“Moved into a property let by guinness partnership and it has been nothing but a nightmare,on first the contractors doing work on the home before we moved in left a bunch of rubbish in my black bin and garage which I was promised would be removed, never happened, I had to pay for a removal.then we had leak upon leak from the heating system, which cause for removing the carpet in bedroom and leaked through the to the living room ceiling ruining the decor,no help in replacing carpet cost and was given a 100pounf decor card for which I'm grateful but rhe living room is large an this only contributed to the cost but didn't cover it,I'm on universal credit and being a single parent of 7 children, I just do not have the money to build a home around these disrepairs,I've recently became sick and lost a close relative, do not expect and form of compassion or empathy from this come,when you slide into any form of arrears,they expect an expenditure filled out today! Do not mention previous issues,,,they are not relevant to them...they play with technical reason to avoid accountability.really not a great landlord.”
“12 years ago myself & my husband moved in to a Guinness Partnership house with our 3 children. We were sold the promise of an affordable new house in a new housing development only for local people.
We were moving from a 2 bedroom house (of which we had freehold, with a full mortgage) in to a shared ownership 3 bedroom house. We needed a larger house for our family,but houses in our area were extremely expensive.
Guinness were offering the solution, apparently. BUT, they only offered a 3 bed house (which I found odd,knowing we needed a 4 bed, and they had them.) They also took forever to reply to simply questions from our solicitors. They NEVER said this house would be a leasehold. Some of the shared ownership on this development are freehold & some are leasehold. We weren't told until it was too late & we had already sold our home.
Durring the 1st year, there were lots of issues with the house, which they refused to fix(even though they would have been covered)
Gardens did not have drainage, so we had to remove everything and pave the whole area. This was difficult as they put an extremely large shed in the garden, which then had a cement base and a large steal bike frame attached. These had been put up before the houses. This shed took up ½the garden. Our remaining paving slabs were being stored on OUR parking spot as we were going to build a bbq, but we were told off for this and they were removed. So we lost money. Our bin is on our parking spot. Others have made bin storage areas, yet that is fine.
Skip to now.... the service we receive, or lack of, just continues gets worse. So does the condition of our house. It's NOT built to last. It's damp and full of mould. We've decorated. We've removed the mould countless times, but it comes back. The wall on the stairs is basically green. It's cold and it's damp. My airing cupboard is mouldy. Everything HAS to be in bags to protect it.
Guinness had these houses built with what the government now want everyone to have as their heating, one of the heat recovery systems. It been replaced once already, but it still doesn't work. It needs to constantly be turned on, if not water start to run down the bedroom walls.
We also have no working shower in the main bedroom and the bathroom, it's covered in black mould. This is because it rely on that same system to take whatever condensation is in there out. But it isn't fit for purpose, and the bathroom has no window being in the middle of the house.
We can't fix any of these issues. We pay both rent & mortgage (& all bills) are told we have to fix everything, but we have no rights.
The reason we haven't been able to fix anything? Guinness have been increasing our Service Charges & Rent twice a year, every year since we moved in. On top of that, we're then billed for Service Charges Guinness incorrectly estimate every year.
They say these will be refunded if the bill turns out to be lower, but this has NEVER happen. The final bill has always been higher. Meaning we've then been left with a final bill for service charges of anywhere from £100-£1k. Thats what we have to pay them on top of everything else, and they always what it in one lump sum.
We've been told they will be selling property or are thinking about property in our area, and this could/would include our home.
They inform us of this by email, at the same time as informing us of increasing our rent & service charges once more and that we've not paid rent & the extra service charges (if we don't pay them, then they will start the eviction process) we didn't have he normal letter about the extra servos charges and they didn't for some reason take rent from our bank account by direct debit (I checked, and everything is still set up & money was there. This has happened before with them)
I wish I had NEVER heard of Guinness Partnership. I would rather have stayed in our 2bed house for longer, fully owning that, being on top of each other than where we are now. Because now we are stuck. I hate this house & I really hate Guinness.
I would advise anyone looking at one of their houses, just to run in the opposite direction. Just don't do it.”
