Catalyst Housing Limited Reviews 266

⚠️ Important Public Safety Notice ⚠️
⚠️ Important Public Safety Notice ⚠️
⚠️ Important Public Safety Notice ⚠️

As a service user, I feel it is crucial to issue a serious warning regarding the recent merger between Catalyst Housing Limited and Peabody. This merger raises significant concerns about the future of housing services in London, particularly for tenants' rights and safety. 🏙️🔒

The newly formed entity appears to be moving away from the core values that were once central to its mission, including independence, transparency, and community service. This is deeply troubling, as the merger raises questions about potential conflicts of interest, especially with the growing government ties involved. The quality of service and tenant safety could be at risk due to these potential conflicts. 🏛️⚠️

Lack of Tenant Involvement – Tenants have been excluded from important decisions related to the merger. There has been no clear consultation or meaningful involvement, leaving tenants in the dark about how their living conditions or rights may change. This lack of transparency is a serious issue that must be addressed immediately. 🏚️❌

Potential for Exploitation – The merger could result in worsened services, reduced tenant protections, and the deterioration of housing standards. With no independent body to represent tenants, there is a real risk that tenants could be further marginalized and treated as financial assets rather than individuals with rights. 💔💼

Tenant Safety at Risk – Without proper accountability mechanisms in place, tenants could face delays in repairs, unsafe living conditions, and reduced quality of housing services. Tenant safety should be a top priority, and it’s concerning that the merger appears to be driven more by profit motives than by genuine concern for tenant well-being. 🔒⚡

Given these changes, I strongly urge anyone considering engagement with this new entity to exercise extreme caution. The potential risks to your rights, safety, and autonomy cannot be ignored. Prioritizing your well-being should always be the top consideration. 🛑💡

Catalyst why did you change to Peabody. I have been ringing MEARS since 10.00 this morning for an emergency repair, was told that they would be out this morning, told this afternoon and it's now 17.17 and still no one. I've phoned numerous times, if I'm not cut off, the phone just rings out or told they will be out knowing that's not true. I'm currently on the phone as I was
told by Holly, Mears, closes at 6pm. When I rang it said I was 7 in the queue, now it just said I'm 9 in the queue. Peabody, treats housing association tenants real bad and don't care to deal with our situations. If your a home owner you get the service. They ask if your a housing association or private tenant. Their out of order and Catalyst needs to look into the way MEARS operate and the way they treat their tenants. It's not fair and out of order. I need help with the urgent repair. They don't give you job numbers but, that's could well be because they can turn around and say no record of you making a call. I spoke to other people today which I will keep their names out of it for now. Holly is the last person I spoke to. This is annoying, frustrating and emotional. Have some empathy. 17.30 still holding. Going to give up as this Holly who told me MEARS closes at 6 was probably taking the Michael out of me. Disgusting customer service. Very unprofessional.
UPDATE
Just to add after calling all day yesterday and getting poor service I have learnt peabody gives out false information as the persons answering the phones have no knowledge to tell you the contractors work schedules, so wrong info is given out. Anyway what I am here again for is to report a person call something like "Betty" I know it's starts with a Bet but couldn't get all of it. I'm told Betty is on holiday so the person I spoke to have a similar name. It was yesterday 22nd April 2024 around 17.40. The person answered the phone after holding for 40 mins in an abrupt way. I ask her name but, didn't quote catch it so I asked her again and this is what she said "I've already told you". I told her that she is very abrupt. She didn't care that I said that. I said sorry I didn't catch it and if you can spell it for me. She rushed thru her spelling but, I got it as Betty so the person working there has similar name unless she gave Betty's name knowing Betty is on holiday. I told her that I was going to report her and didn't care. She said "okay" after that she didn't say anything altho she was still on the line whilst I'm saying "hello I have not finished yet" then she hanged up. When also trying to explain my situation to her again rude asking "don't you know the contractors name" I said know. She then blurted it out to me. I hope these calls are recorded so that someone can listen back. She needs a warning or fired as she has no customer service skills. Not a good representation for the company.
Let me say, had I been put thru to the contractors since calling from 10am yesterday, as I was put thru this morning with the lovely lady I spoke too think her name was Karen but, you can listen back, I wouldnt have had any problems. I was put thru to East West Compasss and the lady who answered the phone was lovely, the workmen who came out was lovely so just have praise for the company. Since learnt its not MEARS I was dealing with but, PEABODY who answers the phones.

zero stars. reported repairs had different surveyors and contractors attend to look at the works ,(roof,all of the windows,warped back door,leak in skylight,recurring mould appearing in bathroom.i have sent countless emails to them and they have not had the courtesy to reply.on 2/4/24 I went to their office in Portobello road to find out what they are going to do I was told Babatunde Raji (neighbourhood manager) will contact me still waiting.waste of time phoning them.This has been going on over nearly2 years.2 rent increases in just over a year since Peabody took over catalyst.

