Ranked 1 out of 9469 Agents
Streets Ahead
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Reviewed by Paul on 4th August 2011
I would not use the agent again
- Branch:
- 221 Lower Addiscombe Road,
- Services:
- Lettings (as a Landlord)
We have been renting out our flat through Streets Ahead for the past 2 years and they are the worst letting agent I have ever come across in my life.
We originally signed up to a managed letting through streets ahead above the market rate (15%) and in that first year they couldn't even 'manage' to return a phone call. They are brilliant at getting back to you when they are trying to get the property occupied but once a tenant is found and you've signed on the dotted line they act as if there work is done.
When it came to a 2nd year renewal - no-one contacted us at all - so 2 months later we asked if it had been renewed and they were oblivious to it even expiring. As a result of their poor management we went to a Rent collection only service (10%) which seemed obvious as the tenants always ended up calling us to get things done promptly anyway and so we signed the tenants in again for a further 12 months.
Now we are approaching our third year and as Streets Ahead do absolutely nothing for us and add zero value we have asked if we can deal with the whole agreement and collect the Rent ourselves. To my amazement when I asked for this they said it was fine but they would still charge us 10% (i.e. the same money) until the day these tenants move out! This is crazy as the tenants are long term and lovely people and it they want to stay 5 years Streets Ahead are saying they want 10% for the 5 years.
As a result of this I have done A LOT of research and it appears as though they are getting quite a reputation for this extortional behaviour - And speaking to other Estate agents this is by far not the normal practice of estate agents. Yes this is fine for the first 12 months - as it is called a 'Introduction service' where they find the tenants and landlords reward them with 10% for the year (normally works out over £1000) - But the way Streets Ahead work is to extort money out of people and they do it with small print in T&C's.
So in all I advise anyone Letting a property to stay well clear of Streets Ahead but if you can't then make sure you read the small print and get them to remove this clause as NO-ONE else includes it and it is not normal practice
 and in that first year they couldn't even 'manage' to return a phone call. They are brilliant at getting back to you when they are trying to get the property occupied but once a tenant is found and you've signed on the dotted line they act as if there work is done.
When it came to a 2nd year renewal - no-one contacted us at all - so 2 months later we asked if it had been renewed and they were oblivious to it even expiring. As a result of their poor management we went to a Rent collection only service (10%) which seemed obvious as the tenants always ended up calling us to get things done promptly anyway and so we signed the tenants in again for a further 12 months.
Now we are approaching our third year and as Streets Ahead do absolutely nothing for us and add zero value we have asked if we can deal with the whole agreement and collect the Rent ourselves. To my amazement when I asked for this they said it was fine but they would still charge us 10% (i.e. the same money) until the day these tenants move out! This is crazy as the tenants are long term and lovely people and it they want to stay 5 years Streets Ahead are saying they want 10% for the 5 years.
As a result of this I have done A LOT of research and it appears as though they are getting quite a reputation for this extortional behaviour - And speaking to other Estate agents this is by far not the normal practice of estate agents. Yes this is fine for the first 12 months - as it is called a 'Introduction service' where they find the tenants and landlords reward them with 10% for the year (normally works out over £1000) - But the way Streets Ahead work is to extort money out of people and they do it with small print in T&C's.
So in all I advise anyone Letting a property to stay well clear of Streets Ahead but if you can't then make sure you read the small print and get them to remove this clause as NO-ONE else includes it and it is not normal practice/&display=popup&link=http://www.allagents.co.uk/review/11709/&redirect_uri=http://www.allagents.co.uk/review/11709/ "Share on your Facebook Wall"){kind=logo}
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