accent housing

 

Ian Williams Ltd provide the repairs and maintenance service across selected regions for Accent Housing (as well as other Housing Associations nationwide). Ian Williams Ltd now have a monopoly on all reactive repairs reported to Accent Housing.

Chris Cuthell former head of procurement had championed the use of local contractors. Ian Williams are so far removed from what could be described as 'locally based' it forced the resignation of Chris Cuthell.

Ian Williams primarily rely on the use of sub contractors. Many travel hundreds of miles to undertake minor repairs. The mechanism for charging under the schedule of rates is unworkable unless there is manipulation and inflation of charges. ESH Construction were shown to have manipulated charges. I have witnessed this same practice under Ian Williams. Accent Housing refuse to provide those requested invoices which would reveal that practice.

Accent Housing historically have never checked any invoicing against work completed as leaseholders pay the entire cost of repairs.

Accent Housing are now in a position where they cannot risk checking if charges are genuine. It would only expose their primary repairs contractor as inflating charges the consequences of which would be devasting to their entire repairs system.

There is also the risk of contractor failure which would have severe consequences.

The reviews below are from trust pilot. There was not a single positive review.

 

Reviews of Ian Williams - trustpilot

'Cancelled my appointment for the 3rd time'
J.D. 6 September 2023

Cancelled my appointment for the 3rd time !!! Continually phoning to chase them up as they don’t follow up with any appointments appalling service.

NO DUTY OF CARE for a vulnerable adult with a chronic lung condition waiting 3 months for a work top replacement due to a recent leak from boiler black mould and fungus.

Disgusting bad work men low skilled…
L.W. 6th August 2023

Disgusting bad work men low skilled untrusted cant leave them alone and they bodge the work ACCENT HOUSING only use these ...why ...oh yeah they have a 1 * aswel these f ers should be ashamed and need shutting down disgusting

Poor quality work- 10 weeks and counting
D.E. 8th August 2023

Poor quality work, left property unsafe. Terrible communications.

Two men attended to complete task, spent most of the time bad mouthing the very company they work for followed up by not finishing the job they started in order to attend another job.

Disgusted, unfortunately ACCENT only use this contractor so I am somewhat snookered.

It’s only been a week of not having a fully functioning kitchen! Maybe these people would like to put themselves through the same treatment they put others through.

Just cancelled for the 6th time stating too late to start the job, considering they made the appointment for 8am find that hard to believe. So in essence I have lost 6 days pay to home for a no show, phoned office and been fobbed of with varying excuses like no materials to do the job, no floor fitter available and anything else they can think of.

I even suggested sub contracting if the work load is too much, stop taking money and not completing tasks allocated and paid gor!

'Breathtakingly dire'
19 July 2023

Again I am in the zero star camp. Consistently dire experiences with this organisation. Unfortunately we have to use these clowns for our repairs at work and they are absolutely awful.

Missed appointments, poor standards of work and zero customer service to put anything right.

'Worst company ever'
A.S. June 2023

Worst company ever , waste of space can’t deliver there service 0 stars

'wish I could give them 0 stars'
V.May 2023

I wish I could give them 0 stars how did they get this job and why is this company still around they don't even complete the work properly or they make things worst than they were before something doesn't seem right.

Worst company on the planet ...avoid.
L.W. May 2023

Worst company on the planet ..... avoid at all cost only employ bad trademen cowboys at best they lie ....they dont show up on time and they make out that destroyed goods can be repaired when it needs ripping out they dont repair anything correctly ....i am a site labourer ive worked along side every trade you can think of ....good honest sole traders ...that do a propa job and let me tell you ... comparing the work from ian williams to any of of those i worked by ian williams is a f disgrace .....

How they are in business is beyond me they should be ashamed there is no way they are monitoring the work that their cowboys are doing ....

'should be shut down'
K. December 2022

leaving an elderly woman who has many health issues including copd with no heating for days an closing down repairs when they havent been done is disgrace still waiting for call back from his monkeys shame on u .... u should be shut down

'Worst contractors ever'
M.C. March 2023

Worst contractors ever. Never turn up for any appointments, never call before hand, if they do call its to reschedule. Botch jobs or never fixed.

Time wasters and cowboys

'Are you sure you are professional decorators?'
B.A. 2022

Ian Williams were hired to repaint the communal areas of our shared ownership flats by Hyde housing. Painted doors shut, left paint splatters on the carpet, paint marks on the windows and large paint stains on the carpet.

ian williams

 

'can't avoid as they are tied with Accent'
M.P Nov 2022

Claire Nolan who is the surveyor who works for them is an absolute liar. I am waiting for her call to fix a hole they created in my bathroom that never got closed. When called some days she is out of the office, some days she will call me back in 10 minutes some days probably she is dead. They transfer the call to different places so you will lose your patience and disconnect for such jobs.

No responsibility and put all these jobs to customers who pay hefty service charges.

Sadly can't avoid as they are tied with the Accent and the contract won't allow the residents to change them

'Ian Williams are the absolute worst!'
N.I, Jan 2023

Following a change in landlords, I am now forced to deal with Ian Williams for any repairs.

I have never encountered a more incompetent company with such a total lack of interest in customer care.

