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		<title>AllAgents - Reviews of  life-residential</title> 
        <link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/rss/Life Residential</link> 
        <description>Life residential, the modern property specialists, are a lettings, sales & management company. Established in 1999 by a team of London property professionals, with years of experience in the residential property market. Our main aim is to provide the most efficient service to clients worldwide that own high quality property in major UK cities with our main focus on London.</description><item>
		<title><![CDATA[13/6/2013 - Pink rated Life Residential 1 star]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/life-residential/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[Absolutely worst and most unprofessional Agency and people we have ever dealt with. We moved in 3-year-old newish flat which we expected to look almost new but that expectation turned to be a nightmare. We highlighted the problem of pest one month before we moved in to Debbie Wood (previous tenant told us) and she promised to fix the problem before we moved in on email. However the day we moved in nothing was fixed. She even has forgotten about the problems and pretended she even didn't know about the problem. The flat has 10-15 carpet moths and numbers of larvae, eggs of moths on carpet. It was disgusting! The flat is furnished however all cushions, carpets, rugs were full of dog hair and we also found 2 dog dropping in the balcony, but still the property manager Tom Symonds refused to accept the state of the flat and denied there has been a dog previously (animals not allowed in the flat but apparently the previous tenant had one but they seem to return the deposit without investigating seriously). He doesn't seem to care anything about the status of the flat and all he says is &quot;it is professionally cleaned&quot; regardless of dog droppings never removed. The inventory document is absolutely not reflecting the state of the flat, kitchen sink is leaking, dish washer is not working, and there are places with mold. Horrible experience we ever had and we wish we saw this review before!<br />This person would not use Life Residential again.]]></description></item><item>
		<title><![CDATA[10/6/2013 - Thoroughly Hacked Off rated Life Residential 1 star]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/life-residential/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[I am only sorry I did not read these reviews before we rented a property through Life Residential.  I would like to state however that we had no issue with Debbie Wood who was always very professional.

Our check in inventory was conducted after we moved in and they itemised half our own property so when we went to move out they tried to claim there were items missing when they actually belonged to us in the first place.

We had chronic problems with noisy neighbours who were also Life Residential tenants and despite numerous pleas for help and Environmental Health support they refused to evict the tenants.  The noisy tenants had even pitched a tent on their balcony so that they could over occupy the flat but Life did not care.  Our life was made hell but we were given no consideration.

There were various problems with the flat, which we reported but they were never fixed.

Similarly to other reports herein when we moved out there was a much more thorough check out inspection carried out and they are withholding our deposit unnecessarily citing various specks even although the property was professionally cleaned upon departure.