If I could give a 0 star I would, on hold for 45 mins and got through to no one, when it got to 5pm it cut me off.
Been waiting for new doors and windows, as they said we were due before 2024, and we have heard nothing. A surveyor came round did the checks, then apparently when calling to ask about an update 3 months later, they have no record of it happening. Useless housing association.

My dad passed away last January. My sister and myself own the leases hold property and have sod it. But trying to get a management pack is taking to long. Catalyst have it but no number or email and Peabody not answering calls and emails. Please just need the management pack asap!

Unfortunately this is the only way to gain their attention. They may have merged with Peabody and changed their name however, nothing else has changed. If you call the Peabody HA customer service team, they tell you that you're a Catalyst tenant and they transfer your call to the Catalyst team.

I have been complaining about black mould in my home since last year. I have two children, a baby and a 6 year old who are severely affected.
Apparently catalyst arranged for United Living to carry out the repairs. I heard nothing from Catalyst or United Living for about 3 weeks since my initial telephone call so I called United living directly who advised me it is best to contact them about repairs because catalyst housing tend to fail to forward and book repair jobs with them.

I had two appointments booked with United living. First one was on 22nd December I was at home all day. Apparently the repairs man couldn't reach me. He claimed both my bell and mobile phone were not working. So I called and rearranged the visit for 18th January. No one visited no one called my phone. The worst thing about trying to contact United living is that the phone rings continuously and then disconnects after half and hour or so. One day I managed to stay and wait on the line for 50 mins before the automated service told me that there were no available agents to take me call then it disconnected. I contacted catalyst housing who put me through to United living via a different phone like but that line was even worse, it kept ringing until it disconnected itself.

The black mould is unmanageable and I have been trying to clean it myself but it seems to be getting worse I told catalyst I think there's damp inside the walls and the outside of the building always looks wet.

Both of my children are coughing. I have a baby and a 6 year old. The 6 year old is asthmatic and cannot stop coughing. No other symptoms, just wheezing and coughing.

I can't take this anymore my children aren't sleeping properly at night and neither am I.

This is an ongoing issue which started last winter when I was heavily pregnant. When my baby was newborn, they then decided to do a mould wash in my apartment. The issue is back and I have told them there's an underlying issue which is causing the mould to return so aggressively. I do everything I can to prevent condensation and damp from building up. There is clearly dampness inside the walls. I have explained this to catalyst on the phone.

Catalyst housing only seem to contact me to provide a resolution whenever I leave a review on here.

My current community is managed by Modera and they have been great. However, the City of San Jose enabled a new owner to purchase the property (I officially found out the day before transfer that it is Catalyst Housing) with the aim of increasing Affordable Housing. Unfortunately, there has been no official transitional information and my lease is up soon, along with a number of my fellow residents. The City did not provide any official notice either, there was just a vote in November and an article in the local news. I now have very little time to react, if the renewal of my lease is denied. Being retired and on a fixed income, this really has me scared. I have reached out to our district Council Member's team, now that I am aware of the critical time frame involved to understand how I aim going to live through this experience. I do have a couple of Candidates for this City Council District Seat coming to talk with the community in the next couple of days, but that probably only helps the next community at this late date. Not sure what happens next😔
Although I may not be the target Tennent, my rent has been paid on time for more than 2 years while I've called this my home and through no breach on my part, I am facing very little time to find a new place to sleep. The lack of transition communication for the past 3 months is disappointing and does not give me confidence in the actual management of the property or timely communication or the protection from the City of myself and the other 170+ units, who likely have similar, avoidable, anxiety through no fault of their own. I hope the be able to update or add a new review with more positive news, but I have concerns that they are not ready to hit the ground running, except maybe to collect my monthly payment -- I'm sure they've put lots of effort and expense to take my money -- sorry hard to not get snarky at this point -- so, I'll leave it there!

