Red Squirrel Property Shop Ltd

We have rented years and with most of the island estate agents but our latest experience was terrible. We were informed our rental was being sold just before Christmas. Not ideal but it is, unfortunately, the life of the renter. I told red squirrel I was going to buy it, which was initially not taken seriously by them. After a protracted negotiation, a price was agreed. This offer was accepted under the condition that the landlord fix the fences, which were reported before we were notified of the sale. A few months went past, well into the process with solicitors involved. Red squirrel had told me it was in hand during this time. Then they finally told me that they weren't being done and that the vendorlandlord had no obligation to the property other than taking my money rent. When I challenged this, they threatened to pull the plug and evict us!! Backed into a corner we, reluctantly, accepted this stipulation as we didn't want to uproot our children and, it is my opinion, that Red squirrel used this fact to their advantage. We were due to complete in April and it was agreed that we would work out a payment plan the rent on the 1st day of the month as we didn't want to overpay and be chasing refunds. We waited the call to sort this plan but it didn't come. I called around 2pm to discuss and was told this wasn't going to happen. We were to pay the full rent. I suggested that I pay it, as a gesture of goodwill, and Red squirrel hold it. Once we complete, they could then divide it up accordingly and send us back what we were due. They refused and said we would have to chase the landlord, who would not, in my opinion from past experience, give me anything back. Given my hesitantancy to pay in full, Red squirrel kindly suggested an alternative. If I don't pay that day, they would instruct the landlord to pull the plug on the sale and start eviction proceedings. Nice little bit of blackmail to add to the list, again! I was then forced to pay the full month's rent and instruct my solicitor that I would not be willing to complete on the sale until May 1st. Why should we lose money or have to go through small claims because of yet another broken promise by these cowboys?!? Luckily, I didn't need to have anymore interactions with them as we completed on May 1st as requested. This whole process was made much more stressful than it needed to be, all thanks to this wonderful company. The whole time we were in this process, the sales team passed us to lettings as we were tenants. The lettings team passed us to sales as we buying the property. No one wanted to help us and no one would take responsibility or give us a straight answer. We were still their customer!! Happy to take our money both the rental and the purchase, providing next to nothing in . I am so glad we finally own the house and never have to deal with this company again. We found the majority of their staff to be unprofessional, arrogant and condescending throughout this whole sorry interaction and were made to feel beneath them. Whilst I appreciate this is my personal experience and others will have their own, I would highly advise anyone to avoid using them possible. They say buying your own home is in the top 5 most stressful things to do but having bought with Red squirrel, it is definitely number 1 on the list!