I am a professional person who has always had good tenant references.  I have rented various properties in London for ten years and I have never come across a company like Life Residential who literally treat tenants with such disdane so goodness knows how they treat bad tenants or the Landlords.<br />This person would not use Life Residential again.]]></description></item><item>
		<title><![CDATA[21/5/2013 - Hotel California rated Life Residential 1 star]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/life-residential/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[I have recently moved out of a property managed by Life Residential in Deptford Bridge and, having completed one year of living at the property, I felt that it was important to warn potential customers well away from dealing with Life Residential. To summarise, they are dishonest, sloppy, grasping and overall unpleasant to deal with. 
Upon moving into the property I found it to be in a generally poor, dirty and uncared for state. There was water damage and splitting in the windowsills, mould in the bathroom, broken floor slats and moulding falling away from the walls. There were plastic coat hooks pulled away from the walls leaving ugly plastic lumps, threaded door handles, severely burned and dirty cookers, dirty, broken or unsafe appliances a promise to fix these problems. I was also informed that the furniture in the property could be removed as it was dirty, chipped, broken and in some cases mouldy. 
I was informed that these problems would be fixed. They were not. After two visits by their cadre of &quot;professional&quot; cleaners, the place remained in a state of total disarray, with dirt, mould, damp, chipped furnishings and a host of other problems. The vacuum cleaner was…oily, greasy an it was plain that it had never been cleaned. The microwave was sickening and the inside looked like it had never been cleaned. Also, Debbie Wood then came back after stating that no further works would be done as it was “up to Life Residential’s acceptable levels” she then confirmed that the furnishings would have to stay and that she “had no recollection of ever promising to allow the removal of furnishings”. 
I spent a year in that property. When there was a leak, I had to fix it myself as their repair person never turned up despite repeated requests. When there was mould in the window ledge left from rising damp, Debbie confirmed that it would be addressed. It never was. When the piping under the sink leaked, Debbie confirmed that someone would be around to fix it. No one ever came. 
At the check-out, Serena tried to charge me for breakages that had never occurred such as the replacement of a rug which was still in the property which had been given over as broken, for the water damage, which I had reported and which had never been addressed, for the door handles which I had reported as threaded and or a litany of other problems. They tried to overcharge, retain deposit, cheat, swindle and grasp every penny they could in a horrible and dishonest manner. 
I will NEVER deal with these people ever again and will steer everyone I can away from these people. They’ll take your money, but they absolutely will not provide the service you have paid for, and when you are done, they’ll try and take even more. Stay well away.<br />This person would not use Life Residential again.]]></description></item><item>
		<title><![CDATA[3/11/2012 - No Life Residential rated Life Residential 1 star]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/life-residential/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[We were tenants of Life Residential and we wish to share our experiences with others considering renting from this agency. Our check-in was conducted by Life Residential. Our check-out was conducted by an external property management company that they use. The two were conducted in a completely different manner. The check-out was  thorough and essentially done with a fine tooth comb. The check-in completed was nowhere near to this level of detail. The net effect of the check-out was that this caused various discrepancies on the so called 'check-out report'. So, upon check-out this led to Life Residential attempting to charge us with numerous items that were unjustified. The entire bill they were attempting to charge us for came to 500. The most difficult cost to digest was the 'cleaning charge'. We had just had the tenancy professionally cleaned at a price of 150. As the check-out was utterly thorough it was bound to pick up anything minor and hence the requirement for the tenancy to have yet another clean was borne. After discussing the issues with the cleaning company who conducted our clean, they were more than happy to return to correct any issues left. But guess what? This was refused by Life Residential as our tenancy period had expired. So even though we paid 150 for a professional clean, an invoice was provided and the company was willing to return to correct any issues, Life Residential did not allow this and still contracted their own cleaning company. Seems like quite an elaborate con to us. Contract a property management company who's quite thorough in their check-outs to conduct the check-out, note various cleaning issues (as they have a history for this), automatically get your friend/family member/acquaintance (who runs a cleaning business, mind you that the company they used was a one man band) to complete a clean and charge the cost back to the tenant, as this cost cannot be removed. Nice little con! We wonder if the agency even get a kickback from it. To those that think this may be a one off, we have read similar reviews where Life Residential complete the same con, so think again. Spending 150 on professional cleaning prior to the check-out was a waste of money.

After numerous e-mails back and forth denying charges and explaining variances between the check-in and check-out Life Residential agreed to remove all charges except the cleaning costs. Funny that...

Be warned.<br />This person would not use Life Residential again.]]></description></item><item>
		<title><![CDATA[26/7/2012 - SC rated Life Residential 1 star]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/life-residential/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[RUIN-YOUR-LIFE RESIDENTIAL.  AVOID THIS LETTING AGENCY!!!

If I was to list all the problems we had to endure throughout our 1 year tenancy, I would end up writing a Masters Degree dissertation. So I will have to keep it “short”. I have come across some terrible people in my life, but Life Residential are without a single speck of a doubt the WORST, MOST INCOMPETENT, AMATEUR group of “professionals” I have ever dealt with! Whether it be the fake charm used by Mr Hills to entice prospective tenants into their trap, or the transparent façade through which Ms Brookshaw and others pretend to know what they are doing - DO NOT BE FOOLED.

From the RIDICULOUS charges, being late for appointments, not conducting a proper check-in inventory, charging a HEINOUS amount for a check-out inventory and taking several hundred unnecessary pictures of the flat that was left in great condition by us, not having enough keys on move-in day and so restricting access to the apartment for the initial TWO WEEKS yet still happily charging full rent, both of our toilet bowls being dirty upon moving into our “brand new” flat - thanks to stereotypical use by builders, making us go without heating for TWO MONTHS in the winter, leaving us in an apartment where the gas pressure in the broken boiler was so low that it was reported as dangerous, charging several hundred s for an end of tenancy clean even though we had also paid for one ourselves, not even being able to spell properly in emails, taking OVER ONE MONTH to return the deposit  for which we even had to spend countless hours and days at the computer refuting completely unreasonable charges - for example a stupidly proposed charge for upholstery that was obviously used and second-hand upon moving in, and underpaying the deposit return by several hundred s! Our complaint to the Head Office was as good as ignored and we have been treated abysmally. 

The name itself is ironic. Owing to the distress we have had to endure thanks to this letting agent, they should consider renaming to DEATH RESIDENTIAL. At least that would be slightly more honest on their part.

