"Sold a dream, live in a nightmare"

Been in a shared ownership property for 3 years, with issues since day one with a nuisance neighbour, loud all night parties, walls shaking, drug taking and dealing, threatening behaviour to name just a few. Raised it over a year ago with aster as it became unliveable, to be told it’s not asters problem and call the police if I’m in danger - should have seen this as the first sign of a poor company. Called the police several times about the drug dealing issue to be told aster have a duty of care to help me, so I tried again to complain several months later.

Finally was referred to the ‘anti social behaviour team’ following a raid on the neighbouring property, only then did they start to take my complaint in any seriousness. They were supposed to support me as my family and I were threatened and intimidated by this neighbour and this team were to make sure I’m safe in my home, I was promised additional locks if I needed them, told the neighbour had breached the lease and they can get them out - essentially promised everything would be ok. Well that was a massive joke! Aster basically gave the neighbour all the info they needed to make my life more of a hell than it had been previously, but do it without the loud all night parties so it looks like they aren’t a nuisance and they will close the case and wait for any further instances of anti social behaviour, but also it is dependant on the length of time since the first instance may mean they can’t even use the evidence, even though this directly contradicts what I was told at the start of the process. Aster still get their money and the neighbour gets to continue living there without worry so everyone except the person affected seems to win.

Aster have no regard for what has happened previously and although after several months of chasing them for updates and threatening further complaints from me, being completely forgotten about for weeks whilst the case officer wasn’t available (6 weeks of ‘annual leave’ - which was clearly code for he’s not here and nobody is covering the workload) they finally followed up with the police to confirm exactly what I already told them. From this point on I got a call every two weeks to ‘check in on things’... well of course everything was getting better, they handed the neighbour all the info they needed to not get caught and give them an idea of where it came from, but put a disclaimer on every call to say ‘aster can’t guarantee the neighbour won’t be able to tell where the info has come from’ to cover their backs. But clearly their way of saying it will be obvious so good luck keeping your family safe.

Now, after 6 months of me waiting for an update, they can’t confirm what steps have been taken, but have assured ‘steps were taken’ and will look to close the case as the neighbour is now not being as loud and my family and I haven’t been threatened with violence in a few months so they think all is ok. This has left me with no choice but to sell my property because I would rather not live next door to a drug dealer, which you do not expect when they tell you before purchasing the property that the neighbours are quiet and you won’t be able to hear anything between houses.

The aster team member called me and distressed me during my labour, when I had actively said I was in labour early in the call. They clearly do not care about anything more than money.

The property itself is lovely and big, but the situation lets it down. Alongside these issues the development is still not finished, roads are horrendous and regularly ruin the tyres on your car. Happily increase the maintenance costs regularly though. No end in sight for the finishing touches either. You’re certainly sold a dream, and you end up living in a pure nightmare with very few ways to get out without losing money.

I would never deal with aster again, I haven’t sold the property yet, but I am certainly expecting that to be just as bad of a process as everything else has been. If I were you, I wouldn’t buy through them, find another company, and if you have no choice, certainly check out your neighbourhood thoroughly before signing anything.

"I will start by saying how lovely our…"

I will start by saying how lovely our flat is , just 6 flats all of us over 60 years old and 4 flats share a shared outside space, this is were my comment goes down hill , the 4 flats that share the outside space feel its unsafe, its uneven, the ground has sunk round the 2 drains , the ground is all cracked, its supposed to be a grassed area but that doesn't grow well as gound so poor, the other week one of our more elderly residents sat on a chair there as it would be so nice to sit out but unfortunately the chair went down into ground and he ended up on floor, luckily nothing hurt , just needed help up . We have reported it on numerous times , sent in photos and still nothing done, its an accident waiting to happen. Im writing this on behalf of the residents here and hoping something will get done after this post

"Worst company ever"

I am only giving a 1 because I can’t give any lower. Doubled my service charge this year (2021/22) and now sent another bill for almost £400 which will be added. Apparently communal internal and external redecoration on flats that were only built 7 years ago. I live in what is classified as affordable housing. Not so much anymore. When you try and ring them you can’t speak to anyone about it, you ask for a callback and no one calls. Had nothing but problems with them since I moved in when they failed to process my DD form and then threatened to tell my mortgage company I was failing to pay. Turns out the form was on the desk in front of them, they hadn’t processed it but that was my fault. Neighbours have had issues with service charge errors. Given the company is here to manage homes they don’t do it very well..... if you can afford to buy without shared ownership then do, they will rob you blind!

