Rectory Reviews 4

We believed that buying a new-build home from a long-established, self-described premium developer such as Rectory Homes would offer peace of mind. Unfortunately, our experience has been very disappointing indeed. We purchased our home just over two years ago, and from the day we moved in there were multiple issues, some of which are still there today. We were not alone in this, a very significant number of neighbours on the development have reported similar problems, some of whom ended up paying for the repairs themselves.

Plumbing.
Almost every sink and/or tap in our home had leaks. Rectory’s response times were very slow, and in many cases we received no response at all, so we ended up paying for our own plumber to resolve these issues.
The shower cubicles were not properly sealed, leading to leaks and damage to ceilings, flooring and carpets.
We also understand from neighbours that there have been far more serious issues than ours on the development, including significant leaks causing large areas of mould growth, and in at least two cases sewage coming into properties, including kitchens.

Electrics & Heating.
It appears that poor quality items have been fitted, requiring regular replacement of LED lights and controls, as well as having to replace many of the power sockets due to the USB connectors not working. The electric underfloor heating in all bathrooms has never worked correctly. The central heating system was also incorrectly wired.
Again, due to delays and lack of response, we paid for independent tradespeople to investigate and fix what they could, although the underfloor heating remains unresolved.

Windows.
Within a few months, window mechanisms began to show signs of rust. An independent specialist advised that the windows appeared to be budget units, with fittings that were non-stainless, and that other than regularly cleaning off the rist, the only long-term resolution would likely require replacement of the windows.

Build Quality.
While the homes present well initially, the underlying build quality and materials do not, in our view, reflect a “premium” standard.
For example, all internal walls are lightweight stud walls, a simple frame with plasterboard in either side, which results in very poor sound insulation indeed. Normal day-to-day activities, including conversations and television, can be clearly heard between rooms, even with doors closed. This has a noticeable impact on privacy and everyday living. For example, us watching TV downstairs wakes our children, and when we have friends over for dinner, we have to keep music and voices down.

Customer Service.
Rectory’s customer service has been particularly disappointing. Communication is slow or non-existent, and issues are often delayed or disputed. As a result, some residents are now considering legal action due to the length of time these problems have remained unresolved.
After two years, Rectory then transfers the 10-year guarantee to a third-party warranty provider, Premier Guarantee, which has widely reported poor customer reviews. Look them up on Trustpilot...

Conclusion.
We understand that new-build homes can have initial snagging issues. However, the scale, number and persistence of the problems we have all experienced, combined with the lack of timely effective support, have been extremely frustrating.

Based on our experience, we would not purchase another new-build property, particularly from this builder, and would strongly recommend that prospective buyers of Rectory Homes commission a comprehensive independent survey, particularly covering plumbing, sewage, electrics and finishing quality, before committing.

Whilst Rectory used to have a good reputation as a premium developer, it appears that since ownership passed from Father to Son, the pride in building quality homes has been replaced by corner cutting, cheap build methods, poor quality materials, and the employment of rather questionable contractors.

Poor customer services post sale . Unable to contact and then they will not adress any issues
Build quality is very average but high priced

Rectory built nicely designed homes in the Thame area with quality materials and a classic style. However, they became bean-counting hustlers and builds are now outsourced to cheap reckless contractors.

Properties delivered often have catastrophic quality issues. Clearly, the company has become completely dysfunctional and doesn't inspect, even superficially, any contractor work. Issues range from obvious things like improperly installed windows to catastrophic faults like leaky roofs, unsafe lifts or bursting pipes.

The worse part is that they take zero responsibility and spend all their effort bullying customers and/or policing legitimate reviews from e.g. Google Reviews. Issues plague all their developments and there are many unhappy buyers.

In my case, my brand new property was flooded during my first day there, and I am still waiting for the compensation they owe me as I had to live inside a home that did not satisfy the Fitness for Human Habitation Act.

Sad to say, but avoid like the plague. I wish they would go back to their previous ethos, as I think small quality builders are rare, but I think this ship has sailed.

This company are a disgrace. Customer care just ignore your calls and messages. The house had so many problems and getting them resolved is a nightmare. I would avoid buying a house from them.