JAMES & GEORGE COLLIE

I have been a tenant at this property since 2002. James and George Collie represent the owner who has remained anonymous for the duration of my tenancy. The agency have only ever done work when it has been regarded as an “emergency” – and even then it has taken a great deal of persuading on my part. For example, I once had to practically beg them to fix a broken window pane and the solution they (finally) came up with was a cheap piece of chipboard. Along with my elderly neighbour I have notified the agency MANY times over the past decade about work urgently needing done – tiles falling from the roof, faulty plumbing – including a burst drainpipe that hasn't been repaired in at least five years. All of these complaints were ignored. At the start of this year, my neighbour and I each received a letter from Aberdeen City Council saying that the building was now officially “dangerous” and could we notify our leasing agency as the owner they represent had ignored all communications. None of the “urgently-required” repairs listed in the letter were ever dealt with. Around May of this year, I was told by the agency that the owner needed the building vacated – the reasons weren't given but it was “presumed” that some kind of refurbishment would be taking place. I was granted an extension until the 19th December 2014 and I am still seeking new accommodation. In the meantime, there has been some very bad flooding coming from the (vacated) flat above me. After reporting this, it took the agency four days until they made repairs – during which time they ignored my emails, didn't return my phonecalls and made no effort to solve the problem – even when I told them that there was water dripping over the light fittings. It wasn't until I posted a photo of the damage onto James and George Collie's Facebook page that they got the problem sorted – and this was done by their own tradesman in an incredibly short space of time….which makes me wonder why it couldn't have been dealt with immediately and why I had to endure having only 6 hours of sleep over the course of four traumatic days. Over a week ago, the building's intercom system stopped working. I reported this immediately and it still hasn't been fixed (almost a week and a half later). I have emailed the girl (Alysha) who was supposed to have been dealing with it, twice, but both emails have been ignored. I phoned their office today and was told that she'd phone me back. It's now 5.15pm and I've had no call. I have been informed that the owner does not want to be spending any money on a building that is about to be vacated. However, as they are still happy to take rent off me, I do feel that I'm entitled to basic amenities like a working intercom system or, y'know, no flooding in my flat! I cannot think of a single good thing to say about James and George Collie. I wouldn't recommend them to my worst enemy. Nearly all of the staff I've had to deal with over the years have been extremely rude and obnoxious – and clearly have no interest whatsoever in the wellbeing of their tenants.