As I said, I am keeping this short. This is JUST A FRACTION of what Life Residential have put myself and my friends through. As much as we loved our apartment, no tenancy is worth the trauma and stress caused by a useless and unskilled group of “professionals” who probably only have a few working brain cells put together - and that’s being generous.<br />This person would not use Life Residential again.]]></description></item><item>
		<title><![CDATA[7/6/2012 - Asa rated Life Residential 1 star]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/life-residential/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[I am writing on behalf of my friend who had a misfortune of renting from this agency. She was coming from abroad to study English in London and came across this agency on one of the websites. They found her a very nice flat in one of the new developments and were very nice and professional at the beginning, until it came to signing the contract. At the time my friend did not speak good English and unfortunately this is where her troubles started. They did not let her read the contract properly and seek advice saying that it had to be signed straight away; otherwise the flat will be rented elsewhere. 
When she moved in, the flat was in absolute state, no sign of professional cleaning in sight. She emailed the agency to have the flat cleaned on numerous occasions to no avail. The emails were just ignored and the flat was never cleaned. 
She was never made aware that she will have to pay at least 50 every month towards her heating and boiler maintenance even though the actual heating bill was less than 20 per month. No one ever came to inspect the boiler in two years she was there. When she tried to ask the agency if it was the landlord’s responsibility to maintain the boiler she was never replied to. 
The worst nightmare began when she gave notice to move out. After the check-out (which was about 500% more thorough than the check-in, the man that did it even managed to lift the bed to look for dust!!) she was told that she was being charged 1000 from her deposit. 250 of it was going to professional cleaning even though we had the flat cleaned. They said it was dusty and had some smears on the mirror!!! The rest of the money would go for repairs (even though there was nothing broken) and compensation to the landlord!!!! 
At this point she asked me for help as due to her lack of English she was no longer able to deal with their ridiculous demands. To their shame, even though they knew the person’s English is not great, they tried to bully her into signing the final deposit deductions saying there is not much she can do now. 
I have to say that this was the worst agency experience I ever had to endure in my life. It took me over 3 weeks, with help from solicitor, writing endless emails to literally claw our own money back!!! Only when I have threatened them with legal action, luckily our deposit was protected, they reduced the final deductions to 300!!!! From 1000!!! They still charged us 200 for cleaning, and to be honest at this stage I no longer had any strength left to fight with them.  
Avoid this at any cost if possible as for them nothing matters but money. They are not ashamed to take what is not theirs and then you literally have to fight to get YOU OWN money back!!!!<br />This person would not use Life Residential again.]]></description></item><item>
		<title><![CDATA[11/2/2012 - curic4 rated Life Residential 2 stars]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/life-residential/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[I am afraid i can not avoid but to join this group of disappointing experiences. I’m about to rent a property with Life Residential and i am not even moved in the new flat that i am already not satisfied. A part from a few delays in replies and flat-viewing, they managed to put in the contract the wrong address of the property i am about to rent (wrong street name and post code). The bank noticed it, they never bothered to double check the address apparently. I had a delivery booked with ikea and BT and i had to call them back, modify the delivery address that forced me to cancel orders and rebook all the delivery. This caused a delay in the delivery dates. I was meant to receive all the furniture within the first week of rent, and now i’ll have to live in an empty flat for at least 10days!
I am sincerely wondering: is it normal for an estate agent to put the wrong address in a tenancy contract without checking if the address of the property you are renting is the right one?<br />This person would not use Life Residential again.]]></description></item><item>
		<title><![CDATA[11/2/2012 - Complaint Resolved rated Life Residential 5 stars]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/life-residential/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[The message below headed by &quot;Totally Unreliable&quot; is from myself in January 2012

This is a follow up message today in February 2012 to let you know what the outcome was of my complaint.

As you can see - I have given them 5 stars. I believe that is fair because the average will balance out to be 3 stars (due to my 1 star last time). That is fair because the situation did happen (bad) and they have now resolved it (good). So overall, from me, an average result will contribute to the board.

I probably sound like I complain a lot. Trust me - I don't - but this incident got right on my back and so I was always going to take it further.

I was phoned by a nice man called Nigel after I made my complaint. He assured me the situation with the estate agent in question (not named here as you can only name good people) was more of a “one off” situation, and fell below the standard usually expected of estate agents at Life Residential.

I took him at his word on this. But simply an apology I felt was not good enough because anyone these days can utter the words “I apologise”. It is just used too often these days. You know the kind, “TFL apologies for the late running of this train. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused”. One wonders what would happen if TFL had to pay everyone 2 for the inconvenience each time. It should be possible in today’s modern world. We could all just tap the oysters at the offending station as they could be switched on to give back a few quid!

