Castle Estates

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1. 

   A 1-star review by 'Ertugrul B' 9/2/2012

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   This agency is a pathetic excuse to call itself a real estate agency.
   First of all you get conned into viewing some banged up properties, and later on promises that they will fix it up after you take the property.
   Took them a whole month just to fix a leakage in the property.
   Bathroom was mauldy, tv in property did not work and never got replaced. Every time you call them they promise to get back to you..... THEY NEVER DO!
   One colleague doesn't know what the other is doing, apparently their administration is useless.
   After having to live in a property for over 1 week with no heating I... (read more)
   

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   A 2-star review by 'STAY AWAY' 8/2/2012

   Branch:

   23 Warwick Row

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   All I can say is STAY AWAY. Never have I dealt with so many rude people in one office, they never answer their phones or call back when they say they will. I had to chase them for the first 3 months of my tenancy to get simple things such as having the curtain rail put back up in the living room and getting a rear drain unblocked. I have got away lightly compared to some horror stories of people I’ve spoken to things range from broken heating to a house that’s so mouldy you can’t leave shoes under your own bed as they’ll be covered in mould in a week. Everyone gets the same response 'I’ll speak to my colleague and get back to you,' the 'I’ll get back to you’ is a complete lie as Castles never returns a calls. They'll ring you as soon as your rent is late though and will keep ringing until you pay. I’ve lost count the amount of times they’ve turned up at my home with a group of students to show around the house without giving us any prior notice.

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3. 

   A 1-star review by 'rodelinda' 21/7/2011

   Branch:

   212 St Ann's Hill

   Services:

   Sales (as a Vendor)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   We viewed a property in mid-May this year and immediately put down the holding deposit. Castle assured us that the property would be available by the time we had to move (end of July - two and a half months' leeway). The only thing left to do, Castle said, was to get the Council to 'rubber-stamp' a sound test the building had previously failed. This week, after two months of calling them, to be told there was no update on the status of the sound test, but that they would check with the builders on the status of the application and call us back - which they never did - I rang up the council to... (read more)
   

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4. 

   A 1-star review by 'bentom01' 23/6/2011

   Services:

   Lettings (Prospective customer)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   If you can at all avoid do so at all costs.!!!!!!
   We were advised that a property would welcome our dogs, my husband then travelled 230 miles from Manchester to West Kilbride to view the property. The next day we e-mailed to ask what to do next, a few hours later got an e-mail back saying the landlords would not accept the dogs!!!??!?! What a joke!
   They are a total waste of time....these things should be confirmed before the viewing especially when travelling 230 miles!!!
   It cost £50+ just for the petrol!! They are a joke and total waste of time!!!
   New staff required please, preferably staff that can do their jobs!

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5. 

   A 1-star review by 'rentajoke' 20/6/2011

   Services:

   Sales (as a Vendor)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   Rude and obnoxious staf in this greenock office....treat you like dirt and gave me the wrong information.....i travelled a distance of 100 miles to sign a contract only to have been misguided by them..their excuse..the girl in the office who phoned me gave me the wrong info...shame on them..please anyone tenants or landlords alike avoid using these people as they have no clue and are very dis organised....they dont even answer their phones.....new staff rerquired in this branch most definitely :(

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6. 

   A 2-star review by 'Landlord2011' 7/5/2011

   Branch:

   Cavendish House 29 Chesterfield Road

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Landlord)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   Terrible service from this office. Advertisement misspelt, wrong details put on website. Lights left switched on for days at a time after Agent had been to property to do viewings. Very offputting as when ringing the office it takes forever for the phone to be answered. Property not uploaded to website when agreed. Property advertised for over a month without an EPC which I understand is illegal. I have moved away from Castle to use another Agent, I would avoid.

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7. 

   A 1-star review by 'tiredoftheexcuses' 11/4/2011

   Branch:

   30 Redwood Crescent Beeston

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   Don't have an especially high opinion of individuals in this line of work, but these people take the piss. Staff and manager (when you can get through to him and on the very rare occasion he bothers to return phone calls) are experts in weasel-worded excuses but consistently fail to act, even when they make repeated promises and assurances to the contrary. Property allowed to decline and crumble before our very eyes, whilst vital maintenance and repairs (as recommended by their own surveyors) was failed to be undertaken. Property became infested with damp and mould shortly after we moved... (read more)
   

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8. 

   A 1-star review by 'normallyPatient' 30/11/2010

   Branch:

   30 Redwood Crescent Beeston

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   4 months of water leaking in through the walls, now driven out of one room by severe mould and damp. No builders, no progress, just excuses and hollow promises. A company rendered impotent and ineffective (I suspect to landlords and tenants alike) by ineptitude and dishonesty. Avoid. Avoid. Avoid.

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9. 

   A 1-star review by 'Unknown' 13/10/2010

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   Very Very slow to fix problems, extremely slow on returning deposit (7wks now) and they work with the landlord to stop you getting any of it back. I would rather be homeless than have to use them ever again.

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10. 

