Cala Homes North Counties Waterbeach reviews

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

We got there in the end!

Despite initial back and forth involving NHBC to get the smooth render fixed for the 3rd time as we came to the end of 10 year warranty, the teams communication and work have been excellent during remedial works. Called to bring forward date & contacted throughout to advise next steps and dates work would be completed.

Joe · 4 October 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

We first enquired about buying a…

We first enquired about buying a property on the Rivermead Gardens site in Alton in early 2023 and are now in the process of purchasing a house with them. The team there have been really friendly and helpful from the beginning. We would have no hesitation in recommending Cala based on our experience so far with them.

David · 17 September 2024

★★★★★ 2/5

Trustpilot

Dear all who wish to review Cala.

Dear all who use this website,Please do not leave Cala a review until they have closed out your snagging list!! Their current rating is being falsely inflated due to customers leaving reviews based on their experiences just after moving in. Be aware that the quality of the customer service received plummets the minute you move in.I fear that the only way Cala will listen, and therefore subsequently improve their post-sale customer service, is when their high management realise that everything isn't rosy and based on the immediate post-sale positive customer reviews.

Customer · 28 April 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

WILL has excellent service!

The Cala Operative who attended our appointment was Will. He was very patient and helpful during the repairs.He helped repair the defects on wall and the kitchen door hinge. He carefully examined the door hinge noise and swapped the hinges to stop the annoying noise. The best Operative I’ve seen so far!

Hugo · 2 December 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Plumbing issues

Some time after the house went out of warranty (completed Dec 2018) a stain appeared on the skirting next to a radiator. I was inclined to blame a fine leak from the radiator connection, but it gradually got worse despite tightening connections, and the heating lost pressure. After much thought, my plumber suggested a pinhole leak in concealed pipework - he adduced possible causes for it getting worse. I asked Cala for help re pipe layout, and would they even investigate, in the circumstances? A rather chilly no, was the answer, and an allegation that I do not get the heating serviced. It was all very nice just after we moved in. But not now, it seems. The perils of modern concealed pipework...Had my own plumber in, total cost over £700. He ingeniously corrected the defect, which was due to a leaking connection following on a strange pre-sale repair, and gave me a written report. Sent photos of the defect to Cala and got a flat denial of any fault - plain insulting to my intelligence and my plumber's skill. Then I had to fabricate a new bit of skirting as the moulding is unusual.Thoroughly unsatisfactory, and not the faintest nod towards the bother that the whole thing has cost me.

Gareth · 26 April 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Leaking bay windows, dreadful “Customer Service”

Bribed into giving a 5 star review initially for NHBC or whoever it is by the pushy salesperson, with empty promises to fix two mis-built leaking bay windows. Really should have known better but trusted these issues would get resolved.Been in our 4 bed detached house for nearly 4 years now and still have (serious) ongoing issues with this water ingress. “Customer Services” have washed their hands of us and don’t bother to acknowledge any emails let alone reply. Had hoped for better resolutions from an allegedly premium builder but they just don’t care. Can’t get a response from anyone despite this still being a “snag” from the first year of ownership with 4 failed fix attempts. On one attempt the scaffolders trod all over our new plants, dropped nails and blades (that my 4 year old found) and played their music loud despite us trying to work from home. We’ve had to put buckets and towels under the bay windows for the last 4 years for when it rains…. Not quite the dream house we’d been sold.Incredibly angry for an awful experience of buying a home. Cala simply don’t care about their customers once they’ve had that first survey back. My advice would be to withhold it until you’re satisfied EVERYTHING is resolved as once they have it they go dark.Houses are thrown up quickly and cheaply and without care. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

Amy · 25 April 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Great customer service

We have received great service from Debbie & Laura from the Cala customer service team responsible for East Lothian over the past several months. Both Debbie and Laura have managed all our queries in a professional, friendly and proactive manner. They have ensured everything we have asked has been dealt with efficiently and to the highest quality standard.

Greg · 21 August 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Do not buy a Cala home

As much as I love the house, the experience with Cala has been absolutely awful. All the houses on the development at Crondall have been moved into, yet they have just abandoned site and left the communal areas completely unfinished. Street lights never work so we are constantly in darkness at night, a centre park area that still has metal gates round, no planting, no trees, just mud, poor drainage which leads to flooding. I have reported everything but it falls on deaf ears. It feels that now they have their money from the residents, they can just leave as is. The builders left the site in August and it remains broken and unfinished in January. I viewed other Cala developments before purchasing my house, the warning signs were there and I should have trusted my instincts that the quality surrounding the properties is really poor, they put little effort/cost into making the development look good. Also worth mentioning they cut so many corners to bring their costs down, using plastic floors in the bathroom for example (rather than actual tiles). I have lived in a Berkeley home and a Cala home and Berkeley wins by a country mile, the quality is better, the communal areas/gardens look really good and they don’t cut corners by using cheaper materials in the home. If you’re looking for a new build, definitely view Berkeley and see for yourself. I was also threatened during my purchase and told to exchange as they had other buyers lined up. I then found out this to be untrue. I was put under so much pressure to move in and now they have left the site completely unfinished. You have been warned. Do not buy Cala.21/03/23 update. Still not resolved. Even my formal complaint has been poorly managed. Abysmal experience given how much you spend on a house.06/04/2023 update. Cala have now stopped responding to my emails after making a formal complaint. I now have no choice but to raise via legal channels. They have left me with a garden that floods every time it rains. Appalling doesn’t even come close to the right words.