I am coming on this site after so long.
I have to say I cannot see any improvement even after reading the other people's reviews. What is the way to describe the difference in the two emerged Housing group that had only had a change of name? Why can we not see the difference in standards and values since a change over?
We are now deciding that we must make it a point to meet up with someone and not someone that is going to give us false hopes and promises. We deserve much more respect and fairness in all aspects of the Housing System and some of the staff where they keep to their word and return our calls and respond in all various matters concerning the Housing. Especially tenants like us who are paying our full rents and without defaulting. Some people who are getting Housing Benefit are sub-letting and we are the ones facing undue disturbance and harassment from such actions that bears no consequence to this Housing.

It's been over a year since I asked for details of my service charges. I was wrongly charged arrears for certain items when I moved to a Catalyst property. Still waiting for answers for my service chrage queries. Have written a letter, have sent emails many times to complaints team, service charge team, Resolver, Catalyst complaints, Peabody complaints, but still no response. I predict I'll get an automatic reply from Tamara to this review saying 'my complaint will be escalated and respond within a few working days or I have to contact a generic email' (Again!!!). I think it's just a way to make it look like they are 'responding' on record when really they are not doing anything about it.

Catalyst and peebody houseing employed absolute novices Cedarcare are a disgrace they sure do know how to make a disabled person cry omg im done . What a mess what a stressful time im haveing its affected me so badly dont employ theese people . Theres me saying thanks boys for your help well wish i never said thanks is it because i didnt offer u tea or coffe .on there phones half the time took a huge brick out wall shouldnt have throw it in my garden like who are you people ive complained no one cares .so gone c.a.b. and mp. You employ traders witout checking them out i did .horrid reviews and from me my flat looks disgusting unexceptable theyve made mess broke things feet dragging on new carpet carpet now doesnt fit looks like stevie wonder did my plastering left live wires hanging out wall c.a.b. are very disgusted they left this my grandaughter could have got eletricuted or me verrry dangerous .repairs lie to me tell me there comming to do windows and there here to do heating 🙄no one turned up today yet they dont get fined .if were out miss a visit were fined ..rebooked for 20th then sais oh its the 8th now .i spoke my mind to them what cedarcare have done and i then get a call from anti social man like omg funny ..i explained what i said and why and he understood and didnt see a reason why she emailed him to complain bout me duhhhh...im disabled no bedroom as plastering is worst job ever seen cracks wholes not sckimmed to the corner wholes .plasters already cracked everywhere yet they want to bring cedarcare bk in to repair there work 🤣🤣🤣🤣 .over my stiff cold body makes no sence ....there slowly defaceing my flat i hate it here now ...so much to repair wish i were still married as huby would have done all this himself already and a passable job ...this plastering is unaceptable . I stayed here threw smashing bricks .couldnt breath can go far as im not well .sat in car 9 hours with pets emergancy said cant u stay with family ...nooooo i cant ive no family ..and not burdening my kids ive 2 pets that need me ..they wont help with pets but will put me in hotel next time ..well my pets go where i go there my fam to ...discrimination .im disgusted .repairs are no help customer services are better told me 2 emails were sent wen repairs said 5 times there send email..lies ..im so done my flats awful wish i never swapped now left a beautiful house but because of car crash i needed ground floor flat .
...never seen so much mold damp damage throwing matresses away and bed carpet books linnen all binned so no beroom no bed on sofa so sad wondering how they can treat us like this why ..WHY dont employ cedarcare and dont rent with catalyst peebody .merry christmas

I feel so annoyed by the way we the tenants are treated.
Being ignored but all just automated messages saying they would get back to us after so and so days stipulated. Never have received any calls or feedback from them about our emails and the action they propose to take to resolve our matters. Like I said the same old situation prevails. They do not care as long as they receive their wages and that they receive the Housing Benefit on behalf of fraudsters who know that a Housing like this will not worry and so these people are enjoying fooling the Housing and breaching the Housing Laws. I do not understand why nowadays, the Housing is not as good as those days? Honesty in your jobs and also letting corruption to go on while people like us have to suffer to pay your rents and bear the blunt from such sources.
It is high time that one of you stepped up and try to do right in the eyes of the law and God.
Do a fair job and take your clean money of wages home and not dirty money by showing you all are working but not even for a good cause. Try to please get out of your comfort zones and reach out to such tenants.