I have just had the third visit from one of their operatives in the three month saga of trying to have my bathroom extractor fan replaced, the latest in a comedy of errors in repairs I have endured with this company. The chap that arrived today has not brought a replacement fan with him, claiming he was not told it was needed. This may have been a somewhat believable excuse, if he wasnt the chap who was sent for the previous waste of time appointment when he took a range of photos to ensure the correct model was ordered to be fitted on this visit.

'1 star because I couldn't give lower'
L.E. March 2023

1 star because I couldn't give lower. 3 no shows/failure to attend appointment s to do re wiring. Wouldn't ring to say that they couldn't make it.

Not a company to rely on.

'Would give a minus score if possible'
R.G. April 2023

Very bad service does not do what they should in fact take off services they should not but because they can

'didnt want to give them any stars'
G.H. Feb 2023

Crap company , no s🤬ts given , good job i dont treat people, like them, so so dissapointed , only need a new shower, let down so many times , best thing is first guy who came called the office from my house and told them what was needed and model of shower, the job had been cancelled and was all set for today , in he walks looks at it says he’ll be an hour got to go get one, and surprise isnt returning, oh but my shower is sitting on the counter at the shop apparently but he had so many emergency calls while he was there b🤬ks.

Well Ian Williams you really are a shower of s🤬t,

'Hilarious company'
A.W. May 2022 (trustpilot)

Hilarious company. If you like getting out of bed at 6am, doing nothing for the working day because they can’t arrange any work, then having to fight to get paid for your hours. This is perfect for you. Watch out for the little scammer Paul Price. Weasel of the highest calibre

'Constantly poor service.'
S.C. April 2022

Constantly doing the same thing over and over again, and it's poor customer service, leaving confirmation of repair date/time until the last possible moment etc.

1 month ago, they told me the night before that they were coming the following day. Totally unacceptable. I was not able to keep that appointment. Then had to wait a further 2 weeks. Just found out that they will not do what I was told they would do. Instead, I now have to fork out for a part, as it's a health hazard and health and safety issue. Fuming doesn't even come close.

Avoid. Always the same result. They just do not seem to care. Very poor service.

In the past, they have also not turned up, and had me waiting in all day (several times). In addition, they have not buzzed or knocked on my door, yet have put a card through the letter box saying that they'd been, when I had been sat there all day waiting for them.

ian williams

 

'Cowboys and compulsive liars'
G.C. March 2023

I didn't want to give them any stars but yet wouldn’t let me leave a review if i didn't.

Bloody awful company and feel sorry for a few of the good ones who do work for them.

I’m self employed and lost so much money this year through having to take days off and then them not bothering to turn up. Or not making promised calls on route to job. Then walking to door then turning round and going straight back to the van. Caught on camera many times.

They have every excuse going and it’s like talking to robots when calling customer services. Promised calls from higher up and they don’t come. They don’t give a Toss about the disruption in our lives and lost wages about not turning up, or cancelling jobs without telling you. Despite giving detail description and pictures of what’s wrong. They never carry any parts and waste more time going away to local builders merchants which seems to take 45mins despite being 5 mins max away.

1 job I’ve had seen too 3 times and still not right. They ruined a newly laid carpet. But apparently not their problem.

Leaving a review today as had enough of someone yet again not turning up today. Now apparently rebooked for tomorrow.

'Completely unacceptable'
J.A. Feb 2023

Our shower broke in December. We said we needed a new one. and they sent one of their ‘operative’ on the 5th of January who told us we need a new shower! So they scheduled another ‘operative’ to come out on the 20th of January between 8 and 1. Got a call at 12.45 to say he wouldn’t be coming as he had an emergency job. So they rescheduled for 7th of February.

So yet another one of there ‘operatives’ came at 8.35 with an unpleasant attitude, no tools to do the work and no idea what he was doing here! He just went in looked at the place it should be and left to get one saying he would be back in about an hour. Lo and behold he never returned after ringing to say he had it in front of him but he suddenly had a lot of emergency come up! Rang there number and they said they would have to reschedule yet again and they don’t even have a date available!

I have a mother who is currently battling cancer and doesn’t need the extra stress of this!What kind of appalling company is this? Completely unacceptable!

'Being a tenant of a local housing…'
M.D. Dec 2022

Being a tenant of a local housing association who uses this company my experience has been absoloutly awful! Each time they book you in to have a home repair they tell the the repair men will be there between 8am and 5pm.

On five occasions in the last 6 months I have waited in all day only to ring them to find out where the repair men are.. then to be told they won’t be attending! No communication received to say they would not attend even though they have access to email, phone and txt message.

'Another failed attendance'
M.M. May 2023

Another failed attendance when will… Another failed attendance when will Accent get rid of this company

'could not select anything lower'
P.K. Feb 2023

One star because I could not select anything lower, bad organisation.

Just tell you lies

'Still waiting'
S.S. Nov 2022

Still waiting for the "5 day job" that started in February 2022 to be finished 8 months later. Bunch of jokers this company. I wouldn`t even trust them to change a toilet roll for me. Use them at your peril !!!

'Cowboys'
D.G. April 2022

Cowboys, DON'T USE THEM. If you hear they are being used by a social housing provider to fit anything, think twice.

The sinking ship