100% lettings valuation accuracy
83% lettings fee satisfaction
Aug 01,2012
Aug 01,2012
1
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this helpful
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Myself and my partner were left very unhappy with the lack of care and concern from HAM Estates and in particular Mr Edward Dill and a lady named Nanette.
Our flat (and the other two in the building) were broken into on Monday 2 July 2012.
After the break in we had to listen to comments from one of the staff at Ham Estates saying 'it must be an inside job' which is terrible to hear when you have been through a traumatic experience. And not only that she (Nanette) let herself into our flats without saying who or where she was from. Also not very nice after just having our homes invaded.
It took almost 72 hours to replace the locks on the inside doors, which meant people had to leave and sleep elsewhere in the meantime. This was at considerable expense and inconvenience. Someone from each flat also had to take 2 days off work which cost us 2 days in wages. It was bad enough that it took nearly 72 hours to fix the inside doors but as of today the main outside door to all 3 flats still has not been fixed. Not only does this make us an easy target to be broken in to again but it is also very unsettling trying to sleep at night knowing the property isn't securely locked. Due to this people are waking in the night and having panic attacks.
There was a cheap fix job on both exterior and interior doors. Doors are not painted and in the top flats case the damaged door that was crow-barred off in the burglary was simply reattached and smeared with some cheap wood filler. Which is a reminder every time they come home. Their kitchen door was also removed without them being notified.
The exterior door has never opened or closed properly. It's either too tight, too loose, off the hinge or the lock is jammed. The locks should be in the opposite position to what they are, as the bottom switch is reachable by putting a thin arm/hand through the letterbox or using a tool. At a minimum the front door locks, including the safety cowling, needs to be addressed immediately. It needs to be done to a standard that you yourselves would expect in your own home. As an added precaution a piece of steel with security screws should cover the door gap because the top latch is so easily overcome. This is due to the fact the door opens outwards. It would in most cases deter a burglar if this were done.
The letterbox should also have a protective cowl to prevent reaching in - this has still not been fitted.
There is a lack of working security lights - this and the letterbox cowl/lock position are the absolute minimum security precautions we would expect, considering the sheltered entry way, lack of view from the street and general lack of light entering from the alleyway.
There is a major concern for fire safety with regard to working extinguishers, smoke alarms and escape routes. These should all be tested and updated.
Also the electrical wiring in the flats is of great concern and we worry a fire may start because of this. We are sure they are all wired together. If two flats have a heater on at the same time the power cuts out to all the flats. Surely this is also a safety risk.
It seems there is only one flat existing on the postcode/address registry. This is why each flat has had much trouble getting internet services installed - the top two flats (we refer to as 'Flat B' and 'Flat C', but are also referred to as 'Middle Flat and 'Top Floor Flat') do not exist. We have concerns about the planning permission and conversion of this building.
The recent break ins have highlighted a number of concerns that relate to health and safety, some of which are not tolerable. You cannot force anyone to stay living under these conditions.
We were very unhappy with the overall service from Ham Estates. The lack of professionalism and slow response. We will be looking at taking legal action if we are not happy with the outcome we receive.
Our flat (and the other two in the building) were broken into on Monday 2 July 2012.
After the break in we had to listen to comments from one of the staff at Ham Estates saying 'it must be an inside job' which is terrible to hear when you have been through a traumatic experience. And not only that she (Nanette) let herself into our flats without saying who or where she was from. Also not very nice after just having our homes invaded.
It took almost 72 hours to replace the locks on the inside doors, which meant people had to leave and sleep elsewhere in the meantime. This was at considerable expense and inconvenience. Someone from each flat also had to take 2 days off work which cost us 2 days in wages. It was bad enough that it took nearly 72 hours to fix the inside doors but as of today the main outside door to all 3 flats still has not been fixed. Not only does this make us an easy target to be broken in to again but it is also very unsettling trying to sleep at night knowing the property isn't securely locked. Due to this people are waking in the night and having panic attacks.
There was a cheap fix job on both exterior and interior doors. Doors are not painted and in the top flats case the damaged door that was crow-barred off in the burglary was simply reattached and smeared with some cheap wood filler. Which is a reminder every time they come home. Their kitchen door was also removed without them being notified.
The exterior door has never opened or closed properly. It's either too tight, too loose, off the hinge or the lock is jammed. The locks should be in the opposite position to what they are, as the bottom switch is reachable by putting a thin arm/hand through the letterbox or using a tool. At a minimum the front door locks, including the safety cowling, needs to be addressed immediately. It needs to be done to a standard that you yourselves would expect in your own home. As an added precaution a piece of steel with security screws should cover the door gap because the top latch is so easily overcome. This is due to the fact the door opens outwards. It would in most cases deter a burglar if this were done.
The letterbox should also have a protective cowl to prevent reaching in - this has still not been fitted.
