"Dreadful and inefficient company"

Dreadful and inefficient company. Their staff especially housing officers have inadequate knowledge and no empathy with their tenants. Ours in particular is unapproachable and intimidating.

"Absolutely shocking response from…"

Absolutely shocking response from onwards homes my kitchen is a mess and as been since I moved in. Different shapes , different colour kitchen, doors and draws hanging off even when fixed. I waited anyway while was making complaints until kitchens started to be done as I new mine was due I asked where was it. I was told it is due this year but mine won’t be done till 2023-2024 because they are running behind schedule. I have now taken this to the ombudsman which they agreed to take my complaint on so hopefully will get some better answers.

"Absolute joke and I wonder why I pay…"

Absolute joke and I wonder why I pay rent to this landlord. An inspector came to the property I rent. Back in May this year the inspector promised me that Fortem ( a subcontractor on behalf of Onward Homes) will replace the worktops in the kitchen. I've contacted Onward Homes Customer services and they said the job will be done on Sat 16th July 2022 between 8-1pm no-one turned up that day.
I rang Onward Home customer services the following Monday 19th July 22 the find a reason for this. The advisor I spoken to said that Fortem repairs team said that the on call engineer couldn't attend due to emergencies that day. Also Fortem do not usually work weekends as weekends are only for emergencies. No one contacted me to say they couldn't attend so I'd waiting in all day. The customer service advisor had rebooked the appointment for another day, but its not for certain because the engineer is off sick. However they might be back in work that day but if they can't attend that day due to sickness they they will text me and let me know on the day. Then the advisor said it's just for the engineer to have a look at what needs doing to the worktops. But I was told a few weeks back that the worktops are going to be replaced on 16/7/22. So yet again I'm not sure if the worktops will get replaced or an engineer is just going to have a look at the next appointment. Onward have offered me a £20 good will gesture but it's not good enough.

"Without prejudice"

Without prejudice
Took 4 years and about 10 times to fix a leak. As a result of a complaint regarding the gardeners leaving the garden door and basement door open, did a fire risk assessment and removed 3 bikes, initially claiming not and then admitting so. They provided a photo of an old mattress in the basement but neglected in photographing the bikes they deemed worthless. They then disconnected a call whilst discussing failed to call back and then failed to answer. Best avoided. I have advised I will be taking then to the small claims court and now they are trying to find a resolution. Again, best avoided and not worthy of their status

"Social housing just do not care about people"

Stuck with them, can’t afford to move, exhausted from arguing with them and totally fed up of them thinking because it’s social housing that we all must sit at home with nothing better to do than wait for appointments. They leave things until overdue then cause you grief over appointments. They don’t care about how they leave you to live, but if you owe 2p they’ll chase you! Embarrassing behaviour with communications too, always threatening and nasty letters. I could go on for days but they definitely do not have their tenants interests at heart despite the waste of paper newsletters about ‘community’.

"suggest that tenants who are…"

I suggest that tenants who are experiencing problems with Onward Homes either contact their MP or Ombudsman. They usually only respond when one of these organisations contact them.
Other wise contact a disrepair solicitor. Onward will definitely respond then.
Also, request a copy of telephone calls you make to Onward Homes. They have to supply you with a transcript.

"Women staff (managers) ego's a high contributing factor to exceptionally poor service"

I made a call to Onwards Homes to make enquiries about becoming a tenant ( this was prior to discovering these shocking well deserved reviews )

I spoke with an advisor named Stephen who was a part of the lettings team for about 30 minutes and he appeared extremely understanding and empathetic to my situation. I advised him that i had approached multiple associations and they had all been less than sympathic to my situation. In fact, it appears they themselves follow the same prejudice ethuses as my current landlord Salix homes. Anyway, I digress.

I was happy to provide evidence of the racial harassment ( videos, photos, voice recordings) that I have endured from this evil, horrible person Ms. Saunders at 150 Stowell Salford, who was responsible for the murder of a woman nearby and whose son had murdered a 17-year old mixed raced boy by the name of Josiah Norman, which was highly publicised in the news all across the UK and how i was recently threathened by this woman that i will be the next in line and boasted how she had gotten away with the murder of the lady as she danced, laughed and said " Yea, but i got away with it as i am still here and they did not lock me up!"