LOL I digress!

My point being that I felt that providing some compensation in this case was appropriate. Yes it may have been a “one off” but it was me who felt the (cold) effects of this “one off”. If it is not going to happen again, then compensation to me should be generously given and the company will not have to worry about other customers asking for compensation all the time, because this was a “one off” right?

That is the way I felt anyway. I explained my reasons and like a reasonable man Nigel listened and was understanding. He later e-mailed to give a final apology and said that although they wouldn’t give cash, they would give some vouchers. At first he offered M+S but as I don’t shop there I asked if he wouldn’t mind and Amazon gift certificate instead. He kindly agreed.

I want to be clear. At NO TIME did Nigel ask me to write this positive review in order to receive the certificate. I know some of you could be thinking that at this point and so that is why I mention it. I know I would be thinking that. So, to be clear, the Amazon certificate of 20 was agreed BEFORE I let Nigel know I would be happy to write a follow up positive review on my experiences from the complaint onwards.

Thank you again Nigel for your understanding. I have not been permanently put off Life Residential as Nigel could see my logic and responded appropriately for my time and inconvenience. I can get a good DVD with the money. I may even come back one day and use their services. I have found a place now, so cannot this time. But I feel that also says something that they gave this. It is easy to give to a potential customer where you get the business, but he knew I had already had found somewhere – so that says a lot. Thanks again.

This matter is now resolved.<br />This person would use Life Residential again.]]></description></item><item>
		<title><![CDATA[15/1/2012 - Totally Unreliable rated Life Residential 1 star]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/life-residential/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[Dear Tenants and Landlords,

The below is my review of this agent based on my own experiences in January 2012

Key Points:
1. They seem to have a lot of problems with their current tenants which was obvious from the experiences I had when trying to arrange a viewing
2. The agent did not show up to my viewing and left me waiting in the cold for him  from the end of my pervious viewing. A total of almost 40 minutes. When I phoned him, he was still sitting in his office. Excuses were made but it was clear that he had arranged other appointments at the location and when they were cancelled due to problems, it was clear he couldn’t be bothered turning up to see me as I was just one person and it was a 20 minute drive. 
3. I was not informed earlier that morning by call or text that the viewing was off.
4. If I were to put money down now, I believe I would be dealing with an agency where when you have made all your move preparations and given your notice to your current landlord, you would find something “goes wrong” and then leave you with no end of problems near move day to find somewhere else. 

Full Details:
I used Life Residential recently with the aim of building up a relationship with an estate agents that seemed reliable. For this reliability I believed that you pay a price. They have check-in fees when you move into a property, check-out fees when you move out a property, and if you stay after a year, then you have a renewal fee as they want you to sign another contract. They don’t wish it to become a month to month periodic tenancy as it would do after 1 year, so they can get another fee from you. They also want 6 weeks deposit from you rather than the more usual 4 weeks deposit. 

All of this was not ideal, but I figured that I could stay with this estate agency and get to know them in my moves each year or two and get some nice places as they seemed very professional in their dealings when you first meet them.

They have apartments in Barking with their main competitors being Chase Evans based in Canary Wharf. Life Residential itself is based in the Excel Docklands area.

On Tuesday I was told there was a 1 bed I could see with a tenant in. I would see it this Sat. I couldn’t loose it to someone else because it was not on the market yet I was told. On Wed I was told there was problem with the tenant and it was “problematic” so he had arranged two other 1 bed and a 2 bed for me to see Sat. Ok – fair enough – still sounds good.

On Thursday I was told one of the 1 beds had now gone. Knowing I was viewing on Sat and wanted a 1 bed, he had just gone and let it to someone else. Ok – that’s the market and all agents tend to do it so a shame but I still had the other 1 bed and the 2 bed to see. But clearly no loyalty to people he has arranged viewing with. They will just let behind you back. But many do that – so ok, still not unforgivable at this point.

On Friday night I noticed a 1 bed on RightMove from Life Residential that was put on the site 1 day earlier. I texted and he said this was the one that had gone. On Sat he was still to meet me to see the 1 bed and the 2 bed the next day. 30 minutes later I saw another 1 bed be put on just moments ago. I texted about this but received no response that night or the next morning about it. (Later he told me that this lack of response now mean that the viewing of the others was cancelled and I should have worked this out! Pitiful excuse! A viewing is cancelled if I receive a phone or text to confirm it is not going ahead.

