Anybody bought a house from Morris Homes?

lulu_92

We've registered interest in a new development nearby. The houses are expected to be built by spring 2015 but we are keen to know what other buyers thought of the company and the quality of houses/service etc

SophieH123

We moved in to our new Morris Home at the end of March and I have to say it's brilliant.


We didn't buy off plan as the house was already built so we didn't get much say in the finish but we're happy with what was in place anyway so that hasn't been a problem.


We had a few small items that needed to be sorted when we moved in but the site manager was great and everything was done with no quibbles and fairly quickly. We do have another issue that has just come up and now we will have to go through their customer care service to resolve it so that will be interesting to see how quick they are to respond.


We looked at a few other builders and for us we thought the quality of the Morris homes was better. It was things like the solid doors, decent kitchens, Neff appliances and high ceilings that made the difference for us.


Good luck with what you decide.

lulu_92

Thanks SophieH123. We were just a bit concerned because we've read a lot of negative reviews of their homes and only one or two positive ones. I just want it to be really good because I don't really want to move anywhere else!

m6569

Morris Homes have great designers who put together really good developments/estates often on brownfield sites.
Their main problem is contractor control - they employ a plumber to fit the heating system but don't inspect that it's been done correctly. The same goes for insulation, electrics, plaster, paint, glazing, garden drainage and everything else you care to think of.
It's the detail that Morris Homes can't do and that's the responsibility of the the site manager and they all have a very poor reputation within the trade.

There are also instances of missing play equipment, unfinished landscaping and unadopted and incomplete roads that were part of the planning consent.

If you're planning to purchase an MH property make sure you employ a professional snagger and have a contract drawn up to ensure you are protected if things go wrong - NHBC is pretty much worth nothing as they are funded by the building trade.

Good luck

1uk3y

I am also considering buying a 'Capesthorpe' house-type by Morris Homes. We originally placed an early bird deposit down on a Taylor Wimpey home but when we looked around some unfinished ones on the site it just didn't feel right to me (my family is in the residential building trade). Materials looked cheap and no insulation was going between the walls or brickwork. We then looked at Morris and the houses just felt better constructed. Skirting boards are bigger, door frames are more substantial, ceilings are higher, walls are insulated properly and alarms are installed as standard. Landscaping on the site was also lovely and houses didn't look crammed in.

In terms of Taylor Wimpey there are all sorts of sites dedicated to their failings but I can't find much for Morris Homes!

anishmathw

I did read this post before reserving my new house with Morris Homes. Now I would have listened to all reviews. Never ever buy from MORRIS HOMES.

randomgirl22

DO NOT BUY A MORRIS HOME EVER!

We spent all of our savings on a new-build Morris home and it is one of our biggest regrets ever! The build quality is appalling, the customer service (once you've handed your money over) is non-existent and trying to get repairs/fixes/snags done is impossible.

I'm kicking myself because I read all of the reviews on here about how poor they are and I thought: "It won't happen to us." How wrong was I?! I really wish that I had listened to the reviews and taken my money elsewhere.

DO NOT BUY A MORRIS HOME EVER!

We moved in over 4 months ago to an uncompleted house (we were moving our belongings in as builders were still doing stuff). For the whole time, we've had an incomplete garage, back door that doesn't open, a terrible health-hazard garden, a downstairs loo that wasn't plumbed in resulting in a leak everywhere (that they left us with for 4 months despite me letting them know straight away), a drive that is so poor it has damaged our car twice and our neighbours' car too (the neighbours' car was so badly damaged they had to GET A COMPLETELY NEW CAR AS IT WAS CHEAPER THAN THE REPAIRS), the kitchen is still unfinished even now. I could go on and on and on...

DO NOT BUY A MORRIS HOME EVER!

They sent someone to fix the kitchen this week, he wasn't given the right parts so he just left - we still have a kitchen that isn't finished.
So many times we have been told that they are coming to fix stuff and they don't turn up. Head office and the on-site team ignore my phone calls - I rang from my phone and gave my name and all of the people that I needed to speak to were 'out of the office', I rang from my friend's phone using her name (a minute later) and the people were available right away! How surprising (!)

DO NOT BUY A MORRIS HOME EVER!

We've had to have a total of 10 days off work between us (basically all of my husband's holiday) and things are still unfinished. It is such a waste of our time - we haven't been able to go away on holiday or anything due to all of this.

DO NOT BUY A MORRIS HOME EVER!

Furthermore, the on-site team told Head Office that we didn't have a snag list as the house was fine - this was a massive lie as we had submitted a 3 page snag list but the on-site team were lying through their teeth about this. Luckily, I had a signed and dated copy so I am currently disputing this with them.

DO NOT BUY A MORRIS HOME EVER!

They are awful, awful builders and the customer service is the worst I have ever experienced EVER! (I had a Barratt new build before this and it was a million times better).

Please, please listen to these reviews - I so, so, so, so wish that I had because if I had I would not be in the position that I am now.

DO NOT BUY A MORRIS HOME EVER!!!!!!!

