I've always gone private & don't have many complaints (our last landlady really hated to spend money so therefore was somewhat useless but she still got stuff done) so I'd second psi 's advice on going private. :) That said, this year half the adverts on gumtree were scams so beware. So many would send pictures of a flat and then if we tried to arrange a viewing, would say 'we require a £1500 deposit for a viewing which you will get back after' :/ Good luck finding a flat!
We've had no issues with D J Alexander. Some things took time to be sorted out at one stage early on, but compared with experiences other agencies have caused I would say they've treated us well. Though we won't know how good they really are till we move out and find out how easily we get our deposit back!
I've had all sorts of bother with Alba and Umega Lettings - Umega took us over as unfurnished sitting tenants and their assessor sent us an inventory of our own furnishings!! Malcolm Homes have always been absolutely lovely, and their workmen are very helpful. ELS have failed to show up to show flats on two occasions, and their office staff are clueless. I'm with EPM at the moment, and while I understand psi is having bother relating to their complete inability to deal with a nightmare ex-tenant, I have found the staff helpful, efficient and easy to deal with. My only bugbear with them has been the admin fee.
Umega took us over as unfurnished sitting tenants and their assessor sent us an inventory of our own furnishings!! Wow, that has to be some kind of record for agency stupidity!
There were many other problems with EPM during my lease:
1> refusal/inability to tell us the code for the burglar alarm 2> refusal to fix draughty windows (my bedroom was around 10c last winter!) 3> they took six weeks to replace our gas boiler after the annual gas inspection detected a leak. After 2 weeks (and it was freezing cold and snowing) they graciously provided us with electric radiators which cost a fortune to run, and refused to knock any money off that month's rent to compensate us for our huge electricity bill 4> I know they didn't check my references and given my experience with the nutcase I was sharing with they didn't check hers either! 5> I informed them there was mice in the flat, and despite putting down traps they could still come and go as they pleased as there were holes in the skirting board. Again, EPM ignored my request to seal these holes.
lol I can't imagine any letting agent would send a repair guy for a draughty window. If the temperature had been -10c you might have had an issue. However the gas leak is pretty serious but actually the maintenence was most likely held up by the landlord being slow.
steer clear of Click-Let. Their initial paperwork was dreadful, Byzantine doesn't begin to cover it. They required 4 references off both myself and my partner.
Now we've actually moved in they are even worse. Their starting position is that they only have any responsibility to the landlord. They have failed to carry out necessary maintenance and their excuses for not doing so has bordered on defamation of character. They have completely failed to fulfil their legal obligations but actually have the gall to quote the tenancy contract at us. All in all, I would recommend a homeless shelter, or even (shock horror!) a flat managed by Grant Management before them
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That said, this year half the adverts on gumtree were scams so beware. So many would send pictures of a flat and then if we tried to arrange a viewing, would say 'we require a £1500 deposit for a viewing which you will get back after' :/
Good luck finding a flat!
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Malcolm Homes have always been absolutely lovely, and their workmen are very helpful.
ELS have failed to show up to show flats on two occasions, and their office staff are clueless.
I'm with EPM at the moment, and while I understand psi is having bother relating to their complete inability to deal with a nightmare ex-tenant, I have found the staff helpful, efficient and easy to deal with. My only bugbear with them has been the admin fee.
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Wow, that has to be some kind of record for agency stupidity!
Thanks for the info. :)
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1> refusal/inability to tell us the code for the burglar alarm
2> refusal to fix draughty windows (my bedroom was around 10c last winter!)
3> they took six weeks to replace our gas boiler after the annual gas inspection detected a leak. After 2 weeks (and it was freezing cold and snowing) they graciously provided us with electric radiators which cost a fortune to run, and refused to knock any money off that month's rent to compensate us for our huge electricity bill
4> I know they didn't check my references and given my experience with the nutcase I was sharing with they didn't check hers either!
5> I informed them there was mice in the flat, and despite putting down traps they could still come and go as they pleased as there were holes in the skirting board. Again, EPM ignored my request to seal these holes.
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Now we've actually moved in they are even worse. Their starting position is that they only have any responsibility to the landlord. They have failed to carry out necessary maintenance and their excuses for not doing so has bordered on defamation of character. They have completely failed to fulfil their legal obligations but actually have the gall to quote the tenancy contract at us. All in all, I would recommend a homeless shelter, or even (shock horror!) a flat managed by Grant Management before them
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So far currently having a very good experience with Steyn Lettings, but then my experience with Ben Property only went sour while I was moving out.
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