Bournville Village Trust Reviews 19

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

1.7

While we don't verify specific claims because reviewers' opinions are their own, we may label reviews as "Verified" when we can confirm a business interaction took place. Read more

To protect platform integrity, every review on our platform—verified or not—is screened by our 24/7 automated software. This technology is designed to identify and remove content that breaches our guidelines, including reviews that are not based on a genuine experience. We recognise we may not catch everything, and you can flag anything you think we may have missed. Read more

Company details

  1. Charity

Written by the company

We are a values-led charitable trust working to create and sustain communities where people can thrive. We manage environmentally-sustainable estates, provide great homes and deliver community-support services that help people live successful lives.


Contact info

1.7

Bad

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

19 reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

Replied to 85% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 1 month

How this company uses Trustpilot

See how their reviews and ratings are sourced, scored, and moderated.

Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Terrible service never on time leave…

Terrible service never on time leave you waiting for days when emergency occurs

24 October 2025
Unprompted review
Bournville Village Trust logo

Reply from Bournville Village Trust

Hi there, I'm sorry that you are unhappy with the service you received from us. If you would like us to look into this further, please contact us on 0300 333 6540, email enquiries@bvt.org.uk or you can also make a complaint on our website at www.bvt.org.uk/help-and-support/make-a-complaint-or-compliment/ Thanks, Claire.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

BVT standards slipping

BVT used to have such high standards, but these have really slipped now.
Many houses have over grown gardens and leave wheelie bins out 24/7 and put out extra bags of rubbish days or a week before the collection day.
Many roads have rows of wheelie bins piled up on public pathways, making areas look really untidy and obstructing the paths.
Bad neighbours getting away with bad behaviour and not following their tenancy rule book.
Cars parked poorly and mounting the pavements.
BVT just ignore everything, this is why things are getting worse.
It's about time they took back the power and made things great again.

15 October 2025
Unprompted review
Bournville Village Trust logo

Reply from Bournville Village Trust

Hi there, I'm sorry you feel this way. If there are particular neighbourhoods, roads or households you are concerned about please contact us by emailing enquiries@bvt.org.uk and we will look into this for you. Thanks, Claire

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Empty properties

Yet again there's nothing to bid on whilst you have empty properties available that could be fixed, advertised on jigsaw and offered to people in need of housing, the waiting list is not reducing it feels like we are being neglected.

1 October 2025
Unprompted review
Bournville Village Trust logo

Reply from Bournville Village Trust

Hi there, we understand your frustration. We advertise all our available homes on BVT Homes but we have a very high number of applicants and a very small number of homes available. You may find our FAQs https://bvt.org.uk/find-a-home/faqs-renting-a-home/ helpful in understanding all the options available to you. Thanks Claire

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

For over three weeks complaints were…

For over three weeks complaints were being logged by a number of properties in the area of blocked drain and raw sewage spilling into gardens. Apparently was not an emergency as we could still flush toilets and use taps. After many many calls they finally turn up and now because they could not be bothered to investigate the issue straight away, severn trent are now involved and it will cost a whole lot more than it would have done. In the meantime, these residents are unable to go into their gardens, their pets cannot go outside and the smell is unbelievable. Its like a third world country. The whole area is a disgrace with cars on front gardens and rubbish in streets and pavements with cars blocking the walkways. This used to be a sought after area to live, quiet peaceful but now its like living in an inner city slum. SHAME ON YOU BOURNVILLE VILLAGE TRUST SHAME ON YOU.

14 September 2025
Unprompted review
Bournville Village Trust logo

Reply from Bournville Village Trust

Hi there, I am sorry to hear that you and your neighbours are unhappy with the service that you received from us. If you would like to make a formal complaint, please email feedback@bvt.org.uk and our complaints team will come back to you. Again, I'm sorry for the experience that you and your neighbours have had. Thanks, Claire.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Bournville village trust landscape team

Bournville village trust have all their home owner pay a maintenance fee each year to maintain landscaping. I have lived here over 36 years and never been this bad . Well this year we have a grass island on black Haynes road full of leaves from the trees and gutters with weeds over 12 inch high. No sign of landscaping team this year . Grass has not needed cutting so what are we paying for . Gutters are full of weeds so when we have a lot of rain again the houses that got flooded a few years ago don’t stand a chance as weeds are blocking drain .the rain is like a river down our road when it rains . After 36 years bournville village trust have decided it’s not there job to maintain gutters on our road. But we home owner are still paying maintenance fee that goes up each year . Not impressed

