Property Care Association

Very disappointing experience with the Property Care Association. We used PCA member contractors because we thought PCA membership meant something and would give us some reassurance. Based on our experience, I would not rely on PCA membership again. We had serious issues involving Rentacure and later Biocraft South West in relation to damp / water ingress works at our property. When we complained to PCA, we expected them to properly look at whether their members had advised us correctly and acted to the standard expected of specialist contractors. In my view, they were not helpful. I understand PCA cannot deal with compensation claims, but that is not what I am talking about. I am talking about basic accountability, technical standards and whether their members gave proper advice. On that, the process gave us no confidence at all. It felt like a paid membership organisation taking the side of its members. From a homeowner’s point of view, it felt like smoke and mirrors: a certificate, a badge, a warranty route, but very little practical help when something actually goes wrong. Honestly, if I were doing this again, I would pay for a completely independent survey and then find a competent builder or contractor separately, rather than relying on PCA membership as reassurance. Based on our experience, I would steer clear of PCA and be very cautious about using Rentacure or Biocraft South West.

If you are going on this course to get a basic understanding of damp and rot in timber then thats fine. If you are going on this course with the hope to do the CSTDB exam and think the 4 day course will cover it, you are hugely mistaken that this will offer that. With a pass rate of 30% from a course of students going for the exam, the only way you will pass is if you have an abundance of experience in damp and rot in timber plus know all the types of wet rot, dry rot and several wood boring insects. Even after the course you are left still unsure how you will gain enough experience from doing both of these areas (Damp & Timber) and those that were on the course that have 5-20yrs experience still struggled in the field they thought they knew it all. Gaining the CSTDB qualification is insanely hard, unless you live and breathe the way the PCA do it, you are left guessing if what you know or study will be the PCA way. The exams are not multiple choice but 2hrs per section of just writing. Then you get interviewed and questioned on an image. Then there is a practical exam where you identify what has been eaten by what wood boring insect or what rot has caused the damage. There are also 2 reports to send plus other things. To get and use the PCA logo, well that is another heap of challenges and hoops to jump through to get it. For me it left me more overwhelmed from what l had to do to get the qualification, then hugely disappointed that only 30% can get it, which from the outlook before going on the course, l thought the 4 days was going to give me enough training and literature to study and then take the exams, when in fact it was anything near my assumption. So £1100 for 4 days to just know some basics of damp and timber problems found in buildings. I will say Stephens knowledge was unmatched in the room, but he has been doing it a very long time. It made me realise l had slim to no chance of passing the exam with the experience l had or probably would ever get.

Attended this week’s damp & timber surveying course. Really enjoyed it, met some great guys & the tutor steve was brilliant delivering the course with his wealth of knowledge, he’s an absolute credit to the PCA. Highly recommended.

Excellent facility which provides outstanding training. I took an invasive plant identification course here and it was brilliant. I highly recommend it.

Very disappointed in the handling of one of it's members (Sean Rooney of SR Property Care Ltd). SR Property Care subcontracted out waterproofing works for a HNW client and refused to take responsibility for defective and unfinished works, resulting in large consequential losses to Knoetze Ltd. PCA were unable to take action as, apparently, SR Property Care Ltd was winding down and withdrew his membership! How fortunate... However, to this day there is a listing for the same individual under Sean Rooney of Neil Marsden Associates. Their lack of member diligence has a lot to be desired! If I could do a zero star review, I would.