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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very pleasant and efficient person who came to inspect my extractor fan The service was excellent from the helpful call to the company to the time he spent checking all aspects of the problem I wo... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Central heating problem, requiring full drain and power flush. Ability were able to attend within 24 hours, Tom was able to quickly diagnose the issue and the job was booked in and completed within a... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Called Ability this morning as my LPG boiler stopped firing up. Everyone super busy as the T Wells water crisis has caused innumerable problems. But they sent an engineer this afternoon and thankfu... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

the engineer came in the afternoon of Thursday with his tools laid his sheets down and took the gas fire apart after he checked every part when he was satisfied he tested the air with smoke stick... See more

Company details

  1. Heating Contractor
  2. Electrician
  3. Plumber

Written by the company

Ability is a family run plumbing, heating and electrical company. We have multiple engineers which means that we can usually get to you quickly. We are Gas Safe registered, OFTEC registered and NICEIC registered. We have been in business for over 40 years, covering a large service area of about 25 miles from Tunbridge Wells. You can call our office to speak to a member of the admin team and arrange anything from a routine boiler service to a free quote for a new installation. We work on all domestic systems and have commercial qualified engineers as well. Check out our range of services in the menu and call to see how we can help you. Same day emergency appointments are usually available for plumbing, electrical, gas, LPG and Oil.


Contact info

4.7

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

52 reviews

5-star
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1-star

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Ability dealt with an emergency issue…

Ability dealt with an emergency issue quickly and solved the problem the following day. The office staff and plumber were very helpful. Very good all-round service.

July 17, 2024
Unprompted review
Ability Ltd logo

Reply from Ability Ltd

Thank you Richard for taking the time to leave us a review. We really appreciate the positive feedback. We will pass this on to the engineers. Please do let us know if there is anything we can help with in the future.

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Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Outstanding service

Outstanding service. Ability is a fabulous company to deal with. Local,with a family feel, they’re the real thing. Phones answered promptly and an actual office in Southborough in case you need to pop in for advice. Brett was a brilliant electrician and tackled the problem in the circuit methodically and professionally. Ability provides a joined- up service with call made to plumber on the team to verify certain technicalities. Five star. Thank you, Ability.

March 15, 2024
Unprompted review
Ability Ltd logo

Reply from Ability Ltd

Thank you for leaving a review Grace, we really appreciate the feedback. We should point out that we cannot accept visitors to the office for insurance reasons, however we are always available by phone or email.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

What a fantastic local company

What a fantastic local company. Ability are professional and customer focused. Particular thanks to Elaine who is an absolute superstar and was excellent in getting me a quick appointment with an expert plumber, Elliot. Thank you.

February 21, 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from Ability Ltd

Thank you for leaving us a review. We really appreciate the feedback. Your thanks will be passed on to Elaine and Elliot.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Simple and efficient

Good communication. Got got quote quickly. Easy to contact and very helpful. We had a dual fuel cooker removed/installed. Tom, the fitter sorted it efficiently.

February 14, 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from Ability Ltd

Thank you Michael for leaving a review. We really appreciate the feedback.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Do what they say they are going to do…

Do what they say they are going to do from start to finish. Efficient, polite, knowledgable and go the etc mile.

February 1, 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from Ability Ltd

Thank you for leaving us a review. We really appreciate your feedback.

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Can't praise Ability enough

Can't praise Ability enough! We always said if our old boiler broke down we would get a new one and get it moved as it was in an inconvenient place. Ability was very quick to reply to our enquiry and an appointment was made for a quote. Mat turned up at the appointed time and was very polite and helpful, he got back to us that afternoon with the quote which we were happy with. On the day of installation Glyn and Dan arrived on time and were very polite and professional, they explained exactly what they needed to do and got on with the job without any fuss. Any mess was cleared away promptly and the made sure we had gas and water before leaving at the end of the day. Day 2, they installed the new boiler with the same professionalism and at the end of the day had the new boiler up and running. Day 3, Glyn returned to tidy up a few bits and pieces and to check everything was ok.
Thoroughly recommend Ability, would definitely use again.

January 17, 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from Ability Ltd

Thank you for leaving a review David. We really appreciate your feedback. We will be sure to pass on your praise to our engineers.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Emergency Repair

Ability provided me with quick, efficient service. The engineer who came was professional and solved the problem. He also gave me good advice to improve my central heating.