There is a lack of working security lights - this and the letterbox cowl/lock position are the absolute minimum security precautions we would expect, considering the sheltered entry way, lack of view from the street and general lack of light entering from the alleyway.
There is a major concern for fire safety with regard to working extinguishers, smoke alarms and escape routes. These should all be tested and updated.
Also the electrical wiring in the flats is of great concern and we worry a fire may start because of this. We are sure they are all wired together. If two flats have a heater on at the same time the power cuts out to all the flats. Surely this is also a safety risk.
It seems there is only one flat existing on the postcode/address registry. This is why each flat has had much trouble getting internet services installed - the top two flats (we refer to as 'Flat B' and 'Flat C', but are also referred to as 'Middle Flat and 'Top Floor Flat') do not exist. We have concerns about the planning permission and conversion of this building.
The recent break ins have highlighted a number of concerns that relate to health and safety, some of which are not tolerable. You cannot force anyone to stay living under these conditions.
We were very unhappy with the overall service from Ham Estates. The lack of professionalism and slow response. We will be looking at taking legal action if we are not happy with the outcome we receive.
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Address
H A M Estates Ltd
88a Tottenham Lane
London
N8 7EE
020 8348 5286
Performance statistics
| Services | Valuation Accuracy | Fees Satisfaction | Min Price of property reviewed | Max Price of property reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lettings | 100% | 83% | £715 | £2,946 |
Review statistics
| From Landlords | From Tenants | From Vendors | From Buyers | Other | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Areas covered
- N8
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Jan 03,2024
Jan 03,2024
0
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I had a good experience with Ham Estates property letting agency. Mr. Eddie played a crucial role in finding me the perfect rental property. Being from India and new to the UK, his assistance made the transition smooth.
Thanks to Mr Eddie’s professionalism and ...
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Mar 01,2021
Mar 01,2021
0
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my agent Eddie has always been available and kind. I thank this agency because I have never had any problems with them and we have been very good in this nice studio flat...
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Sep 22,2020
Sep 22,2020
0
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I moved into my current property 5 weeks ago and a number of jobs which were promised to us upon arrival are still incomplete. My bedroom which faces the main road still has no curtains which we have been told would come almost every week. I ...
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Oct 26,2018
Oct 26,2018
0
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I had a good experience with H.A.M, dealing primarily with Eddie and also with Bibi.
Eddie was very reasonable - for instance, when we had some damp issues, he agreed to purchase us a dehumidifier, which resolved the issue immediately. He also responded ...
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Comment on agent fees
I can't remember exactly how much we paid - I think it was £80 - but I do remember that it was by far the most reasonable of all the agents we talked to.
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Jun 01,2018
Jun 01,2018
0
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We lived in our property for two happy years. There was the occasional blip with HAM: I once came out of the shower to find a large man walking around my flat which was like something from a horror film! But I spoke to Eddie ...
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Apr 05,2018
Apr 05,2018
0
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Generally have had positive experience with this estate agent. Eddie is very friendly and approachable. When we've had issues with the flat things have been fixed (sometimes we've needed to chase things a bit but at other times it's been very efficient) and they put ...
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Comment on agent fees
Fees are very reasonable for London (£80)
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Feb 13,2018
Feb 13,2018
0
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From start to finish Eddie has been an excellent guy dealing with everything. Any problem with the flat(even though there were barely any) it was dealt in timely manner and I couldn't have asked for a better handling. Very grateful that I was with ...
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Comment on agent fees
Very good, it is definitely the cheapest by far.
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Dec 07,2017
Dec 07,2017
0
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We couldn't have asked for better service from the agency, and in particular from Eddie, who handled us with efficiency and care. Superb communication at every stage, not to mention resourceful and expert problem-solving! Recommended....
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Nov 17,2017
Nov 17,2017
0
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We have been with H.A.M for 5 years. Any problems with the flat have been dealt with swiftly and Eddie has been more than helpful when it came to swapping furniture in and out of the flat.
`they have been professional throughout and have ...
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Comment on agent fees
Fees were reasonable
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Sep 06,2017
Sep 06,2017
0
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Happy as I could be, with them for two years and have no complaints. Was very easy and fast to get maintenance to fix and problems, no hassling from them, and fees are easily the cheapest I've seen. Would recommend!...
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Comment on agent fees
Very good, very cheap
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Jul 21,2017
Jul 21,2017
0
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H.A.M. Estates - was the first agency, that I was renting a flat from in London and I'm absolutely happy with it. We needed to move somewhere from our room urgently, and it was Christmas time. We got the flat as soon, as ...
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Comment on agent fees
Fees are not too large.
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Jun 26,2017
Jun 26,2017
2
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Without doubt the worst estate agents I have ever had to use. Made every step of the process needlessly stressful.
Once moved in received occasional aggressive and threatening messages that were irrelevant to me and my letting of the property. For example one e-mail directed ...
