgrace

What we were handed over two days before Christmas was a disgusting mess and around a month short of a finished product. Then everyone went on holiday for two weeks and left us to it. Since then everything we touch falls apart or is a mess. Calling yourselves five star builders is just a complete joke and you should be thoroughly embarrassed. We are trying to be excited and loving our new home, which was incidentally 6 months late, but we can’t b cause of the stress and anxiety. God knows about the parts we can’t see. Totally and utterly disgraceful Charles church, you have denied us of everything a new home should be. Don’t worry, you’ll get a call from the MD they said. Guess what…five weeks later no call. With leadership like that I suppose none of this mess should be a surprise.

Mr · 25 January 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Harlands Park

We completed on our new home just before Christmas and are really happy with our experience. Our previous home was also a new build, so we were generally aware of the process. I cannot recommend the site at Harlands Park, Uckfield enough and having worked in the industry previously, it's clear that the team really go above and beyond. The houses have been built to a really high standard throughout and the design of the homes are really beautiful, with carefully thought-out landscaping across the site. There are some snags to be sorted but Steve, the Site Manager was really quick to respond and I'm confident they will be sorted quickly. The team were really great throughout the whole process and with being in a chain, it took longer than we'd hope. The team were really patient the whole way through and were really understanding with the difficulties we were having. We're so happy to be moved into our forever home at Harlands Park!

Amy · 12 January 2023

★★★★★ 3/5

Trustpilot

The good, the bad, the ugly…could have been a 4 to 5 star - kitchen let them down.

First time to buy a new build. There were a number of good points, which I have covered and this is why I gave the 3 star rating. However, details to the ‘ugly’ is reported on.I would like to clarify, there is an opportunity for this developer to correct issues, given I’m due to complete their 7 day snagging process. Depending on how they resolve, I shall return and update my stars. The main issue, is from the design and installation of the kitchen. The second (although somewhat minor issue) all the toilet seats are NOT soft close. For a few extra pounds….also consider the need to change and dispose if customer changes.The kitchen units are so extremely high - I actually need a 3 step ladder to just make the top (I’m 5’6)! I have to stand on the top step just to reach. At this stage I’m not sure if it is the kitchen company who installed, however, the point here is the approval sign off. Maybe no-one has noticed given I’m the first to move in. Having had an upgraded kitchen, 2 of the corner units are poorly designed, with 1 being totally non functional given I can’t place my head to manoeuvre into the space. There are also missing side shelves from joining units - eg. Where the new unit meets, items being stored fall through to the bottom. An entire corner has a gaping hole you can see the ceiling. It’s quite funny that the fitter would not have said anything. / point out.The boiler pipes can be seen by eye whilst standing in the kitchen - had they lowered the boiler cupboard - it would be ok. The other minor ‘moan out’ is the sales team mentioning there were no solar panels or eco service on this small development at the time of the plot reservations, only to see 3 homes with inbuilt solar panels. When questioned, simply shyly smiles and said, ‘oh yes’ Plot 1, 3 and ..is! Overall the house is very good with minor snags. Lots of electrical points. Painted finish of the house is very good. Answered queries promptly. The vinyl flooring they have is good quality (previously only ever would use wood) and it was laid very well. The high skirting boards, give a more upmarket quality feel too. Given the fibrenest not available when moved in, they installed a temporary individual mobile booster.

Anna · 30 December 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

We started our home buying process with…

We started our home buying process with Lauren and continued with Laura while Lauren was off, both ladies are really great, very helpful and professional, they made sure we are happy with what we got and always there and ready to answer our questions with solutions. We will surely recommend them and the company. Thank you

Oluwatosin · 29 July 2024