The Real World Rental Company
Customer Reviews
Reviewed by Jacqui on 20th May 2009
Services: Lettings (Prospective customer)
Property: Residential
Experience: Would you use the agent again?
No
IP address: S7U.U7D.ULU.TNM
I used the Real World Letting Company for a one week stay in April. It seems as though I was fortunate in that I got my deposit back. The flat was filthy, the site listed WIFI and Broadband, which there was not, and after numerous telephone calls to him and his office he blamed British Telkom and said it would be rectified in 2 days. Thereafter, he stopped returning our calls.Never again, I wish I had found these references before I placed the booking.
Reviewed by A Foreigner Tenant on 20th February 2009
Services: Lettings (as a Tennant)
Property: Residential
Experience: Would you use the agent again?
No
IP address: U7G.UNL.TG7.UZN
This company and its manager are a fraud! I had to go to court to receive my deposit back, after months of civilized talks and patiently waiting for my refund. Many promises were done and never fulfilled. He did not answer to the legal proceedings and I had to enforce the sentence by means of a bailiff. Even after all this he “paid” given some goods that still need to be sold. I’m not sure that I will ever receive an amount close to what he owes me (one thousand pounds). The only reason that I could act was because I was living in England at the time, however I am back to my country and it is considerably more difficult to manage this process. In summary, if you have money to loose then use this agent, otherwise stay clear from him. It is incredible that he can still advertise his business in so many “independent” sites! Be aware, they will not help you in any way!
Reviewed by ssc on 22nd January 2009
Services: Lettings (as a Tennant)
Property: Residential
Experience: Would you use the agent again?
No
IP address: 93F.9XF.9VB.9EB
I got my deposit back after 8 months and only after taking them to court. After 3 months chasing I wrote a review of their poor services and when I next spoke with Robin Larkin he told me he was purposely withholding my money because it "upset him and thought i could wait a little longer".
I would suggest to everyone who has been defrauded to take up the action through the courts. It has been very cheap and affective though slow consider charging interest. http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/claims/index.htm
I thought I was the only one, but seems like more people are getting ripped off by this company.
Commented by ewatak on the 23rd January 2009
Larkins is delusional. I am now hearing the same story about why I have not been given my deposit back. Apparently I was "abusive", (because I asked civilly for my deposit back 4 times and then threatened him with legal action), and because I "mistreated" the property, (despite being checked out by his staff with no problem; the "mistreated" story was relayed to me yesterday, some 3 months after no written comment from him, and only the usual lies about it being "processed").
I am in the process of the court proceedings. As you say, it takes time, and he does not respond to the judgement given in your favour, so you have to "enforce" it through the courts.
Reviewed by defrauded by Robin Larkins on 22nd December 2008
Services: Lettings (as a Tennant)
Property: Residential
Experience: Would you use the agent again?
No
IP address: S9U.UDU.TUU.TDG
Robin Larkins has yet to refund my deposit 7 weeks later after my parents stayed in an apartment for a week. He avoids all calls, and makes false assurances that money will be repaid when it never is, Many others have also been defrauded.
Commented by samtam on the 24th December 2008
Have you reported him to any authority? Vide this blog: http://realworldrental.blogspot.com
Commented by Money back at last on the 22nd January 2009
I have just received my deposit back after 2 months of constant pestering. He did apologise for this delay (put it down to being disorganised), but if renting from him I would be very clear about expectations of when you will get your money back.
Commented by SSC on the 22nd January 2009
I had to take Real World Company to court to get my money back. It is the only way. It's been 8 months since I rented from them and the debt collector has been chasing them for the past 3 months. I would suggest to anyone defrauded by this company to take up the same route through the County Court in the UK. http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/claims/index.htm
The process is very easy and cheap. One thing though it takes a while so be sure to charge interest on the money. County Court judgements are held on record for 6 years. We have to stop this company from defrauding more people.
Commented by samtam on the 23rd January 2009
To "Money Back at last" - he delayed because he was disorganised. I think I've heard that twice now from him, three months on. He's not too disorganised to RECEIVE your money. Why should you have to constantly pester him for two months to get back what is legally yours? The guy is erratic, delusional and should certainly not be running a business. Do not rent anything through him.
Commented by ewatak on the 1st February 2009
If you rented through Holiday Rentals please contact them - sandy@holiday-rentals.co.uk - as they claim to have had "no problems" with Larkins, despit being given my own evidence and that of a number of other people.
Commented by ewatak on the 7th February 2009
The Mirror are now running a story on my saga with Robin Larkins and The Real World Rental Company, which you can read here:
http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2009/02/deposit-dispute-with-the-real.html#more
Reviewed by Victimised on 19th December 2008
Services: Lettings (as a Tennant)
Property: Residential
Experience: Would you use the agent again?
