Southwark Council Reviews Summary

Communication and Responsiveness

Pros:

• "Worked here for the Postal Votes Count in 2021, and 2022, and the staff were amazing!! Really thorough procedure and really friendly to all of the team."
• "Everyone from the noise and licensing team was SUPER helpful to deal with an issue of a noisy venue."
• "A Big thank you to Bill/Billy the plumber. I have had a problem with kitchen blocked sink and pipes for years. He explained what was wrong and went out his way to fix it."

Cons:

• "Phones rarely answered, when they are leaseholders are passed from one department to another, everyone pigeon holed in small areas unable to use initiative."
• "After 3 emails I was asked to call by phone, I called and got no reply for 3 hours."
• "Trying to contact a person to speak with in this council is non existent."
• "I've been trying to end my council account because I am unable to access through the website."
• "I've had to call southwark council by the number they have provided more than 10 times, they have disrespectfully hung up the call every single time."
• "You have an institution PAID by People, but work AGAINST their interest and NEVER listen to the REAL ISSUES WE HAVE."
• "The opening times are wrong. When calling them up they direct you to their website, which is terribly unhelpful."
• "I hate complaining, but Southwark's Emergency repairs line only exists in name only."

Customer Service and Support

Pros:

• "Southwark council deserves one star at best… However, ‘Jackie’ from the council tax department saves the day. Very efficient and polite."
• "To be honest I had to ring to confirm some information and had questions, and I got what I needed pretty quick and the 2 staff members were really polite and helpful."

Cons:

• "Council team should get some soft skills training or hire people with soft skills."
• "Contractors trample across plants and residents flowers with disregard."
• "My husband has been dealing with someone called Adrian Sancroft, Principal Surveyor at Southwark Council for renting a unit in Tower Workshop which has become a nightmare."
• "Horrible they basically send me to die with my 3 kids to a horrible house."
• "I have written emails with no response over two months ago and just came in to see if I could get assistance with paying!"
• "One of the worst performing councils in London. Deadlines and timeframes are ignored."
• "It's time to change people running this council because they are obviously working against us whilst getting money from us."
• "Worst Council ever, poor customer service. They take ages to deal with matters but are very quickly to treat you with legal actions when is the other way round."

Housing and Social Services

Pros:

• "I’ve lived in several different London boroughs and Southwark has probably been the one best managed by the council."

Cons:

• "I have been on the housing waiting list for years, meanwhile Southwark staff are giving out homes to their friends and family members."
• "I have lived in the borough all my life, I’ve been to school college and I work within the borough an for them turn me away like some dog."
• "If you are homeless, do not waste your time with the municipality. They will do nothing for you but give you papers and a phone number."
• "I am absolutely disgusted with the level of service I have received. I officially made my first inquiry regarding my heating from 2021, the heating has never been up to par."
• "Southwark are awful. Housing officers are none existent."
• "Absolutely nightmare!! I was falsely charged with council tax despite being a student."
• "The whole lot of them are wrong'ens, my dad died in his flat on sunday afternoon and southwark council was on the phone 8.30 monday morning asking for the keys back."
• "Southwark Council make Scarfolk Council look like a beacon of humanism and competence. The website looks modern enough but the information architecture is poorly thought out."