October 18, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Ability Ltd

Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback Anita. We are pleased that the engineer could resolve your problem quickly.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I would like to make a comment…

I would like to make a comment regarding ability Ltd Tunbridge Wells
My Tenants reported a failed Boiler. and Within two days the Ability engineers made an assessment and
the Boiler was replaced two days later.
Excellent service,I have no reservation in recommending this company

August 31, 2023
Unprompted review
Ability Ltd logo

Reply from Ability Ltd

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review Adrian. We are happy that your problem was resolved so quickly. We look forward to continuing to help you as and when you need us.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent service

Ability fitted my new boiler last year with such calm efficiency; friendly, cheerful engineers, skilled, confident workmanship and patient explanation of how everything worked. So I had no hesitation in using them for the annual service of my heating system recently. Once again, no nonsense, efficient arrangements with the office, Tom arrived promptly and worked with friendly efficiency (no stopping to take phone calls or get distracted as some workmen do!) and explained all he'd done and what the paperwork meant. Can't recommend them more highly, thank you. Janet L

September 5, 2023
Unprompted review
Ability Ltd logo

Reply from Ability Ltd

Thank you Janet for taking the time to leave a review. We are please that you are happy with our services. We hope that you only need us for routine services, but we we will be here when you need us.

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Ability to replace Existing boiler with wet Electric system.

Had a quote from Ability which was slightly cheaper than one other, for installation of a Wet Electric C/H system to replace the original solid fuel range currently heating radiators. The Boys (as referred to by my wife) were very efficient, helpful with queries and assisted with moving units around in order to gain access wherever needed. They cleaned up afterwards and finished ahead of schedule. The team consisted of Glyn, George and Brett (electrician). Nothing seemed too much trouble for them. I should add that we have only tested the C/H system once as it’s High Summer and so fingers crossed for the Winter that all goes well with no hiccups. Many thanks to all and reception team on the phone.

August 7, 2023
Unprompted review
Ability Ltd logo

Reply from Ability Ltd

Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We appreciate the feedback, which will be passed on to the engineers. We are pleased that you are happy with your installation. Please do let us know if there are any issues once the system is running in full winter mode.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Having been let down by a previous…

Having been let down by a previous operative it was very encouraging to have someone arrive on schedule, diagnose the issue with the outside lights, get the parts and fix the problem.

All within an hour and a half.

Polite. Efficient. Professional.

Thank you.

The previous operative referred to was not from Ability.

June 5, 2023
Unprompted review
Ability Ltd logo

Reply from Ability Ltd

Dear Michael,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us on Trustpilot. We greatly appreciate your feedback and are thrilled to hear about your positive encounter with our operative.

We understand that being let down by a previous operative can be frustrating, so we're delighted that we could restore your faith in our service. It's always our goal to provide timely and efficient solutions to our customers, and we're glad we were able to diagnose and fix the issue with your outside lights promptly.

We take great pride in maintaining a team of polite, efficient, and professional operatives who are dedicated to resolving our customers' problems. Your kind words serve as a testament to their hard work and commitment to delivering exceptional service.

Once again, thank you for choosing us and for sharing your positive experience. We look forward to serving you in the future should you require any further assistance.

Best regards,

The Ability Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Highly recommend

Have used Ability for a couple of jobs now. They have been very knowledgeable, polite, friendly and always suggest the most appropriate solution.

I have had them help sort out a hot water problem, a new tap fitted and a radiator taken off. Each time the engineer has been very helpful and has suggested solutions to other problems found. Always taking the time to try and fix it, if they have the equipment handy.

Cannot recommend Ability more.

April 5, 2023
Unprompted review
Ability Ltd logo

Reply from Ability Ltd

Dear Claire,

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such a positive review on Trustpilot! We are thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with our services and that we were able to meet your expectations.

At Ability Ltd, we take pride in providing excellent customer service and delivering high-quality workmanship. It's always great to hear that our hard work has paid off and that our customers are happy with the results.

We are grateful for your kind words and appreciate your business. If you have any further questions or require our services in the future, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you again for your review and for choosing Ability Ltd.

Best regards,

The Ability Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Worst service ever

Booked them for a job which they didn't complete.

Tried to charge extra.

Refused to refund.

Absolutely terrible service on the phone.

October 27, 2022
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Terrible company! They’ll treat you like dirt!!!

WOW I wish I’d read these terrible reviews, before calling Ability!!