Alex · 6 April 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Hello everyone considering to buy from…

Hello everyone considering to buy from Cala, don’t do it!!!I posted a review on here on the 7th of March 2023 scroll down and you will see it.On the 8th of March Cala responded stating that they were sorry to hear my experience and someone would be in touch to investigate this further as it was very traumatic for me.However as an update we are now a month further on and I’ve not heard a thing from Cala.They obviously don’t care at all about what they put their customers through and the upset and trauma they cause potential buyers.Further I feel that they only responded to my initial review so that they are shown in a good light on trustpilot and look like they care to potential buyers, this is unfortunately not the case.They are cold and callous and it’s all about the money.BUYER BEWARE!!!

Ray · 5 April 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Erskine Gilchrist Gardens

Customer Care joiner was excellent (Andrew Galloway).He arrived a little early which was much appreciated and knew exactly what he was there to do. He carried out the work to a high standard very efficiently and was friendly to myself and my kids.My experience so far with all the trades coming to my house to fix issues has been a positive one so thank you.

Consumer · 11 April 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Cala IGNORE their aftercare remedials

I moved into Jordanhill Park in August 2021 and have literally been ignored these past 19/20 months with my remedial snags by Cala homes site team. Cala - Full of promises and fail to deliver at all levels! Apart from all my remedials which on the whole are not many the worst is I am now on my 3rd flat door all of which at not air tight or sound proof. The 2nd door took over 6 months to arrive from Portugal (Non-Covid logistics when my 3rd door took less than 6 weeks)! The last door (feb 23) took 8 days on the hinge to let daylight, noise, cold wind howl through it on a storm night - (remember this is a flat door which has 2 doors between it and the outside). I hear full conversations in the corridor day and night, elevator being used, bin room door slamming shut. My energy bill has been extortionate. And still I continue to be ignored by the site team to get this issue resolved. I have taken to emailing the Construction Director, Angus Murray, Project Director, David Sutherland and the site manager and they blatantly ignore my emails. They are an absolute disgrace - in all my years on this earth I have never been treated by a company as Cala have treated me - shameful. I would have gave this review a 'No Star' rating if it had been possible! For everyone who has had a good experience - you are very lucky but for every good review there are x 10 bad behind you. I am surrounded by a lot of unhappy residents due to a poor aftersales on this development. You literally have to have a stand up battle with Site Team and they fill you full of promises and do hee haw! Cala are a shameful company who have no interest in customers after they have parted with their money and gave them a 5* review. My take home to anyone considering a Cala Home purchase - i) don't. ii) don't complete your review until all your remedials are completed and they will push you for that review - don't give in. I do not take joy in writing this review however when you are continually IGNORED it is deserved......

Audrey · 1 April 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Cala Southbank

Cala are so fantastic to deal with! Jo and Lisa from the Southbank development are so knowledgeable, happy to help with anything you need and have made the whole experience of buying a new house very fun and easy. We opted to go for the part exchange option and they have been very fast at sorting that out, and have given us a fabulous price for our other property. We looked at so many different new build houses in Aberdeen and nothing compares to the quality of a Cala home. I would recommend them to all our friends and family. We can’t wait to move into our new forever home!

Louise_Herd · 27 March 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Fantastic Cala team at Belwood Oaks

Fantastic Cala team at Belwood Oaks, Penicuik. From first viewing to moving in nothing was too much trouble. Knowledgeable, well organised at every step we had complete faith that we were in capable hands. Exceptional after sales care with every concern addressed and sorted. We love our light filled, spacious and very well insulated home - thank you Cala!

KHF · 19 July 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Great

Great, Allan was very professional and a friendly painter. Thanks.

Navya · 5 August 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Avoid

My wife and I decided during lockdown to take the plunge and buy our forever home to make a better life for out two young girls, we spoke with Cala who were building nearby and chose a 4 bedroom plot, we waited patiently for months and on the day the plot went live it was reserved immediately... Something didn't quite add up as we were never contacted about it, but we moved on.Six months later we crunched the numbers and decided to return and reserve a 5 bedroom dream home and tbf everything went quite smoothly this time, we moved in Jan 2022 and absolutly love the house... Unfortunately this is where the problems begin.The aftercare for getting snagging done has been a disaster, countless days off waiting for tradesmen that don't turn up, and when the do come they can't get out quick enough, using every excuse they can to avoid doing things. I genuinely think the plan is to wear people down to the point they just give up.Our garden is still a swamp and the grass won't take 14 month after it was laid, The site supervisor handed in his notice and signed off our snagging as complete while half of my 5 page list is still outstanding, Contractors turning up to fit parts... Without bringing the parts. My front door handle was worn because the door is out of adjustment and hard to open and close... Replaced the handle but didn't adjust the door🤦‍♂️the list is endless... As we sit I had an appointment for tomorrow so had arranged my work schedule accordingly, I was told on Thursday they'd let me know, left a voicemail on Friday saying they'd email me the details which they haven't... So no idea if someone's coming tomorrow or not.As a company they have no idea of the impact this has on people's lives. With two young kids and full time jobs, my wife and I are always on the go, we've jumped though hoops to accommodate repairs.In hyndsight I wish we had filled out the NHBC survey honestly but there is a fear that if you do they'll make this difficult for you.It's been the most draining experiance of my life, the aftercare has really taken the enjoyment out of our move... Let's hope our kids can play in the garden summer 2024.

