About Strata

When we moved into our new home the wrong kitchen was installed. Eight months on we are still waiting for this issue to be corrected in its entirety.
Windows – we needed six windows replacing due to scratches, cracks etc. Eight months on we are still waiting for two of these to be replaced.
Patio doors – not plumb – still awaiting correction.
Don’t get me wrong contractors have been out to replace these items but have brought more damaged items with them so no replacement could be done.
We also have a slipped tile on the roof (reported a month ago) which is still awaiting repair/replacement plus the roads are still un tarmacked on the estate some 18m after the first residents moved in.
How this house in particular passed the quality inspection I will never know!
My advice if buying it to pay out for a qualified snag check on your property as in the long run I think it will be well worth the money.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

Location wise this property is excellent with good transport links and close to local amenities. The school catchment area suited our needs which means that our children are surrounded by their friends which make our lives a lot easier.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

From the sales office nothing as they were excellent with us.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Very poor.
Please call me if you want to discuss. This box isn’t big enough to document everything

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

The estate is lovely, well positioned to walk to local shops etc. Unfortunately there’s isn’t a pub in walking distance however there is a cricket club that we can become members of. The estate is quiet and the residents generally friendly.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

How many snags we would encounter and have to sort.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

They have mostly been very good. It was easier to resolve issues when they were on site and we had unavoidable delays during COVID. However, we are still having major issues with our garage floor.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

They are not very many local shops or restaurants that are accessible. When living here. The opening times are also very late in the day of the shops that are available

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

That the garden was not as flat as I wanted it to be it kinda goes like a slight hill so it is hard to put anything like a pool in the garden

What is the best feature of your home:

The amount of space in the rooms and the amount of storage built into the house also the attention to detail that is paid to everything build in the house including the shelves in the kitchen etc.

The on-site aftersales was a shambles. Trying to contact people who were always, constantly “on a course”. Again I had to go to Olivia to get updates. Random workman show up at the house to resolve snags with no notice they were coming, or had come to the wrong house.
There wasn’t many snags at all, 99% of the problems were (and are) plumbing related and our neighbours are the same. But I think Strata have changed contractor as a result.
After 8 weeks you move to off site aftersales and 2 years, and James has been great.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

The village of Dishforth has a few local pubs but shops etc are driving distance to boroughbridge or Ripon. Hopefully with the new houses there will be more amenities in the village.
Very quiet on the estate and no issues at all. Neighbours are lovely and everyone local on the Dishforth Facebook group helps eachother.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Report any snag, no matter how small and don’t expect the house to be perfect. Things change as the house settles too. Keep a list/record of all outstanding.

What is the best feature of your home:

The Cologne and Strata development won it for me due to the high ceilings and attention to detail on the finishing. It’s a high quality property, with big rooms and any imperfections have since been rectified.