Qualitas Basements - disdain for residents

[Redtrousers]

Basement construction is a part of everyday life on SW11 but the work going on at 1 Kyrle Road by Qualitas is the first time I have seen so much disregard for residents.

Almost daily the pathway is blocked, often during the school run, requiring parents, children and buggies to enter the road. They make no provision for this detour and when questioned you are met with rude responses or lies about them having permission. They clearly don't as someone from the council was having a go at them too recently.

Today, they build a makeshift bridge over a pipe which is not safe to cross with a buggy.

Myself and neighbours have vowed never to use them as the bad feeling their approach to running a site creates is not something we want to perpetuate. There are many other companies who manage to run projects without this impact so I am at a loss as to why they need to do this and why they care so little about the impact.

[themotherofdragons]

I couldn't agree more. They are awful. This is the photo I took last week. We've actually complained to the council a couple of times and I know a few other residents have too. The council confirmed that they don't have permission to block the pathway and asked to be notified as soon as they do it again. There was one week in November when they blocked it 6 times during school run in one week! I was forced to go in the road with two small children and the buggy. They are also very rude. One day they were cutting metal directly outside and didn't even stop when my toddler run towards it. There have been two basements dug out in our street over the last couple of years by different companies and we've never had any problems with them. They were considerate and safe. There is no excuse for this kind of disregard for local residents

[MrsOctober]

Estbury are no better. They used to regularly cut metal on the pavement with an angle-grinder, sending sparks flying over the pavement, road and all the neighbours' cars. Sometimes I'd be trapped in my house until they finished as I didn't fancy getting grind metal in my eye. We all asked them to stop but they carried on and would block the pavements with materials and their wheelbarrows. The foreman said they had to do it on the street because they couldn't do it underground. The council didn't do anything. They also damaged a large area of pavement when they had their steels delivered. They denied it and the council has concluded that it was a coincidence and that the paving slabs all cracked and sank 'due to vermin'. Go figure. It seems all basement digs bring misery to the neighbours.

[themotherofdragons]

I think it's never easy for the neighbours who have to live through it Mrs October although, I must say, Estbury did our neighbours' basement last year and they were very considerate and careful. The path was very rarely blocked and they were very polite and apologetic on the few occasions when it was. And they never blocked it during school run. Perhaps that's why I'm so upset about Qualitas because I have seen how it can be managed better. In any case - there is no excuse for rudeness.

[SWeleven]

I was really surprised to read this thread about Qualitas. They were recommended to us very highly and have completed a basement that we are delighted with. The workmen on our site were incredibly hard working, tidy and very considerate to our neighbours and really tried to keep disruption to a minimum. In fact, some of our neighbours recently commented on how impressed they were with them.

[Jane @ Qualitas]

Being part of the Nappy Valley community, it is regrettable that we are having to read the submitted posts.

As many of you will be aware, we are a local company based in Earlsfield. The majority of our projects are carried out in the SW11, 12, 18 and 19 postcodes. Being local and with the majority of our contracts coming through word of mouth, it is imperative that we show consideration for not only to our clients but their neighbours.

As you note, “basement construction is part of everyday life in SW11” and we have carried out well over 200 projects, with positive feedback from both clients and neighbours.

We have clearly not reached the standards we expect in this instance and as such will be reviewing our working practice and making any necessary changes.

We would like to also reassure all concerned that we take health and safety of our sites and surrounding environment very seriously. Protecting all pedestrians and in particular, children, from the potential dangers of a building sites is paramount. Whilst, we do not wish to inconvenience any members of the public when we erect temporary barriers, we have your best interests, well being and safety at the heart of all decisions made

If any of those who posted the below comments would like to contact us directly, we would be more than happy to discuss any concerns that you feel you are still experiencing. The office telephone number is 0208 432 1520

Nick Woodworth
Jonathan Woodcock

[Wonderwoman1]

I was also surprised to read this thread - I know Qualitas well and am aware they strive for excellence in terms of their customer care and their reputation and have many repeat customers. Building works do cause disruption - a by-product of living in SW London - and I have found that contacting the builders direct to speak to someone in charge is an effective way of dealing with any problems.