Northwood

I have used Northwood three times for tenant Introductions.

When they got my first tenant, they made a bad mistake by handing over
the keys BEFORE the lease was signed.
Then, on gaining access to the house, they told the tenant there was an infestation of mice.
I had to call out the Pest Control Officer who said there was no such thing.
I lost that tenant and had to use Northwood to find another urgently. So they
were paid two fees in the space of 6 weeks.
However, there were no problems with the new tenant they found for me.

When that tenant left, I gave Northwood the benefit of the doubt and
hired them again.
I was dismayed to hear from neighbours that their method of showing
prospective tenants round is to make a single appointment for up to a
dozen of them to await the agent at the property. The entire group is
then ushered into the house and allowed to view the property as best
they can. This cannot be good practice.

From one of these mass viewings, Northwood took a deposit from a
potential tenant and undertook the various financial checks and
references. Unfortunately, they 'forgot' to contact me to ask for my
approval. I only learned about my new tenants when the agent turned up
to do the Inventory shortly before they (the tenants) were due to move
in.
By this stage one character reference was still outstanding.
Northwood have still not told me whether or not they have received it.

In addition to all this maladministration, Northwood have twice screwed
up the meter readings, so that I have had to spend a lot of time on the
phone to the energy company sorting things out.