After my appointment with another agent at 11am in the morning I waited for 40 minutes in the cold for his appointment at 12pm. At 12:10 I phoned him and he was still in the office. He said the new 1 bed from last night was not right as there was some kind of problem with it. I asked about the other arranged 1 bed and what about the 2 bed. I sort of missed what the excuse was about the 1 bed but there was some problem with the tenants refusing to leave on the 2 bed. He was even cancelling his other appointments that day as he had told me he was due to be in Barking but now as not due to tenant issues.

They seem to have a lot of tenant problems. Fees are way to high and they are unreliable as an agency so fees this high are not justified. I’m sure that they will continue to do business and will not go under because I am pulling out of using their services due to all this messing around. But I think from an outfit that comes across as very professional at the start and the high fees due to this, they are actually very disappointing. A relationship lost that could have been good and profitable for the agency for a number of years. Why, when you know someone wants a place, do you let it to someone else and basically ignore that person. Wouldn’t you try and arrange another place for them to keep them sweet? It is like very one track minded of one place at a time! No business sense at all. But if that is the way they want to do business, then they will for the next few years, but I would say unlikely in the long term. 

So watch out and ensure you protect your holding deposits incase they go under when you are tenanted!!!!

Further Action:
I can’t mention the specific agent's name here as the website doesn’t allow individuals names to be mentioned but I plan to send a copy of this letter to the agency and mention the agents name there. I know what your thinking – they won’t care and they will just ignore it. They are not like proper companies that take complains seriously.

So that’s not all – I am also sending copies of this letter to Life Residential’s main competitors in the local area. Perhaps they will be able to improve their own services by knowing what the main issues with the current competition are and be able to take some of their business. It is clear by searching this site which one is the best to use if you are looking to use one of the 4 in the Excel/Docklands area from the following: 

Outlook
Chase Evans – their main competitor in the Barking area!
Madison Brooke
Oxygen

Naturally, one suspects a few positive reviews on here are from the agents themselves and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a “great review” on this site from someone shortly after my negative review is posted for this agent. Currently there are 2 other negative reviews and no positive for this agent as I write this. But the more people who review, the better the genuine quality of the answers – so please get reviewing!

I wish I had known about this site sooner before this experience as it would then be clear who I should build the relationship with. It is certainly clear now and I shall take my custom there. But at least some good may come of this experience for other people.

I am going to steer clear of this agent. I made a mistake but was lucky and didn’t loose any money from it. I am glad I never put any money down. But please make your own decisions and be careful if you do trust them with your money, especially deposits and such agencies come and go. If you don’t treat your customers right, then you have no customers and hence no business.

Thank you and Goodbye!<br />This person would not use Life Residential again.]]></description></item><item>
		<title><![CDATA[13/10/2011 - Tenant rated Life Residential 1 star]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/life-residential/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[The property management service provide by Life Residential is abysmal.  I moved into a dirty flat, light bulbs had blown and I later discovered bedbugs in the mattress.  They did not have a proper detailed check in and then had an extremely detailed check out (paid for by me, the tenant) and tried to charge me for ordinary wear and tear in addition to damage, changes that were made by previous tenants.  I was without heating in most of the flat for almost two weeks during the severe weather last winter and they refused to treat it as an emergency because the heater in the bedroom was not working.  The property manaer whom I dealt with was their fromer receptionist who was clearly inexperienced and had received any training.  She was rude, defensive and unprofessional and clearly did not care if the tenants froze to death.  I was only given one set of keys although I needed two.  I had to pay them 40 for an extra fob key to the building which they refused to reimburse me for when I moved out.  It is clear that Life Residential do everything on the cheap and then try to make the tenant pay at the end of the day.<br />This person would not use Life Residential again.]]></description></item><item>
		<title><![CDATA[28/11/2010 - Bad_letting_agency rated Life Residential 1 star]]></title>
		<link>http://www.allagents.co.uk/life-residential/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[Worst Letting agency ever.

The sales pitch was nice and dandy but had a hard time afterwards with customer service and hassles upon checking out.

The check-in inventory & check-out inventory list was completed based on 2 separate standards. The flat came with decent furniture, natural but worn in. Upon moving out, the letting agency hired another inventory company and basically striped the whole flat apart even though I got it professionally cleaned already.

In all, had to pay for check-in & check-out fee, also had to pay substantially toward check-out cleaning and "broken" pieces of furnishings.

Would not recommend this company to anyone.

Seems like a good deal, but not worth it in the long run.

<br />This person would not use Life Residential again.]]></description></item>
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