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Comment on agent fees
Extortionate given the level of service.
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Oct 17,2016
Oct 17,2016
1
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Edward is a nice guy and a gentleman, I feel guilty about writing a negative review some years back. My time in London is coming to an end and I can remember Ed helped myself and my partner get out of a sticky situation with ...
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Aug 04,2015
Aug 04,2015
1
people found
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this helpful
we left a deposit of £320 with Ham Estates in Crouch End and were informed that this would secure the room at 15 Berkeley Rd, Crouch End. N8. We were delighted because the room was perfect and included a share of the garden which is quite rare ...
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What agent could do to change your mind?
There's absolutely nothing that this agent can do to make us change our minds!Attached Filesnbsp;
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Oct 16,2014
Oct 16,2014
0
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We've rented for nearly two years from H.A.M and, apart from one unfortunate incident at the start of our tenancy (which they handled well and rectified), we've never had a problem. No one has let themself in unannounced, maintenance issues are fixed promptly, ...
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Comment on agent fees
Reasonable for where we live, they were very accommodating with respect to our deposit when we moved between two of their properties, made everything much easier and less stressful.
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Oct 01,2014
Oct 01,2014
0
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Edward Dill went out of his way to help us before we moved into our flat. Even though he has a family and Sunday is his only day off, he agreed to meet us on a Sunday in Tufnell Park (and waited for us as ...
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Sep 29,2014
Sep 29,2014
0
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I rented a house from HAM Estates for 8 years.
The house was well maintained and everytime we had a problem it was seen to.
We enjoyed living in the house and always had an excellent response from the landlord.
When the washing machine broke, we ...
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Sep 08,2014
Sep 08,2014
2
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HAM Estates is quite honestly the worst estate agents I have encountered. This is not a business, it's verging on a scam. We are extremely concerned about our position with HAM and our home is no longer a home. We are in the process of ...
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What agent could do to change your mind?
Employ professional workers to carry out repairs Communicate professionaly and not shout at me in my home Respond to complaints Share the details of the manager Take responsibility for the repairs to the propertyAttached Filesnbsp;
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Jul 22,2014
Jul 22,2014
1
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Ham Estates -
We were pretty desperate to find somewhere really fast and came across HAM estates, they accommodated us relatively quickly, so that was good. My gripe is the state of the apartment and the professionalism of the landlords (ham).
The apart one was ...
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Nov 11,2013
Nov 11,2013
3
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I was renting a flat with HAM ESTATES for almost a year. This is the most awful agency and I would not recommend it at all. Apart from the fact that I have been paying a tremendous amount of money for a 1 bedroom flat (1200pm ) ...
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May 16,2013
May 16,2013
1
people found
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I would never recommend this real estate to my worst enemy. They have no conscious, in the first case, they had a handyman who let himself in unannounced and on one occasion he was fixing my window which he left ajar and consequently I was ...
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What agent could do to change your mind?
Menacing and threatening whose practices where illegal and due to my need to escape the premises got away with such activities. He told me to invite him into my flat so we could discuss my issues and then proceeded to threaten and shout at me. He is a big man when you are a single female on your own. If you do deal with this man make sure you do your research on property law as he is manipulative.Attached Filesnbsp;
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Mar 16,2013
Mar 16,2013
1
people found
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Dodgy flat, dodgy maintenance, dodgy communication. One time threatening me in my flat. I could come home from work to find people in my flat without any communication from the agent. At one time I was so scared that I just left. I don't trust ...
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What agent could do to change your mind?
They could have arranged to fix the complaint and not menacingly threaten a single female on her own in her flat. The housing they let is substandard and are not fit for squatters.Attached Filesnbsp;
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Nov 01,2012
Nov 01,2012
0
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I was very desperate to find a flat within my budget preferably studio - when I browsed the website I found this property in Wightman Road - The condition might not be excellent but fair enough because I had limited budget. I was shown the ...
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Aug 01,2012
Aug 01,2012
1
people found
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Myself and my partner were left very unhappy with the lack of care and concern from HAM Estates and in particular Mr Edward Dill and a lady named Nanette.
Our flat (and the other two in the building) were broken into on Monday 2 July 2012.
After ...
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Aug 11,2010
Aug 11,2010
0
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I have been renting the same property through HAM Estates in Crouch End for almost 4 years now and have found that the only reason maintenance people attend, at times, unexpectedly is because work is ALWAYS carried out at the earliest opportunity often within 30 minutes of ...
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Jul 17,2007
Jul 17,2007
1
people found
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this helpful
Shoddy, unprofessional and quite willing to infringe upon tenant's rights .
Before moving out we asked for 24 hours notice before prospective tenants were brought around. On many occasions, we allowed them in with very little notice and then one day we get home to find out ...
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Last updated at 2:02 PM 15/02/2018 by eddie Dill