"Arrogant and intimidating."

The worst, awful company I have had the misfortune to have to deal with. My father in law, one of their elderly tenants sadly died and Aster has since caused no end of problems with their unnecessary demands and orders. Even a complaint to the CEO was met with absolute total inefficiency and repeats of their rudeness. Being so used to treating their elderly residents with contempt and disrespect, one of their local managers made the mistake of dishing out orders to my wife with if you believe it finger-pointing in her face. Their appalling attitude can only stem from the top and their motto should read: "obey orders or get a lecture with fingers pointing your face". Utter disgrace of a company, if their attitude to the dead is so bad just think how they must mistreat the living residents.

"Defects that never get fixed!"

Since I moved into my property in April 2020, I have had no end of problems and defects with Aster homes which fall on deaf ears. They simply do not care. I have had no downstairs toilet since November 2020 and it is now nearly June 2021. They only sent a plumber out recently who said that the problem is not with the toilet (as I thought) but a ground works issue below the property. I waited in yesterday afternoon for someone to come, called again at 3 to have a yes they were coming by 5. Never did. I call again today and they have no answer as to why no one has turned up and can't help me. The list of defects I have had is so long and yet again today they have 'lost' the list of defects email. Quite possibly the most incompent company I have ever had the misfortune of dealing with. Avoid at all costs!!

"i had a email from housing officer who…"

i had a email from housing officer who said i had to pay to have a shed removed in a shared garden,it was their when i moved in the last tenant died how can that be right? why did aster housing leave it their and other tenants used it, i have got legal advise and aster should have removed it,also why have i got to wait another year for window repair? when it was with east dorset housing it was great

"AVOID-INCOMPETENT-INTIMIDATING"

Horrific. Absolutely awful establishment who bully and scare tenants in vulnerable positions. They don’t care about tenants-we are simple the wages for the staff. They do not communicate between departments, I have approached them numerous times with various grievances and they bat them away. I have taken the advice to have nothing to do with them, just pay my rent and crack on. They have breached my tenancy multiple times and they don’t even care. The complaint handlers are the worst of the lot! I genuinely hope they sell it all off to a different association. If you are bidding for a home, find out who the housing association are before you take the property-Aster are the most impossible unfriendly team of people who sell false promises and paint a picture of themselves through radio and marketing online-IT IS ALL LIES! Do not put yourself through the misery!

"Water pressure on boiler low ...... Sorted"

Called Aster emergency repairs and explained my boiler pressure was low and the heating and hot water wasn’t coming on. They sent Aaron the gas safety engineer whom arrived promptly and he sorted out the water pressure on the boiler. Within about 10 minutes the heating and hot water was back on. Thank you so much Aaron you are a star ⭐️

"Totally fed up"

Totally fed up. Third winter in our shared ownership home and still have water coming through the back doorway and black mold up the walls. Ended up making a complaint. Complaints process is a waste of time and even though the problem was not proved to be resolved they closed it down as 'it may be resolved'. We are still waiting for a water-tight and black mold free home. Hopefully this time they will listen and we can lay flooring and start to enjoy our home. Unfortunately, we aren't holding our breath. By the way, Aster, please don't ask me to provide more details so you can resolve things as you seem to do on other reviews on here. You know about the problem, we just want it fixed. I may even remove this review then! I really am that desperate.

"Excellent servic"

Have had several repair people call this year and just wanted to say what good representatives of your business they have all been, considerate, polite and personable. They arrive when they say they will, they get the job done and if they can’t they order what is needed and rebook the job. Outstanding service thank you