“Awful experience, terrible customer service, house not looked after...”
1 Star Review
Apr 24,2019
By:
'LandlordAbroad'
Apr 24,2019
Branch: Beccles, 28a-30 New Market
Services: Lettings (as a Landlord)
Would you recommend?: No
Postcode: NR34
Branch: Beccles, 28a-30 New Market
Lettings (as a Landlord)
Postcode: NR34
1
people found
this helpful
I selected Howards as a live abroad landlord and it was one of the worst customer service experiences I have had, which spanned over 12 months. In the first month my emails requesting an update on the progress of letting my property were ignored, which caused concern. I was later informed that two items of furniture I had requested be left in the property, had been removed without asking my permission first. Due to the circumstances of the tenants I agreed but was later threatened to be charged for holding these items and was made to arrange for the selling of them which I did, but when a buyer was found I was ignored.
I viewed my property in the last month of the tenancy on a visit back to the UK and was appalled. I never gave permission for there to be pets at my property yet I found a dog lead on the wall, the smell of dog faeces in living room, paw prints on walls and doors. Outside there was even a chicken coop over the patio, which was covered in chicken faeces. Handrails had been added to the walls without my permission and the garden was overgrown and not maintained.
Howards claim to have visited the property on two occasions, yet neither the pets, the permanent fittings made to the walls nor the general poor condition of my property were reported to me.
A forwarded email revealed that the tenants had been poorly communicated to with regards to access at the property and as such were disgruntled, which in part led to them withholding one month's rent. Howards were not successful in convincing them to pay, and this is now an ongoing situation.
To add insult to injury, final cleaning was apparently done on the property. Being abroad, I had an independent person view the property and sent photos, reporting that the carpets still stank of dog, there were still muddy paw prints on the back door and walls, holes had been filled in but not painted over and rubble and filler were left littering the carpet.
Howards broke their tenancy agreement on numerous incidents and despite a full complaint having been made, refuse to be held accountable and made no real attempt to remedy this awful customer service experience.
Absolutely appalling service and incredibly unprofessional.
Comment on agent fees
Fees were reasonable compared to other providers, but I would way rather have paid more to get a decent service.
1
people found
this helpful
Was this helpful?
Yes