He advised that I go on the site and immediately apply for a property. He took my details and advised that he would pass them on. He asked questions about what kind of area i would like to live in etc. He advised that I would receive a response within a week. He then mentioned a property that was available in Stockport, which was kind of further than where I wanted to be, but was open to having a look.

A week arrived, i called again and got through to a gentleman who advised he had read the notes Stephen had written and i should recieve an email from the manager, who was a woman. Now! How did i know this was going to go tit up-literally? Could it be that i have been accustomed to women such as her in the past who relish in the fact that a black woman is going through such a challenging time due to the ruff of racism and wants to add to it? .

She did not have the common courtesy to respond to any of my emails-like Stephen and his colleague said I would receive, but instead added to the internal emails (to her staff) that I should go back to my housing association as it is not their responsibility to place me into one of their properties.

I agree, it is not their responsibility. However, I have explained in detail the numerous lengths that I have gone to, including the ombudman, Police, MP ( Rebecca Bailey ) , etc, in order to put a stop to the racism. and ALL were extremely unhelpful.

I explained how Warren Carlon ( Director of Communites) and his " acting" legal rep tried to blackmail me into keeping silent and refused to view the video footages i brought. I explained how Drew Smith (Housing Officier) trivialised my whole situation and said that i caused the racism that was happening to me. I explained how Helen Bryne ( her manager) was even more disgracefully insensitive and how they all tried to gaslight me and how Salix homes has been stealing from me for over 8 years as i was told that they had no rent free weeks and i recently discovered otherwise that infact free weeks were included in my rent

Typically, like this manager, within the housing associations, she could not care less. She explained that Stephen should not have advised me of this and there was nothing they could offer or advise me. She advised that i should go back to Salix homes and Salford Council, the two parties who had done nothing but add to and condone what is happening.

A heartless housing association I think women should stop catering to their egos and trying hard to continue the traditions of their devilish prejudice ancestors. This is part of the reason why they are not thriving.

"My electric shower often runs boiling…"

My electric shower often runs boiling on on No1 setting which is the coldest setting. Two guys came out and tested the water by running it for a few minutes. I told them that the temperature does fluctuate. But Onward are refusing to send an electrician to test my 24 year old shower which they have never serviced. So I rang Liberty gas electrics because I had a electrical service in April and Onward failed to send me a copy of the report. I asked if the electrician had tested my shower and got no response. And then got a shock to discover that my circuit breaker in my flat has a fault .I asked for an appointment but didn't get a response. Legally they have to repair my circuit breaker within four weeks. I am outraged, my home and I had no idea that I could be in danger because residents are nothing to them

"Backward Living?"

Awful organisation. Complaint managed poorly. Promised call backs that didnt materialise then received a totally irrelevant written response that didnt actually address my complaint. Avoid dealing with these bunch of cowboys at all costs.

"Terrible service by Onward Homes"

I'm not one to publicly disparage a company, but I feel left with absolutely no choice but to add to the many voices already here showing the true face of Onward Homes, outside of their glossy monthly newsletter and false words. They are terrible.

I am currently engaged in a dispute (for the second time) over substantial Service Charge increases, after previously winning compensation for myself and my whole building, when it was discovered that Onward had been overcharging us by hundreds of pounds for YEARS.

This original instance was resolved amicably in 2020 without need for legal action, but now moving on to 2022, Onward Homes are once again trying to squeeze each tenant for a Service Charge which is simply not in line with what they're offering; repairs are not carried out on time, the building is used as a construction materials dumping ground, and the communal areas are never cleaned properly (or even to the level promised in the Service Charge outline).

I have corresponded many times via email with both Sharon Chuunga and Tanya Marsh, each of whom has a job title listed as "Neighbourhood Specialist", with only dissatisfaction coming from every interaction. If they're not simply fobbing you off with promises of responding on a certain date and then failing to do so, they're simply not responding at all.

The mismanagement within this company is rife, and on more than five occasions have I seen it firsthand. I also know of neighbours who have experienced it twice that amount. Tanya Marsh has "organised" repairs for me personally on three occasions, all of which were dates that were not adhered to. After contacting Ms Marsh in regards to the absence of repairmen at these appointments, she assured me that it would be re-booked and that she would take care of it. It would be a surprise to no one for me to say that no such repair has ever taken place. It really does beg the question, what am I paying my Service Charge for?