Landlords beware!

In 2021, Chancellors deceptively advertised property as being 'no deposit' and tried to trick me into signing up for a tenancy deposit scheme. They prefilled in the form, and only after I had paid a holding deposit did I discover this was a complicated insurance scheme. They would have charged the landlord £50 a month for something I as tenant had no need for and had never asked for. The ASA agreed the advertising was misleading.

Contractors selected by Chancellors installed a replacement boiler using non-gas safe fitters which broke the law, and I believe Chancellors did not inform the landlord. I told Chancellors the very same day I had concerns. The boiler was condemned after inspection by Gas-safe and the manufacturer. The HSE confirmed to me, in writing, that the contractor had broken the law. I asked Chancellors for months on end if they had told the landlord. They refused to answer and I even tried to get the ombudsman to force them to tell him. In the end, I wrote the landlord a letter. He said he had been completely unaware there had been a problem. He understandably ended up using his own contractors for several repairs rather than continuing to entrust work to Chancellors.

Finally, I checked-out of the property today with my landlord understandably switching letting agent and was only told at 2117 last night by text message the checkout would be at 11am the next day.

Landlords, I would strongly suggest you do not trust your property to these people and find a reputable local agent who will act in your interests.

Tenants - it's hard out there at the moment, but if you must rent from Chancellors it's probably a good idea to make sure you've got the Landlord's details.