    A 1-star review by 'haysdays' 2/9/2010

    Branch:

    23 Warwick Row

    Services:

    Lettings (as a Tenant)

    Experience:

    Would you use the agent again? No

    After paying a rediculus amount for fees and summer rent we finaly moved in to our unfurnished student house that should be furnished, no blinds or wardrobes. The washingline never came which ment drying clothes evrywhere around the house. Furniture was cheep and tacky, kept braking, dangerous all beds and chairs broke after a few months.

    Reporting all the faults was a nightmare with the worst staff ever who were rude. After moving out they charged us

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1. 

   A 1-star review by 'Ben' 31/8/2010

   Branch:

   14 Union Street

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   I'm from Belgium. When I give the notice to left the flat, they beggin to make some visit the day after my notice (every two days). One day a contractor try to come in the flat without any notice! And for my last day on the flat, they tried to manage a visit, when I refused that cause I need to clean the flat ect, a man called me, nearly insulting me and made threats. If you see a flat of this agency, go away! I am still searching for a procedure to make a complaint. If someone can help me...

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2. 

   A 1-star review by 'Neil' 2/8/2010

   Branch:

   York House 11 Swan Street

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   
   
   
   
   User 'Neil' rated Castle Estates but did not write a review.

3. 

   A 1-star review by 'Jenny' 1/7/2010

   Branch:

   23 Warwick Row

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   ]]
   We should have realised how much of a con Castles was when we agreed to pay a

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4. 

   A 1-star review by 'BOB' 16/3/2010

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   Castle have been terrible. They are rude and dismissive. They took over a year to get us a working grill. They issue their contractors with keys but do not inform us that they are coming. Their contractors, when they bother to give notice ring late at night to say they are coming the next day.

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5. 

   A 1-star review by 'isafbt' 26/1/2010

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   Avoid using Castle Estates at all costs. Their lettings team were turning up unannounced on weekends to 'inspect' the property I was renting. Totally illegal and when I called to log a complaint with the manager, he just hung up the phone and made me feel like I was stupid. I don't suggest using this company.

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6. 

   A 1-star review by 'joseph' 4/12/2009

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   I rented from Castle Estate, Battle, East Sussex a flat. When I moved in there was no electricity, bathroom and carpet was in terrible state. But unfortunatley, I was in hurry to move and I didn't check it and it was my first renting from estate agents. They didn't repair any faults during my stay there. In my leaving they took my rent for carpet replacement. I am terribly disappointed with staff in Battle branch and I will not recommend Castle Estate to any body.

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7. 

   A 1-star review by 'Miranda' 1/12/2009

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Landlord)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   Bletchley/Stony Stratford branches. I have been picking up the pieces following a break-in at the house while it was empty. I have changed from using Castles as a result of this and a whole litany of problems arising from their mismanagement. For example - the tenants deposit has not been paid across to cover the last month's rent and the cost of putting the house/garden right. They did not notify any of the utilities that the tenants had moved out. They have done refurbishment in the property to an inflated price and poor standard. They did not ensure regular safety checks were done. The property has been empty for months yet a new tenant was found through another agent in days. They are ignoring my letters. I am going to see them in court. I have dealt with a number of letting agents before and these are the worst I have come across.

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8. 

   A 1-star review by 'Bobo' 21/10/2009

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Landlord)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   Terrible service, no communication with utilitity firms once tenants left, incorrect deductions and a real "not my department" attitude.
   Very happy to have moved agency!

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9. 

   A 1-star review by 'jeremy clarkson' 27/5/2009

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Landlord)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? Yes

   Very very bad experience with Castle Estates Bletchely:
   1.Brought moving in day forward for tenant without telling me, so she moved in when there was still furniture in the property, result was she backed out of the tenancy agreement and Castles gave the deposit back.Result for me lost 2 months rent, forced to drop rent to get new tenant in quickly.
   2. Rude to me in the office, I have very thick skin so difficult to insult me but they succeeded. They dont understand that people are their customers.
   3. Numerous mistakes with money, eg adding charges that were not due, missing payments, not... (read more)
   

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10. 

    A 1-star review by 'dotty' 1/4/2009

    Services:

    Lettings (as a Tenant)

    Experience:

    Would you use the agent again? No

    I used Castle Esates to rent a property for 6 months and the service was terrible. They kept ringing me accusing me of having kids in the flat when there was never once a child in the flat. The flat was absolutely disgusting when I moved in and when I complained they just laughed and the information they gave me signing the lease was completely false. The staff were also very rude and stuck up. This has put me off renting through another agent.

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1. 

   A 1-star review by 'mkgirlie22' 2/2/2009

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   I originally rented my 2 bed flat with MK L&M which had amazing service, would reply to problems on the same day within 2 hours. Then they merged Castle Estates... Since that happened i have been desperate to move! and now finally, i am leaving within the next 2 weeks. Maintenance in the bathroom was left unfinished and is a safety hazard. Damp is spreading at a speedy rate, the overflow pipe does no longer work, Water is coming through the windows and mold is growing on the walls. I tried to contact castle numerous times about these problems and many more, with not a single reply! Unfortunatley I didnt think to keep proof that i contacted them, otherwise maybe I could have taken it further. They have left me and my now 3 year old son in a property which wasnt the best when I moved in but it was liveable! However now, it is a safety and health risk and they dont care. So we have been left in a position we couldnt get out of! I am suspecting they will try and hang onto every penny of my deposit to (just over

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2. 