29 August 2025
Unprompted review
Bournville Village Trust logo

Reply from Bournville Village Trust

Hi there, I'm sorry you feel this way. We provide information on the services that we provide on our website here - https://www.bvt.org.uk/your-neighbourhood/managing-your-neighbourhood/estates-and-stewardship/ If you are still unhappy with the service and wish to make a complaint, you can do this here - https://www.bvt.org.uk/help-and-support/make-a-complaint-or-compliment/ Thanks, Claire.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Waiting list/bidding shambles

The way how they treat people on their housing waiting list is totally deplorable, people just left on there for 5 years constantly bidding on properties but never get offered anything. Understandably there is a housing crisis but waiting 5 years and longer is just wickedness especially as they give most of their properties for private renting of £1300 and above which is unaffordable to many of the people on their waiting list hence why they are on a housing associations waiting list because they are in need of social housing.

Houses on Elm Road, Willow Road, Linden Road are regularly advertised on estates agents website for private renting, why can't you advertise them on your jigsaw website so people who are in urgent and desperate need of permanent social housing can bid on and be housed

They really need to put more properties for social renting on their jigsaw website. Week after week there is never anything to bid for yet thousands of people are living in squalid, unsafe conditions/temporary accommodation.

They also need to move people down the waiting list so they can be in position 1, keeping people in the same position every time they bid on a property is not going to get them an offer because they need to be in position 1.

Look how many 1 star reviews you have but still no improvements are made it's really bad!

18 August 2025
Unprompted review
Bournville Village Trust logo

Reply from Bournville Village Trust

Hi there, we're sorry that you're unhappy with the services we provide. To make sure we’re offering homes on the Bournville estate for a range of people and families, we’re providing a small number of our homes for market rent (which equates to 1.5% of our total stock) when they become empty. The majority of homes we manage continue to be for social rent and we let on average 120 homes every year. As a not-for-profit organisation, all money made from market rented homes is ploughed back into the homes we manage and our services. We remain committed to providing great socially rented homes and are spending more money on fitting new windows, doors, boilers, kitchens and bathrooms and recruiting more repair staff. Last year alone, we spent £7m on improving homes. If you would like to discuss your individual housing situation, please contact us via our website - https://www.bvt.org.uk/contact/ Thanks, Claire

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Waste of money.

Homeowner living in a BVT managed area. Have to pay hundreds of pounds a year service charge.
Other new developments have a service charge but not as much as this. Most are around £100 BVT charge over £250.52. Other developments get value for money, we don’t with BVT. You have to pay for the upkeep of premises, pay staff high wages and Wear and Tear fund with thousands in it not being used. BVT are supposed to keep the area tidy and clean and follow their own rules, which are not enforced. The area is a complete mess.
Don’t mind the rules, but £250 per year for the grass being cut that any member of the public can use, don’t need to live in the area is disgusting. We don’t even have grit bins when needed.
They claim they…
Estate caretakers – keeping courtyards and communal areas within our responsibility clean and green
Estate officer services – providing support in a number of areas including advice for alterations, resolving breaches and carrying out inspections throughout the village
Grounds Maintenance.
Wear & Tear Fund
Community activities – building partnerships with local organisations and residents to build a strong and inclusive community
Communications – providing regular, up-to-date communications about Lawley Village
Total waste of money.

10 October 2024
Unprompted review
Bournville Village Trust logo

Reply from Bournville Village Trust

Hi there, I’m sorry that you’re unhappy with the service you receive from us. If there is a particular issue that you’re unhappy with or a service that you do not think that we are providing, please do contact us on 0300 333 6540 or email enquiries@bvt.org.uk and we will look into this for you. Thanks, Claire

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Customer service department are IMHO not competent

Customer service department are, in my opinion, incompetent.
Switchboard personnel excellent but they didn’t transfer me to anyone… only took messages.
Calls to customer services not returned within the time period specified. Emails poor and not followed up.

