The Real World Rental Company

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1. 

   A 1-star review by 'FONST' 8/10/2010

   Branch:

   Hurlingham Studios 1 Ranelagh Gardens Fulham

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   In June 2010 I contacted via internet http://www.realworldproperty.co.uk, to rent a small flat in London for spending a week OFF with my family. I then got in touch with Mr. ****** *******, and on June 22nd I signed a Licence Agreement to rent that flat. I then paid the requested amount + the deposit (same amount). So far so good!

   We then landed at London, taxi transfer to that place, but nobody waiting for us there (as agreed). We did stay ca. 5 hours waiting for somebody opening the gate of that apartment. Nothing! I called Mr. *******, and the Real Estate >30 times. Nothing. I then... (read more)
   

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   30 times. Nothing. I then decided to transfer my Family to an Hotel. Morning later around 7:00 my cell rings. It was HIM. He said : "I apologize, it has been a genuine thing, we misunderstood yr arrival date, etc. The flat is ready for you. I'll pay yr Hotel stay, and I will send you a car to transfer you at the flat you rented." All that has been done, but I am still waiting to get my DEPOSIT back. I'm Italian, and I do not know the UK law about those kind of things. Anybody of you guys suggesting what to do? Thanks in advance!! [[EDIT ORIGINAL END]] In June 2010 I contacted via internet http://www.realworldproperty.co.uk, to rent a small flat in London for spending a week OFF with my family. I then got in touch with Mr. ****** *******, and on June 22nd I signed a Licence Agreement to rent that flat. I then paid the requested amount + the deposit (same amount). So far so good! We then landed at London, taxi transfer to that place, but nobody waiting for us there (as agreed). We did stay ca. 5 hours waiting for somebody opening the gate of that apartment. Nothing! I called Mr. *******, and the Real Estate >30 times. Nothing. I then decided to transfer my Family to an Hotel. Morning later around 7:00 my cell rings. It was him. He said : "I apologize, it has been a genuine thing, we misunderstood your arrival date, etc. The flat is ready for you. I'll pay your Hotel stay, and I will send you a car to transfer you at the flat you rented." All that has been done, but I am still waiting to get my deposit back. I'm Italian, and I do not know the UK law about those kind of things. Anybody of you guys suggesting what to do? Thanks in advance!! Admin note: Agent's name has been removed/&display=popup&link=http://www.allagents.co.uk/review/6882/&redirect_uri=http://www.allagents.co.uk/review/6882/" target="_blank">
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2. 

   A 1-star review by 'JC_London' 3/6/2010

   Branch:

   Hurlingham Studios 1 Ranelagh Gardens Fulham

   Services:

   Lettings (Prospective customer)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   I was also ripped off by Robin Larkins and the Real World Rental Company. Signed a contract for a refundable deposit to reserve a flat and then, within my rights, pulled out. Many months of chasing and time wasted and he wouldn't refund or return calls. Had to take him to court and eventually got my money back - 9 months later.

   Avoid like the plague.

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3. 

   A 1-star review by 'Anthony_BBC' 24/8/2009

   Branch:

   Hurlingham Studios 1 Ranelagh Gardens Fulham

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   I'm yet another in this long chain.... how can they keep doing it? I work for the BBC and in August 2008 I needed some temp accom and used The Real World Rental Company. One year later I am still being promised that they will return my deposit. He should not have even banked the cheque, I was only in for 7 days. Such a shame, he was very polite and the service was good. However, a year for the return of my deposit is too much. I have now submitted a claim to the courts.

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4. 

   A 1-star review by 'Jacqui' 20/5/2009

   Branch:

   Hurlingham Studios 1 Ranelagh Gardens Fulham

   Services:

   Lettings (Prospective customer)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   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.

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5. 

   A 1-star review by 'A Foreigner Tenant' 20/2/2009

   Branch:

   Hurlingham Studios 1 Ranelagh Gardens Fulham

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   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 '

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6. 

   A 1-star review by 'ssc' 22/1/2009

   Branch:

   Hurlingham Studios 1 Ranelagh Gardens Fulham

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   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.

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7. 

   A 1-star review by 'defrauded by Robin Larkins' 22/12/2008

   Branch:

   Hurlingham Studios 1 Ranelagh Gardens Fulham

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   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.

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8. 

   A 1-star review by 'Victimised' 19/12/2008

   Branch:

   Hurlingham Studios 1 Ranelagh Gardens Fulham

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   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

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9. 

   A 1-star review by 'Annoyed to be conned by Robin Larkins' 12/12/2008

   Branch:

   Hurlingham Studios 1 Ranelagh Gardens Fulham

   Services:

   Lettings (as a Tenant)

   Experience:

   Would you use the agent again? No

   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.

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10. 

    A 1-star review by 'disastrous short stay' 8/10/2008

    Branch:

    Hurlingham Studios 1 Ranelagh Gardens Fulham

    Services:

    Lettings (as a Tenant)

    Experience:

    Would you use the agent again? No

    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!

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