JonnyFitz

I appreciate this is an old thread but I have just stumbled across it. I can only agree with the above post of do not buy from Morris Homes. I purchased nearly 4 years ago and have had little or no service from them since.
Some of the problems are only just beginning to appear. A neighbour recently sold their house and the problem of road ownership has been raised by the buyers solicitors. Morris are now telling us that they do not hold the freehold to all the land that was developed and that in due course a management company will need to be set up funded by the residents to pay for upkeep/maintenance. We already have a management charge in place for the upkeep of the public open space as the development was not adopted.
We were never told prior to purchasing the house that this would be the case and YES this should have been raised by our solicitors during the buying process but we stupidly used the solicitors recommended by Morris as we were trying to complete on a strict deadline. If you are reading this thread because you are also wondering whether to purchase all I can say is do not.
I also had a Barratt House previously and the build quality/finishing was far superior. The quality of the building is substandard and we have had to have all the floorboards raised to repair the joists as it sounds like a herd of elephants walking around upstairs when it is simply one person walking around on a carpeted surface (most of my neighbours have had to do the same). The water flow from the shower is at best a dribble, Morris claimed it matched the minimum guidelines of 6 litres per min and refused to do anything else.The house we purchased was marketed at close to £300k 4 year ago and uses gravity for the waterflow from the tank in the loft.The gardens are appalling with no drainage installed which inevitably turns them into a soggy bog over winter causing any grass to die and replaced by weeds and moss, slates sliding off roofs etc etc.
I have never before written on any kind of public forum with any complaint. Do yourself a favour walk away and give your money to somebody else.

anishmathw

*** QUICK UPDATE ***
I had a meeting with Morris Homes management, they listened to me and proved someone at top really cares for customers. Yes part of my complaint resolved to my satisfaction and waiting for completion date. Fingers Crossed !!!

prucopyn

Initially a great experience now ruined by Morris Homes failure to complete the development, which is currently putting our homes at risk of flooding.

Reading around it seems possible to have a terrible experience with Morris Homes, however others seem to be quite happy. I think it's important to remember that less people who have a good experience are likely to write about it - people are more motivated to make comments if unhappy for whatever reason.

Our experience has been mostly fantastic but unfortunately has been tainted by Morris Homes failure to complete all aspects of the development, which day by day is leaving a more bitter taste.

We put down a deposit off-plan in February 2013 and entered into an agreement whereby Morris would help sell our previous house. Ultimately our old house didn't sell and we ended up agreeing a part exchange deal. During the 9 months of our house being built Morris did practically nothing to push a sale on our old house (which had been promised) and their general communication on all aspects of our eventual purchase via part exchange was practically non-existent. However, we were very proactive throughout and ultimately managed to secure a deal that we were very happy with. We ended up with a fantastic house finished to a high standard at a good price. We had been very keen to move and without Morris' help through the part exchange we might have struggled to sell our old property and move on.

After moving in, the after-care was excellent. Snags and other issues we resolved quickly with minimum fuss. The construction people who were around for another 12 months finishing the development were extremely helpful, letting in tradespeople and taking deliveries when we weren't in. We had a few problems with showers leaking, one which caused quite a bit of water to come through the ceiling but it was all sorted very quickly – they even offered to completely replace a brand new carpet that had got a little wet. Despite the fact we were living on a building site for the first 12 months (which we were completely prepared for as we bought one of the first houses) we couldn't have been happier.

The problem we have is regarding a large open space at the side of the development which is also next to our property. This was used for the site compound during construction, but the final plans are for this area to be landscaped for use by the residents. This is not merely for aesthetic reasons however; this area also needs to be heavily modified to build in defences since the whole development is situated in an area that might flood. The planning consent was granted on the provision that these flood defences were put in place. 12 months after the final house being finished and the compound being removed, nothing more has been done. The area has been fenced off and left as a construction site. What should be a lovely large landscaped open space with grass, trees, a footpath and grassy banks for flood defences is currently an inaccessible barren wasteland full of rubble and ugly temporary metal fencing. From a safety point of view this is a concern and aesthetically it is completely depressing to look at – either from our house or several others that overlook the area. A major selling point of the development was this area, which would be perfect for all the young children living in the new houses.

The council are equally at fault here; they have failed as yet to enforce the conditions that they granted planning on and seem to have naively omitted to specify any time-scales in the original planning permission. For the last 12 months Morris Homes have been avoiding their obligations and continually giving out false promises and deadlines when enquiries are made.

Would I buy again? – yes, but buyer beware. I would be all over every single aspect of the house and overall development and would employ a very good lawyer to hold my hand throughout. Morris Homes need managing throughout - make sure you are prepared to do so!

mrsweepuk

As for Morris Homes ....

The sales staff on site have been very good, and the size of the property is generous for this day and age. However, thats where it ends. the after care is appalling and getting passed around with no one standing up for their poor workmanship. MH subcontract almost everything and they don't check the work done - merely call you to say its done - however, when you check the work its appalling. we have had the new customer service manager round after 8 months in our home and all he does is says that he wants to get it right. Blooming right you do !
Our house isn't a home and verging on putting it up for sale as we have lost all faith in this shower. You can't complain as there's no one to talk to - you complain about customer services to ..... customer services! We have given MH a deadline of 1st Dec 2015 to finish our home or we will step up the ante at the sales office EVERY weekend until it is. The local media are aware of this and have already visited us for initial notes and images. We read negative reviews and thought, like everyone else "you always get one", but our phase has had loads of problems and there's two more to go. Buy a MH at your peril - it looks nice in the showroom, but you don't get a showroom finish. Its rushed and botched. Ask yourself - would I pay someone to do that work ... if the answers no, then don't buy from them, because thats what you get - very poor workmanship