20 December 2023
Unprompted review
Bournville Village Trust logo

Reply from Bournville Village Trust

Hi there, I’m sorry that you’re unhappy with the service you received from us when you contacted us. We are actively making improvements to how we deliver customer service across our organisation and you can read more about this on our website at https://www.bvt.org.uk/help-and-support/our-customer-service-offer/ Thanks, Claire

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Payments for nothing

Homeowner that lives in a BVT managed area. Have to pay hundreds of pounds a year service charge. The area is a complete mess and none of the rules are enforced, meaning antisocial behaviour is rife. Previous complaints ignored. Not impressed at all.

23 May 2024
Unprompted review
Bournville Village Trust logo

Reply from Bournville Village Trust

Hi there, I’m sorry that you’re unhappy with the service you receive from us. We take complaints seriously and we are sorry if you have felt ignored - this should not happen. If there is a particular issue that you’re unhappy with or a service that you do not think that we are providing, please do contact us on 0300 333 6540 or email enquiries@bvt.org.uk and we will look into this for you. If you want to raise a complaint, you can also do this on our website at https://www.bvt.org.uk/help-and-support/make-a-complaint-or-compliment/ Thanks, Claire

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Had a leak from the bathroom radiator 2…

Had a leak from the bathroom radiator 2 weeks ago and reported it they came out yesterday and spent all of 5 minutes fixing it then went problem solved not really still got leak now I am not a plumber but I know what the problem is so I’m going to go out and buy the right tool and do it myself also we pay extra in our rent for the grass cutting and they came today took over 2 hours and then they missed by the gate and a little bit in the middle so even though I’ve got cancer and copd it looks like I will have to do it myself . Also my wife has got a guide dog but b. V. T has refused to mow the grass where the dog has been even though it exempt from picking up the poo and I have cancer and on chemo so they expect me to pick it up what do I do

4 April 2024
Unprompted review
Bournville Village Trust logo

Reply from Bournville Village Trust

Hi there, I am sorry that you're unhappy with the service you received from us. We are committed to providing the best possible service and putting things right when our services fall short. If you would like to leave feedback about our repairs service that we can look into, please visit our website https://www.bvt.org.uk/help-and-support/make-a-complaint-or-compliment/ to complete our feedback form. Thanks, Claire

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Bournville Village Trust!! Useless and unhelpful

I've been a tenant on the BVT since I was 6 years old, now 45. So a decent amount of time. I always wanted to live on the BVT when I was older. But that has all changed. Its not the same anymore. They don't care, its all about money! They take ages to reply to emails, even though it says within 10 days. I can't believe that this is still classed as a charity.
I've been waiting since the 21st August for a reply to a question I asked, could I have a pet. But still no answer, even though my neighbour above had a pet dog and cat. Think very carefully before moving to this area. Its not all its made out to be

21 August 2023
Unprompted review
Bournville Village Trust logo

Reply from Bournville Village Trust

Hi there, firstly I am very sorry that you have not received a response from us. We are committed to providing the best possible service and when our services fall short to put things right. So that we can do this, I would encourage you to please complete this form on our website so that we can raise this as a complaint and resolve the issue - https://www.bvt.org.uk/your-bvt/give-us-your-feedback-form/ Thanks, Claire

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Overcrowded and cannot bid

Overcrowded and cannot bid.
I am in band A and been harassed from the moment they housed me, I have asked to be moved as I am bullied while being pregnant. I have had to get police involved twice, complained to council and much more. The bidding system is disgusting. I have only been allowed to bid once this year as already a tenant otherwise no doubt me and my family would of already been housed and away from harrassment but they dont care. A big family in a tiny two bed flat is a health and safety hazard in itself let alone having a neibhour bully you and your children!