I have been trying to sell my SO house since March. During this time they have merged with Peabody,the information and responses have continued to be diabolical. I have been given incorrect information, delays, no responses despite chasing, paying out repeatedly for services when very little is being done. I am now at risk of loosing the place I am buying, yet there is no urgency or support at all. I have sent an official complaint detailing lack of ownership, departments forwarding my emails to other departments, no one actually following up, no one answering questions on emails sent etc. The Complaints department sent the complaint to the departments I was complaining about!!!!! Guess what no reply!!!!!
Have read all the reviews and love the "standard reponse" someone will get back to you..... or call this number!
NO ONE ANSWERS THE PHONE OR DEALS WITH COMPLAINTS!!!!
I have been in my SO house for over 30 years. Its impossible to get out, emails from them are unprofessional and rude. I have emailed today asking them to please chase something urgently as we are running out of time ..... I shouldn't have to beg!
I have now sent every email, every interaction or lack of it and every stage of trying to move to the ombudsman.
I could spend hours on here listing every obstacle we have come up against. Departments do not communicate and not one person takes ownership and will be the key contact throughout the sale. Service is shocking. I would advise anyone trying to sell SO, have plenty of funds available for all if their charges, start the process a good 6 months before looking for a new place. Dont expect there to be any urgency or anything to be managed in a timely efficient way. Expect to be ignored and to have to nag and chase every single step.
If I had known 30 years ago,.I would never have bought SO. I have never been in a position to staircase but I honestly never expected such unprofessional shockingly bad service. More information and some laughable email responses are available on request. One even says" I have done my bit, its down to someone else now". Good luck selling SO!

Do not buy shared ownership properties with this lot, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

The Phone lines don’t work. No one answers AT ALL!!! Desperately trying to get hold of someone regarding a party wall agreement. I’ve been misadvised by Peabody and now no one for Catalyst will answer the phones. I’ve spent HOURS on hold waiting for someone to answer the phone.

No changes since merging with peabody. It's the same staff still asking the same questions being told the same information with no follow up on any planned action. Ongoing repairs issue that the surveyor needs to see and authorise but can't and won't.

Inexplicably useless
My house move has been pushed back numerous times because the couple buying from me have a Catalyst shared ownership property and evidently Catalyst has no concept of how to deal with properties. It required one tiny deed of variation before they could sell, that Catalyst claimed they had completed months ago, yet were incapable of doing under the name of Peabody despite the merger happening last year. Then instead of rectifying the mistake, we're hearing absolutely nothing other than "no". The epitome of incompetence, which I can only presume they will carry over into Peabody

I have been waiting for a response from this supposed housing agency for almost 5 months. They should give back to me and my colleague more than 300 pounds.
Are you reading this? You are lucky I dont want to call on lawyers because the amount is not worth the effort. Nonethenless you both deserve to be jobless. Chat GPT would outperform both of you with just one line of code.
One of them was able to go in paternity leave twice in one month. Which itself was not the problem, but every time he came back he asked for the same damn things for him to check and see if they owed us anything.
Then they went rogue.
Well done, -10/10 would prefere sleeping under London bridge.

Edit: They never answered my calls by the way! I was looking for a clown and found a whole circus.

turned off water to toilet and bath,i am a eighty year old woman with cancer,

Is there a problem with your telephone lines? I have been waiting listening to the same looped music for the past 3 days and for 3 hours at a time and not one person will answer the telephone. Can someone please mann the phone.

I went to the catalyst Ealing office yesterday, and the lady that was working at the front desk was very polite to me; however, I really wanted to see my housing officer or the manager, but I was told there is not a housing office here. However, I was seen by Jenn, and she was the most horrible person I have ever met, and even though I have explained about my health issues and that my needs have changed since moving to the flat I moved into three years ago, and I was begging for her to help me, she said catalyst cannot do much about it and they will not be able to help me, and that I shouldn’t have signed the tenancy agreement in the beginning. The reason I signed the tenancy agreement was because at that time I didn’t have health issues. Now that I explained my needs had changed, she didn’t seem to care, even though I am heavily pregnant and dealing with health issues. She left me there crying and wished me Eid Mubarak very rudely and harshly. I did not go there to be wished Eid Mubarak or to be congratulated for being pregnant. I went there to get support, but I was turned down. They told me I didn’t have a housing officer and I couldn’t even see the manager. I left the office crying and two staff were standing there looking at me and did not even ask if I am ok or if they can help and they just walked away. Very rude staff. This is really unfair for someone with a disability, and not getting enough support will just impact that person mentally and physically.

If I knew catalyst would not be able to help me at all, I would not have signed the tenancy agreement, and I wish I had read the reviews from the beginning before going for it. I call, and I send so many emails that I am still being ignored. This is disgusting in how they treat residents, especially those with disability-related health issues.

I just hope that by joining and emerging with Peabody, things will change for the better and more residents will be offered the support they require. The system is very poor.