Kevin · 12 March 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Marius was on time very tidy quick and…

Marius was on time very tidy quick and polite once again thank the service is fantastic.

Rodney · 16 April 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Fantastic job by Gary Carlyle

Gary Carlyle has done a fantastic job in decorating. Issue of gaps/cracks/popped nails are seem less now with all great efforts doing filling, sanding, painting. Thanks for your professionalism and patience Gary, looking through even the tiniest issues to resolve and causing no impact to my daily routine when you at site.

Deepthi · 8 November 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

CALA North East of Scotland Customer service. Very poor. Not what was promised.

Our experience of CALA North East of Scotland customer service has been very poor. We purchased our home Feb 2020 and are very happy with it overall. Unfortunately the post sale customer service we have received has been and continues to be far below what was promised.Understandably there was going to be problems rectifying defects during 2020/21 due to covid but we feel this just became the go to excuse. We had to continually chase rectification work. The original 2 week snags were not signed off and some were not rectified until the end of the 2 years. One particular defect, we are still trying to resolve, is the wobbly stair case hand rail. This was raised within the first year. It has progressively worsened and is a health and safety concern to us as we have young children and elderly grand parents. The customer service rep came out on numerous occasions and kept telling us he had raised this with technical for a resolution. At the 2 year point we received an email saying there was nothing they could do for us as they considered the handrail movement within normal tolerances. No tolerance figures have been provided and no measurements have been taken. They provided me with a NHBC standards document to back up their assessment. Having reviewed the document I have found that the top newel post isn't plumb. In accordance with the standards the newel post should be plumb. This is what the hand rail connects to. I have raised this with customer service and sent pictures of the spirit level bubble being outside of the lines in the vertical plane. No response has been received. I have also asked for the details of their complaints department. No response has been received. I raised an official complaint letter and sent this to customer services 9 days ago. No response/acknowledgement has been received. I am now waiting for 30days to elapse before sending all the email correspondence to the NHBC. On another occasion we notified customer services about birds getting into our roof space (second occurrence of this). Nothing was done about it and then the birds had nested. We had to live with birds nesting above our master bedroom for 6 months until September. The noise was almost unbearable. We have not been a problem customer. We had and still have genuine faults. We just want to enjoy our new home. Unfortunately frustration and anger, due to Cala North East, has tarnished the whole experience.My advise to anyone buying a new home from Cala would be don't be pressured into giving them 5 stars on the NHBC review within the first few weeks of moving in. Raise any defects as soon as possible. Review the NHBC standards documents and investigate to see if the workmanship meets the requirements.

Paul · 6 March 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Decorating job by Scott Moxey

Scott Moxey did a brilliant decorating job at sanding and painting the few cracks and issues we had had, that had recently been covered by the builder. We were very impressed with his professionalism, he came early and did a fantastic job. He was very approachable and nice, would definitely recommend his services to anyone.

Corina · 19 September 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Gilchrist Gardens, Cala Staff

We have been dealing with Cala off and on for over a year while trying to find and afford our forever home. Fraz and Ann at the Erskine development have been so helpful and patient with us throughout the process and have helped guide us throughout. I would highly recommend Cala and their staff to everyone.

Franki · 2 September 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

I’m very pleased with the support from Cala

I’m very pleased with the support from Cala’s Customer Service East Team. Darren and Lynne have been prompt and attentive in following up on all repair requests. They handled the squeaking floor issue efficiently, and I’m very satisfied with the results. It’s clear they prioritize customer satisfaction. Thank you for your help!

CW · 4 November 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Great Team at Farendon Fields

Susie has been there through the process guiding & friendly, met Mario today and feel like the team care about their reputation and pleasing the customer.

Customer · 23 August 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Hidden gems of Cala Homes

Today Eric Muzaci and Marius came to replace the front entrance door for my house.They did it with care and attention. They even help paint the scratches of the new door and the door frame. I appreciate their services and kindness very much.What I can say is both of them are real gems to Cala Homes!Thank you, Eric Muzaci and Marius...

Patrick · 5 June 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Staff is very friendly

Staff is very friendly, helpful and flexible. They kept us in tract all the time and are very receptive. Thank you Sussy and Aron( hope I got your name correct)

Nimali_Puwackwaththa · 29 April 2023