9 November 2023
Unprompted review
Bournville Village Trust logo

Reply from Bournville Village Trust

Hi there, firstly I am very sorry to hear that you’re unhappy in your home. We are committed to providing the best possible service and when our services fall short to put things right. So that we can do this, I would encourage you to please complete this form on our website so that we can raise this as a complaint and resolve the issue - https://www.bvt.org.uk/your-bvt/give-us-your-feedback-form/ Thanks, Claire

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Yet another complaint for Bournville Village Trust

I've got no choice but to write another complaint against BVT. I submitted my application to add a conservatory to my property and they have taken over 3 months to process the application and I still don't have a date of when this will be finished by, even though they promise that this process should take no longer than 10 weeks. They didn't even bother responding until 4 weeks into the process when this should have been submitted into the neighbours for a consultation period and we are now 3 months in and this still hasn't been done. The worst of it is, they have had all of the information they are now requesting from me already previously so just delaying the process for no reason and in the meantime I have now lost another builder because they have taken on more work in the meantime. Thanks BVT for making everyones lives so difficult.

11 March 2023
Unprompted review
Bournville Village Trust logo

Reply from Bournville Village Trust

Hi there, firstly I am very sorry for the service that you have received from us. We are committed to providing the best possible service and when our services fall short to put things right. So that we can do this, I would encourage you to please complete this form on our website so that we can raise this as a complaint and resolve the issue - https://www.bvt.org.uk/your-bvt/give-us-your-feedback-form/ Thanks, Claire

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Just visited doctor

Just visited doctor, due to negligence regarding duty of care. Absolutely disgusting treatment which may lead to court proceedings.

Beligerent and very vindictive individuals, do not move into this building if you are a single female.

Speaking to another resident who stated, while eyes filled up with tears, she was verbally attacked also in the washing room area.

It seems people who have lived in Rosefields longer are prioritised. Managers and anti social behaviour team not worth even calling. Been advised to take matter further by Doctor.

17 January 2022
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

They do nothing

We pay them 100s of pounds for them to do absolutely nothing, after paying them TWO yearly instalments our road is riddled with pot holes, weeds and rubbish from contractors. Road / green space management is a myth. All they've managed to do is knock on the door saying we should put our satellite dish on the floor, big jokers!

25 July 2022
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Bournville Trust Fraudsters

Disgusting rip off. They should be prosecuted for fraud. They take your money but do nothing they are supposed to for their ridiculous ‘community’ fees. I really hope legal action is taken against them and they are forced to refund everybody for not supplying the service the are paid for.

25 February 2022
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

This housing association is so biased…

This housing association is so biased they will always put works housing society & people with an area connection to Birmingham in priority 1 and priority 2. This is there order of priorities -:

Priority 1 - Household applying for Bournville Works Housing Society property
Priority 2 - Connection to the Local Authority area Birmingham
Priority 3 - Band A
Priority 4 - Band B
Priority 5 - Band C
Priority 6 - Band D

So as you can see if you are in a band A, B, C or D you stand no chance because will be in a crazy bid position like number 72 or higher. This is very unfair and they purposely do this so only people who are works housing society or got a local connection to Birmingham will stand a chance of getting a property. Why don't you put people who are in band A as priority 1 for a change rather than low done in priority 3. Stop being prejudice and show fairness to all the bands!

8 December 2021
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Lawley village

Lawley village, only a few years old and the estate is a tatty mess, weeds coming through the paver all over the place, dead trees, broken fences, communal grounds not maintained properly meaning dead grass, weeds growing over boarders, dead plants, bent and wonky street signs, bent trees guards, and the list goes one. It really is starting to look like a slum and these clowns only care about sending out letters about bins left out! They are a complete joke who keep sucking their money out of everyone every year to sustain their own jobs. They do very little to actually keep the area to a high standard, instead they spend our money on social events and wine tasting for them and a select few residents they deem worthy. I cannot stress how inept and lazy they are when it comes to keeping up their end of the bargain. Its literally getting to a court level they are so far away from their contracted obligations. Further to this, only a month ago one of their employees was filmed vandalising a local art installation for fun with another women. Basically sums them up perfectly.

31 August 2018
Unprompted review

The Trustpilot Experience

Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active.

Companies can ask for reviews via automatic invitations. Labeled Verified, they’re about genuine experiences.

Learn more about other kinds of reviews.

We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Find out how we combat fake reviews.

Learn about Trustpilot’s review process.

Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews.

Verification can help ensure real people are writing the reviews you read on Trustpilot.

Offering incentives for reviews or asking for them selectively can bias the TrustScore, which goes against our guidelines.

Take a closer look