No
IP address: 9IQ.9CQ.9XX.9VX
I too have experienced the fraudulent activities of The Real World Rental Company and Robin Larkins. Despite false assurances that my deposit would be repaid, it has not been. I hope anone even contemplating using this firm will check these reviews and take their business elsewhere. It seems he and his company are able to get away with this theft, with no consequences. Hopefully anone with any regulatory authority over estate agents, (if indeed he is properly registered), can provide the best answer as to how they can be dealt with. I found a blog that is very helpful in exposing their wrongdoing: http://realworldrental.blogspot.com
Reviewed by Annoyed to be conned by Robin Larkins on 12th December 2008
Services: Lettings (as a Tennant)
Property: Residential
Experience: Would you use the agent again?
No
IP address: 9IQ.9CQ.9I3.9XR
This company is running a property scam, whereby they require the rental in advance, plus a deposit for the same amount. They make assurances, which seem perfectly plausible, that they will refund this so-called "fully refundable" deposit once the tenancy has completed, but they never do. There now appear to be a great number of references to their fraudulent activities on the website, if you google "Robin Larkins", or "The Real World Rental Company". That apart, the "services" provided by the company are laughable, if they were not involved in fraudulent (and criminal) activity. Not only should prospective clients avoid them completely, those all encompassing websites that permit them to advertise and trawl for further, (usually overseas clients), should be aware that they are helping to perpetrate fraud. Some of these companies, such as Vacation Rentals have removed them from their websites, but many others have not. Be aware. Be very aware.
Commented by samtam on the 14th December 2008
Others who have been victimised by Robin Larkins and The Real World Rental Company should go to this blog: http://realworldrental.blogspot.com
Reviewed by disastrous short stay on 8th October 2008
Services: Lettings (as a Tennant)
Property: Residential
Experience: Would you use the agent again?
No
IP address: 9QJ.9FF.ERQ.9FI
Stay away from real world rental! I used them for a short-term rental (1 week) and have had a terrible experience. They raised the asking price that was listed online when I contacted them by phone by 100 pounds, 2 days before my family's stay, they had to cancel and put us up in a different flat which was fine except for the lack of bed linens, towels, television,cooking utensils...not even a tea pot! The sales agent for the unit stopped by repeatedly unannounced to "show" the property while my family was staying there. Now it has been more than a month since their stay and we still haven't received our deposit yet. They don't return phone calls or emails and I'll now be lodging a formal complaint with OEA. Stay away!
Commented by samtam on the 8th November 2008
This does not surprise me. If you google Robin Larkins you will find that you are not alone in not getting your deposit back. Who are OEA? I want to lodge a complaint too. I've started with the Metropolitan Police fraud division.
Commented by In the interests of the public on the 3rd December 2008
Sadly it's apparent that Robin Larkins and the Real World Rental Company have many victims (of which I am one). He appears to defraud on a wide scale using two approaches. Either he doesn't refund the holding deposit in the case of cancellation (despite luring you in by signing a contract that states that he has to) or he doesn't refund the deposit after vacating.
He tends to be a little braver in his scam with international "clients".
Frankly, it's remarkable that he's still running a business and isn't in jail. I suppose karma isn't always instant.
Beware.
Commented by We want our deposit back on the 10th December 2008
We are still chasing for the return of our deposit after some 6 weeks. After repeated verbal promises that this would be returned we have received nothing. We are putting this matter into the hands of our lawyers, and we will actively pursue this. We will never deal with this man nor this company again.
Commented by defrauded on the 22nd December 2008
We have had the same experience, 7 weeks later and still waiting for deposit with exactly the same modus operandi. He lives on Courtfield Gardens in Gloucester Rd (not sure of the exact number) if anyone fancies a stakeout!!
Commented by Agata on the 21st February 2009
I also rented a flat - in Notting Hill. Robin Larkins was very kind during my stay in London although he didn`t show up on my arrival (he was kind calling me). He sent his driver who gave me the keys. He didn`t show up on my check-out too. He stayed in touch with me until I gave him an excellent review of my stay in this flat. He didn`t answer my messages. I was back home Jan 4th and I am still waitnig for my money back.
Sponsored Links
Estate Agent Information
The Real World Rental Company
The Real World Rental Co specialises in advertising properties available to rent from private landlords in London. We currently cover Chelsea, Fulham, Kensington, Notting Hill & Surrounding Areas.
Offices / Branches
Services
- Lettings
Commented by ewatak on the 12th March 2009
I too went through the court system, and judgement was awarded in my favour. I too had to appoint a bailiff to enforce the judgement. His first visit to Larkins resulted in no payment, and he was issued with a "levy on goods" demand. Based on your experience, I was very doubtful that I would receive anything. However, I am pleased to report that nearly 4 months to the day, since I started the proceedings, I have now received the funds in full, plus costs. I am pleased to say therefore that this approach does appear to work, but it takes time. It doesn't in any way diminish my utter distaste for this episode, and the despicable way in which Larkins and his cohorts conducted themselves. Also dealing with any of these internet sites (Holiday-Rentals) in my case, gives you a false sense of hope that you are dealing with reputable people, and I would advise anyone to avoid both at all costs.
Add your comment