   A 1-star review by 'AA' 3/1/2009

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   Absolutely disgraceful! I was dealing with the Bletchley branch near Milton Keynes. They are all very friendly when you are a prospective tenant but as soon as you've signed things rapidly go downhill!

   I had so many problems I can't possibly cover them all in this review. There were numerous faults with the property when I moved in and they reassured me that they would be fixed ASAP, (they were never fixed during my tenancy).

   I had an infestation of maggots. When I notified them of this they weren't interested, eventually when they did come to address the problem, they sent out a... (read more)
   

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3. 

   A 1-star review by 'monkey2184' 15/12/2008

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   We used the Norwich branch. Appalling. The manager is rude, hangs up on you if he doesn't like what you're calling to tell him. Problems not rectified for weeks. We went without hot water for over a week! Noone knows what they're doing. Manager can't keep hold of staff unsuprisingly! STAY AWAY Do not use unless you want to be ripped off with fees tehy seem to make up on the spot!

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4. 

   A 1-star review by 'greenockletting' 28/11/2008

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Landlord)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   Castle Estates Greenock > What can I say but unprofessional, unprofessional, unprofessional!!

   Luckily I never signed a contact so I did not end up in a bad position, However, I do feel sorry for the prospective tenants. I received the contract the day before they tenants were meant to move in. When I queried the fact that I did not want full management, the bill doubled. Phoned to resolve issue but manager hung up and refused to deal with me as it appears "I was annoying him", by refusing to pay this inflated fee. I could go on and on about the lack of a contract, amended terms etc, but my best advice is do not use. I would advise this for landlords and tenants alike, as the tenants in my case were severely compromised, I wonder what web was spun to them

   To sum up unprofessional, unprofessional, unprofessional!!

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5. 

   A 1-star review by 'CC' 19/11/2008

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   Completely uselss! (Stony Branch). Terrible communications on move out - property in disrepair on move in. Moving out tomorrow (fingers crossed we wont be charged obscene amounts of money). One employee in particular (a lettings negotiator) was extremely useless!

   They accused me of lying - we asked about the underwriting scheme to take over the tenency after a "company let" had it all verbally aggreed by negotiator named above. A day before the tenency was to be signed over, they decided against the underwriting scheme, and told us we needed to pay them nearly

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6. 

   A 1-star review by 'Cov1' 25/4/2008

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Landlord)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   My list of complaints about Pettifer (Castle Estates Coventry) is endless....They constantly made mistakes, LOST the rent on 2 occasions, accused my tenant of not paying and made her pay twice when THEY had lost the money. Forgetting to pay me, paying me in Euros (!!!!), not notifying me when they spend large amounts of money on repairs. In 2 years, there has rarely been a month when I haven't had a problem. Not only do they constantly make mistakes but they never even pick up on them until we point them out. I feel I have been paying them a lot of money to do absolutely nothing. They... (read more)
   

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7. 

   A 5-star review by 'lizziehug' 3/1/2008

   Branch:

   56 South Street

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Landlord)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? Yes

   I used Castle Estates in Exeter and would recommend them to anyone. They took on a lot of additional work in getting rid of a very troublesome tenant and didn't charge me a single extra penny! Long may they reign.

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8. 

   A 5-star review by 'sooze' 3/1/2008

   Branch:

   4A Albert Street

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Landlord)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? Yes

   Absolutely brilliant, best letting agent I have every used. They know what they are talking about, don't overcharge landlords and just as important don't overcharge tenants.

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9. 

   A 1-star review by 'Ravi' 17/11/2007

   Branch:

   30 Redwood Crescent Beeston

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   Lived for 6 months in a Nottingham Flat. Horrible service. Did not have basic services when I moved in fully furnished flat like vaccum cleaner, duvets pillows although was supposed to be there according to iternary.

   I was blackmailed to pay more rent when I moved in than previously agreed as I signed papers on the day of moving. Broken furnitures were not replaced for 5 months despite reporting.

   They even charged me from deposit to clean carpets, kitchen, etc when I left the flat in a near normal state. Please please never deal with Castle Estates.

   Ravi T P

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10. 

    A 1-star review by 'Rob Hall' 29/8/2007

    Branch:

    94 Tollgate Road

    Services:

    Lettings (as a Landlord)

    Experience:

    Would you use the agent again? No

    I rented out my bungalow through Castle Estates' Salisbury branch for 6 years of which the agent received a very good commission, but gradually towards the end he let the bungalow go into decline. The crux of the matter is that at the end of the contract, he has refused to pay me the money owed, ie rent damages and costs incurred amounting to over 1 thousand pounds. He refuses to contact me and has absolutely closed the door on us even though he had two solicitors letters which he also ignored. This is over 18 months ago and we are still waiting. We complained to head office and they passed us over to another agent in Southampton, who was most unhelpful. He threatened us to take no further action.

    There is a lot more to this tale, whether you are interested remains to be seen. As far as I am concerned Joe O Neill is a liar and a fraudster.

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