“This is an appeal for Guinness partnership property owners who have had the buildings insurance raised by 255% in a single year. I need to contact other dissatisfied owners to assess the situation and then consider a joint legal action case against Guinness. Please leave reviews of your experiences. I have received the standard reply from Guinness but they do not accept anything is wrong. Unbelievable arrogance and the local council need to investigate this on behalf of both property owners and tenants.”
“Has a house owner the service the people who are in management positions, should all lose there jobs. The service and contact with the people who are stuck with them and their lease holders, they treat you has no one. So all the bad reviews I agree with. If any one is thinking of buying a property with Guinness THINK again I have been in my property four years worst thing I have ever done.”
“If you are offered housing with any other association then please take it. This association is corrupt and abhorrent. They took over from the council nearly 20 years ago and have done absolutely nothing. No decorations internally or outside. Window sills falling off. Damp. No insulation. Their staff change as in leave every 3 months. No communication internally as the staff don't care. The ones that do... Well they leave. They cover up Asb and drugs and violence and allow you to be so scared you can't leave your premises.”
“I own a leasehold flat in Manchester. Guinness are the freeholders/managing agents. Appreciate that I am in a different position from most posting on this site however, I completely agree with all the comments regarding the competency and trustworthiness of this particularly Company. I have owned my flat since the 1990s and have a lease extension which was expensive and lengthy due to having to deal with Guinness. I have very many complaints ...the latest a letter from Guinness last week and without any prior notice that my monthly service charge will increase from £107.25 to £135.65. I tried ringing for an explanation last week and earlier this week but frankly was 'stonewalled' by Guinness, quote: ' if you are ringing about your rent/ service charges increase please press option 8'....I spent (wasted!) lots of time waiting for someone to pick up the phone. A girl called Victoria eventually called yesterday but was clearly some young innocent tasked (with script in hand) to listen to and even 'empathise' with aggrieved Tenants. (A masterstroke by Guinness.) Michael Gove needs to bring the current bill regarding Leaseholders/Tenants' rights into law asap. All very well for property lawyers and those with vested interests( fund managers etc) saying it would be a breach of the legal status of companies such as Guinness but the abuse/corruption has to stop. Again, not necessarily relevant to all here but the UK practically stands alone in perpetuating the leasehold system which continues to cause distress and unnecessary expense to so many. I wish everyone success in their battles with the Guinness Partnershiip. For me, I am hoping that Guinness have been their usual incompetent selves and have made yet again another mistake; with other peoples' finances.”
““K&T heating services shall not be held liable for any damages…including but not limited to workmanship, misuse of, accident regardless of cause or negligence. The resident hereby waives all liability claims against K&T Heating Services, its employees and directors, its partners and affiliates and its distributers. For the work to proceed please sign below to confirm acceptance of terms as outlined above” It implies K&T Heating is going to be negligent by works acting on behalf of social housing landlords used to get people to give up their homes it’s wrong”
“The buildings just look fancy, extremely low quality material. Talk to an expert before purchasing any flat from Leaside Lock. I have water leakage in my flat only after 4 months, be careful with your purchase.
*I will soon share what they have been doing to me since 10 months ago. All I can say is nothing has happened over the past 10 months and I still have the leak issue in my flat. I will share with you some photos soon, you judge!
Update 1: I wrote my first review about my flat on 1st of February. They have not done anything about the leak in my flat since that time. I reported this issue 08/03/2023, almost a year ago. I will write the updates about my flat here, read them carefully!”
“I have been a Tennant of the Guinness partnership for 2 years nearly know and I have to say they are the worst landlords you could ever ask for I have numerous problems with my property they always try and pass the buck onto the Tennant but I can't say much more as my case is being prepared to go to court but I would advise people not to take there properties and avoid at all costs”
“Awful service. Left my INVALID brother with a serious draught problem in his home.
No help from bosses. Maintenance men acting under orders.
Pays his rent every week but no help when needed”
“Since Covid has rapidly gone downhill and stayed there. Sheltered house had no alarms, emergency equipment tested for more than a year. Fences broken for months, waited 40 minutes to talk to someone from Guinness. Eventually requested a call back. Still waiting after nearly two days. Don’t blame the staff as they obviously try their best. Management needs a complete overhaul.”