As a landlord who doesn’t live in the area, I contacted Ability Southborough about a leaking shower. They were initially very helpful saying they would send someone out and fix it on site, if it was a simple fix! So I thought everything was done and dusted, and I could relax knowing it was in hand! How wrong was I …

Firstly they cancelled on my elderly tenant, with very little notice, she had waited in ALL day and rang us upset when they cancelled - at a guess they got an urgent job and went where the extra money was, rather than honouring an appointment! I should have just cancelled then!

After the work was done, I heard nothing, I just saw the bank charge - I had to ring in for feedback … and WOW!!! the lady who picked up was one of the rudest people I have ever spoken to! She told me to be quiet until she had finished … apparently she’s one of the directors, so my guess is they are actively trying to reduce their customer base!

She told me, our shower - yes was leaking, the sealant had come away and they recommended a new door - but they didn’t fix anything, not even the sealant because they couldn’t insure the work??? What … so I was charged over £100 to be told the exact same thing I called in to say was broken …

My husband rang back to try and get more details about why nothing was done and was greeted with the same foul attitude!

My advice to any landlord who lives locally or further afield AVOID ABILITY and find a company who sticks to their word, actually does the job they say they will and doesn’t treat you or your tenant like a piece of dirt!!

August 15, 2022
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

We hired Ability to fix the flusher on…

We hired Ability to fix the flusher on our toilet, one guy came and it took longer than expected and said would cost an additional £20 and took the prepayment on our card - we were later charged an additional £100.
On top of that he left the toilet hanging off the wall , so they sent the same guy to come and fix it (free of charge). We thought all was fine and we returned from holiday with damp marks on the ceiling and wall underneath the toilet.
We asked them to come and fix it , which they did - the third time !!!
They have not provided any compensation for the damage caused of our newly painted walls and have stopped answering our emails. The worst experience possible

June 13, 2022
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

The problem wasn't diagnosed

We had a leak which was causing water to come through the bathroom floor and into the kitchen and so I called Ability. They were very friendly and came out within the hour on a Saturday afternoon (this is why I am giving two stars rather than one).

However, they were not able to get anywhere close to diagnosing the problem. The charge of £192 (£160 plus VAT) is extortionate for half an hour of time, even if it was on a Saturday. I contacted another plumber who came out on the Tuesday and was able to locate the problem, fix it and only charged £108 (including VAT) for their time and materials.

February 16, 2022
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Leaking shower

I recently had an assessment carried out on a leak that seemed to be coming from somewhere in my shower. the outcome of the assessment was that the root cause of the leak could not be identified and the whole tray would need replacing and cutting in half to remove. Only then could they be sure it was fixed properly. It was also confirmed as quite a large job (a full refit and reseal of the shower base).
I got a second opinion from another company, who diagnosed the source of the leak within 5 minutes and on second visit fixed the problem in less than 2 hours. For those interested, just some seal missed by the original installation behind the shower screen.
Thank goodness I did get that second opinion as Ability would have cost me hundreds with that assessment.
Just a big shame that it cost me over £100 to get told my shower tray needed cutting in half.
I called to provide this feedback and no apology, just a "I'm pleased you got it fixed"

October 28, 2021
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

CHECK OUT YOUR LOCAL GAS SAFE ENGINEER FIRST

Because of the pandemic my local gas safe peeps were doing emergencies only - and l only wanted a gas fire serviced.
It was causing us problems so reluctantly agreed to go with "Ability" even though they were twice the price. You pay them upfront at what l thought was an agreed price.
No problem with the service and there were no unexpected parts that needed to be replaced. However, that didn't prevent them charging my credit card with additional charges. No doubt their small print covers them to do that. We won't be repeat customers.

March 4, 2021
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Don’t waste your time or money.

Paid £192 for an emergency call out as the heating wasn’t working on one of our rental properties. Daniel came, reset the switch and something else, subsequently the radiators heated to a very mild temperature and then he said they will heat up fully in 20-30 minutes, so we took his word for it and all left. In fact the radiators never heated up fully, so I spoke to Daniel again and explained that after he left the heating never heated up fully and he said we needed new parts (which would incur more charges and another callout fee for labour). At this point I was bitterly disappointed to have paid £192 for an emergency service that didn’t work and now have to pay even more money. I decided not to pursue with Daniel and call up another plumber. I’m happy that say the other plumber came and fixed the issue within the hour and didn’t need any ‘new parts’. Don’t waste your time and money with Ability.

December 28, 2020
Unprompted review

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