Fortem Avis 440

*Gas Check by PAUL*

I am a lone tenant who is also a survivor of multiple experiences of male perpetuated trauma.

Although, I didn't tell him that detail, I did let him know I was anxious and he was professional, caring and patient whilst I told him about my woes around being out of work.

Anyway, after speaking to Paul I have an idea of what I need to do to atleast apply to work with Fortem who will soon be Wates.

Thanks for all your kindness Paul. You did a good job and found that my smoke alarms should have been changed in 2022.....don't know why that wasn't picked up sooner. Hopefully this time the bugs in them will work and one day so will I ✌️

Honestly, really impressed with the Fortem damp and mould team working with Birmingham City Council.

I’d been dealing with damp and mould for years and wasn’t sure what to expect because I’ve always been told it’s my fault but they were amazing from the start to finish they were friendly and easy to talk to, and actually took the time to explain what was going on instead of just rushing in and out

They got everything sorted quicker than I expected and left the place clean and tidy after they finished. You can tell they actually care about doing a proper job, not just ticking boxes,they made sure me and my children were safe and put us straight into emergency accommodation because being here wasn’t safe until the work had been carried out.

Since they’ve been, the difference is huge,no more damp, no mould coming back, and the whole place just feels a lot better to live in they also done everything I have asked them..honestly gone above and beyond for me& my children to make sure no damp and mould comes back

Big thank you to the team,Dave,Dan,Ollie,Joe,Mike,Shaun,Alfie,Andy,Wade,Mark,Sarah&kieran I really appreciate all the effort that’s been put into this flat and made the whole thing stress free.

If I could give this useless company 0 stars, I would.
Appalling workmanship from operatives who love to cut corners and cause inconvenience.
Even a blindfolded child could carry out better repairs.

Gave one star as app wo t allow none. Terrible company. Did not turn up, no phone call and the mobil number we were given was out of service.
This is not the first time we had no show. We did have a new kitchen cupboard fitted a few years back and thst so poor quality that its unsuitable for use. We informed tgem and never had a reply. Birmingham council should get rid of them

Absolutely terrible company. Rarely turn up for appointments, and when they do its not done properly. Ive been waiting since May 2024 to get a job done. Its ridiculous.

Stonewater tennant still waiting for my boiler to be fixed, no hot water,hall carpet ruined,futon matress ruined ,work boots ruined.4 months now im waiting no hot water over a month.sort it please fortem.,,,,still waiting no hot water.23_3_26.still waiting. No hot water. 28_3_26.,,,,,,its now tenth april heard nothing got no hot water.All sorted thankyou.

They claim to provide tracking, which doesn't work as they they drive round with the gps on their vans off
Give you an all day window so you sit wasting time waiting to see if they actually show up because you can't track them

This company love to cancel appointment on the 12th hour when you are in need of a repair urgently because
the resident has severe disabilities
from Covid SHOCKING service or should I say LACK OF !!!!

I have heard this week that Fortem have refused to fit my bathroom via Orbit my landlord. They state that there are too many personal items in my property which would be fair enough but for the fact that I would have been clearing the bathroom completely and I also offered to get the bath, toilet and basin up into the bathroom myself if they dropped it off earlier so all they had to do was install them. I therefore don't see what their problem was. Also I was given a card by their representative with a contact number on but having sent several texts asking for details or asking questions about the refit I haven't had a single reply, I assume that it was this same person who went round taking photos of my stuff without my knowledge despite my saying that the bathroom would be clear (as any reasonable person would expect anyway). She didn't even have the guts to tell me to my face that her company would be refusing to install even though their decision must have been on her say so. Poor , very poor.

The worst company iv ever dealt with first of all they lie they never turn up and saying no one was home and blame you instead
They was supposed to change a window took 4 years and rougly 12 visits to diagnose the problem bathroom window wasnt closing so for 4 year had a draft coming through window in bathroom then after many compliants the manager said that they dont make them windows again then after another 8 months they sent somebody yesterday and he nailed the window shut for good they are robbing the council left right center
They also are dealing with my leaking roof which has also been a problem for years and still not resolved few weeks ago they had scaffholding up and after they finished the gutter was still blocked

Absolutely shocking company. Was told 2 weeks for rood been 6 week. Had a massive leak was told come back fix it over a week later still not even bothered. The roofing part if shocking. They dont care about tenants at all. If you get offered the roof works turn them down or your life will be nothing but stress for weeks and weeks.

Arse from elbow that’s all I’m saying, never ever employ this dodgy lazy company.