“Filthy neighbours..guiness owned.Months of dog mess on concrete rear garden.2 dogs in own mess..tons of it..reported and said they would inspect..1 month later more mess nothing done.Come summer what a mess.Should inspect properties..don't bother”
“Could Guinness partnership honestly give us a truthful answer which will be very hard for them to do, why do you say that accommodation for 55 years of age and over regulations are abided by yet allow teenagers to live in these accommodations? and have access to keys for entry, if we had know this and not given false information we certainly would not have taken this he'll hole of a flat, we're out ASAP, and we'll never trust this company again who say they are caring in there spiel, people really need to ask questions and get written proof before thinking of taking Guinness up, wish we did.”
“This company seem to ignore very serious complaints, the tenant every weekend allows her granddaughter to live at her free flat rent flat complete with door key whilst the tenant vacates and goes elsewhere, this has been reported a ridiculous amount of times but this waste of space company seems to keep saying the granddaughter is visiting her grandmother, the grandmother leaves every weekend Guinness so this teenager is left all alone in what's supposed to be a 55 years of age and over accommodation, what a pathetic excuse this company gives, Guinness need to investigate this because alledged subletting is naughty, wake up, this, I'm embarrassed to say is a company that doesn't seem to bother unless it's not getting their rent, there are cctv cam to prove this unless Guinness still believe fairies live at bottom of the garden nothing will get done, wish I had heeded advice not to rent off these not caring things.”
“Guiness are absolutely abysmal! I was transferred to them via paradigm who left us in serious disrepair , Guinness did nothing about said repairs knowing the extent, I have r been under them 4 yrs now , still have water running down my 2 daughter's bedroom walls, the home is rife with mould and rising damp, the ceiling to floor front windows do not meet In the middle causing a draft the front door is warped, there is a leak somewhere in my bathroom they ha r yet to find so my front room ceiling is bowing again last time it came down on us , for two years our heating has not worked, and we ha r had no hot water for a year , the last 2 years they have been aware of my heath issues causing 2 major operations, and my youngest child having health issues , ive been trying to move out of here for 13 years with no help from Guiness either and still waiting for them to sort any repairs! atrocious! And no they do not help at all regardless of their false promises”
“What a pathetic plastic company, been waiting now for five years for a wall thermostat for room temperature absolutely no excuse, boiler is on last leg and sounds like it's ready for take off, excuse after excuse by incompetent amateurs, wish I'd listened and heeded advice not to join this pathetic makeshift untrustworthy lot.”
“Guinness partnership our useless I lived in my fat for 14 years I've experienced beating up drug addicts spat in face smashing windows dog mess on back step by Drug addict they're useless they do not want to help they take my 400 pound and I leave me in such a mess with these drug is addicts and then noise off 97 Davenport it's disgraceful heart actually for 14 years when I've approached Guinness about issues they fob me off constantly and say why should you leave and leave the nuisances alone that answer sick this Housing association it's gone downhill ever since Guinness taken ove wuvlen housing making mental health problems and physical ill all stress I have scared Drugs get in flat kill me hope nasty Housing association give me 14 years HELL in flat Don't use this Guinness partnership it make HeLL in their Homes .”
“They are really bad my patio doors and windows are rotten through we keep being told there is no money to replace them I have learning disabilities and health issues I live on the welwyn garden city estate”
“What a woeful establishment, 18 months having to put up with an I'll mannered neighbours noise, waking us up early hours 1.30is having showers, underage people living with this person, Guinness partnership said they can't do anything, very, very biased, soon want your money though, even had the audacity asking us if we'd like to move and not give the nuisance tenant a warning, pathetic.”
“Several times had to complain about workmen,the noise I get from an empty neighbouring flat.
First advised to 'speak to neighbour' I did state the flat is empty.Second time advised as it is within daytime hours there is nothing they can do! Your own workmen cannot be complained against, regardless of what their behaviour?
I hoped for peace and quiet when discharged from hospital,but as I'm only a tenant you don't count.”