Worse contractors ever to come through my door
They dont finish the work left the washer outflow pipe capped without telling us
Left me for weeks having to run upstairs to do washing up and filling kettle as they didnt provide temp sink downstairs
Painter never painted doors left parts of skirting missing
They mislead you and dont do the work you agreed on
Weeks to respond to your messages and took over a month to finish a kitchen what previous contractors took 2 weeks to do
Their clo tricks and decieves you i hesitated to agree having work done over losing 2 cupboard space but week before they started work he phoned as said the housing association agreed to put the 2 cupboards in so i agreed for kitchen upgrade once work started he informed me couldnt have them installed
Id never let this firm through my door again

Fortem needs a shake up, however the engineers that came to my property were 1st class. Paul and Herbert were thorough, professional and sorted the issues quickly. Highly knowledgeable and courteous.

Minus 10 stars if it was possible.
I have taken 5 days off work in a few months for a plastering job. First 3 appts no show. So I’m lost wages for nothing. 4th appt finally someone came but to view the job. 5th appt Jordan the plasterer turned up, stood and moaned about his job and life for 30 minutes. Baring in mind this is a full room replaster, my son’s bedroom emptied, I had an electrician round to remove the heater. As Lord knows these cowboys would’ve plastered into the vents.
And Jordan then accused me of wasting his time, that he could have been earning money from other jobs that day. Yet this was a 2 day job. Jordan decided he didn’t want this shitty job and left my property, called his boss, lied and said I wasn’t home. So re booked for a month away. Son left with no bedroom to utilise.
Jordan if you read this ya lazy cowboy.. I learnt how to plaster via YouTube & did a smashing job in 1.5 days on top of being a full time parent and working.
Absolutely diabolical service from Fortem. Not even been a tenant for a year yet & I will not bother with them again, costing me wages & leaving a child without a suitable bedroom because Jordan the plasterer just couldn’t be arsed. What an absolute joke of a male generation you all are. Disgusting poor service.

Having new kitchen installed been left without a cooker for four weeks the contractors have done one day and 2 hours work all week not very happy with this
this is so unprofessional no one turns up no communication kitchen fitted wall units next day new kitchen fitter comes has to take them allm down and put them back up as they were to high kitchen waste pipe leaking think its time to contact my M P

Terrible. I've had no cold water in my bathroom and a toilet that doesn't flush from the 24th December 2025. I've been fobbed of multiple times with we are trying to get hold of our contractor. I had a new bathroom installed in November 2025! A useless bunch of lying cowboys apart from Robert the polish man, who is punctual, honest and a decent man.

Bunch Cowboys called wed 7th 8.30am Very unfriendly lady answered. No Heating Not coming untill 15th Great way to leave a 66 yr old freezing Useless

Rubbish service by brain dead cowboys who like to play games with tenants, but are too thick to properly cover up their unprofessional conduct.

Fortem came to repair damp and mould which was so bad, I had to move out whilst work was completed. The amoba didn't like that perfectly reasonable complaints had been made about their unreasonable behaviours so they decided to take revenge, leaving all downstairs windows open and leaving the house insecure for the weekend. I only found out because as a DV victim with my perpertor living within 8 minutes of my house, my property has a marker on it for priority response. The police found my property open and climbed through the windows to check on my safety. It was all documented so I complained to Fortem and BCC.

Fortem told me their staff did not leave the windows open but they would get to the bottom of it. Instead, they lied and tried to cover things up. They couldn't because I had a reference number from the police, where everything was documented. It can't be denied, even though this brain dead lot tried.

BCC tried to take Fortem's side until I contacted the press, who then contaced BCC's press office for a statement. I then contacted the housing ombudsman who very quickly found in my favour. I was told my complaints hadn't been looked into and they hadn't even tried to contact the police to enquire about the reference number provided. I was given some loveley compensation!
Thanks Fortem for being your useless selves. I hope the staff involved have to repay the compo from their own pockets!

And watch this space because my personal injury claim (you know because your staff refused to do their job properly and their actions led to my son being hospitalised for 3 weeks) is with the council's solicitor. I'm praying all those with personal involvement in the circus they created have to dig deep and pay it themselves!

You tried to kill my son deliberately. You knew his medical conditions, including the fact that dust can kill him and I'm not allowed to even open my windows for th8s reason. Instead of listening, you refused to use dust sheets, leaving the property unsafe for my son. You then deliberately left all windows open.

Here's hoping the Fortem neanderthals get the sack and they never get another council contract.

Fortem rearranged an appointment for a ceiling leak and didn't inform me, then failed to turn up for another appointment despite sending a text saying "On the way". They then cancelled the visit without informing me.
Also, They don't like responding to queries. Am still waiting for details about when they're repairing the leak and the damage to my ceiling and wall.
Original appointment made for 9th Dec. '25.