By : 'James' Services : Letting( As a Tenant ) Rent PCM : £2300 Would you recommend ? : No Postcode : W4
5 Nov 2023
People found this helpful1
Appalling Property Management in W4 5DD
The John D Wood team in Richmond and Chiswick has provided nearly zero services in the three months since our move-in. We moved into the property with no professional cleaning done and a third of the lightbulbs missing. There were also many obvious errors... Read Full Review
Services : Letting( As a Tenant )Date: 5th Nov 2023
Appalling Property Management in W4 5DD
The John D Wood team in Richmond and Chiswick has provided nearly zero services in the three months since our move-in. We moved into the property with no professional cleaning done and a third of the lightbulbs missing. There were also many obvious errors in the pre-move-in property check, which we have disputed. Repairs were supposed to be completed in the week between move-out and move-in, but the work was done to a low standard and had to be redone, especially the vinyl flooring in the kitchen, which had to be completely redone once we moved in. Additionally, after we moved in, we had to give up our kitchen and hallway as they turned it into a construction site to complete the hallway painting and kitchen reflooring, which should have been done before our move-in.
It has also become evident that the property has a growing list of broken or faulty appliances. Specifically, in the kitchen, both the oven and dishwasher were damaged by Optimal Maintenance. It took several weeks to sort this out, and even after another contractor came to inspect the units, they still brought the wrong-sized dishwasher. Furthermore, it's clear that the boiler hasn't been serviced properly in some time. We now have to repressurize it with the fill valve or heat the expansion valve with a hairdryer every time we need hot water or heating.
The bathrooms have been a continuous issue. We reported all the problems the week we moved in at the end of August, and as of November 2nd, we've only seen partial rectification of the issues. Some problems we've had to solve ourselves, such as buying new shower hoses, while others are straightforward fixes, like installing a new flush mechanism in the toilet. We are still waiting for them to address the water pump, which needs replacing and has significantly delayed the water flow in some taps with waits up to a minute for flow common.
New issues with damp in the flat have arisen, and it goes beyond seasonal changes. We've witnessed full droplets forming in the downstairs bedroom closet. Additionally, two of the radiators are broken, with one being leaky and the other functioning improperly by having runaway function.
The personnel we deal with are unhelpful and show contempt for our requests for resolution. Valere Charles, the property manager, has apparently blocked my number and avoids my calls to the office. She does not provide updates as requested; we have to gather information about the schedule and scope of work from the contractors themselves. She only sent an update email on November 1st, after I called the office and was screened again, almost a month after our last correspondence. She does not seek feedback from the contractors and appears to intentionally reduce their scope of work. For instance, we expected the pump to be serviced in the week of November 2nd, but the contractor was only allocated one person for one hour, and as such less than half of the work we expected to be done was conducted. The painting contractors initially estimated a one-day job for the flooring and painting, but it ended up taking three days over two separate occasions, with wall and floor preparation on the first day in the first week, and two days to complete the kitchen flooring and hallway painting. Optimal told us that they would recommend that the bedrooms, living room, and kitchen all required additional painting and repairs for the stairway carpets, which are coming loose. They mentioned they would return, but we haven't received any updates on that, more than a month later.
On November 4th, the boiler pressure failed again, and this time, we couldn't rectify it. We made an effort to request an emergency service as per the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1985, which classifies it as an emergency, and should be repaired within 24 hours, with compensation or accommodation claimable by the tenants if not. However, the landlord/managers vetoed our request without any communication, leaving us to endure the cold in the flat.
We've also requested rent reductions due to the current state of the flat, but this has been consistently ignored by Laura Purvor, the senior lettings manager, even after she and Valere toured the flat, expressed their apologies, and assured us that all the issues we showed them would be fixed.
In all honesty, the time for an amicable resolution has passed. We will be approaching the relevant ombudsman and the council this coming Monday to escalate this issue out of John D Wood's hands, as they have demonstrated that their primary concern is extracting rent from us.
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Property manager Stephen ...
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4 Star Review
Stephen
By : 'Marcello' Services : Letting( As a Tenant ) Would you recommend ? : Yes Postcode : TW10
8 Jan 2023
People found this helpful0
Since Stephen has been appointed as my property manager, things have turned for the better. He has proved to be responsive and caring, trying to sort things out in the most effective fashion. So far the best property manager at john D... Read Full Review
Services : Letting( As a Tenant )Date: 8th Jan 2023
Since Stephen has been appointed as my property manager, things have turned for the better. He has proved to be responsive and caring, trying to sort things out in the most effective fashion. So far the best property manager at john D wood.
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Incompetent and ...
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1 Star Review
By : 'Lindsay' Services : Letting( As a Tenant ) Would you recommend ? : No Postcode : TW10
22 Apr 2020
People found this helpful3
Incompetent and rude. We gave nearly 3 months notice that we would be vacating our flat rented through JDW prior to the end of our tenancy. We paid in full through the end of the tenancy despite vacating a month early, and asked that (since we had a two week old infant daughter at the time) they... Read Full Review
Services : Letting( As a Tenant )Date: 21st Apr 2020
Incompetent and rude. We gave nearly 3 months notice that we would be vacating our flat rented through JDW prior to the end of our tenancy. We paid in full through the end of the tenancy despite vacating a month early, and asked that (since we had a two week old infant daughter at the time) they wait to start showing the property until the 60 day window prior to end of tenancy. We immediately had agents from multiple offices emailing, calling and even TEXTING at all hours asking to arrange showings despite making it clear that showings were not to start until the required window.
Once showings did start, despite requesting that they block viewings together whenever possible, we would be told to vacate the flat for 30 minutes or so multiple times a day, with no consideration whatsoever for what would be required of us with a newborn baby. There were times when showings were cancelled and we were given absolutely no notice, leaving us to clean up the flat and walk around the neighborhood in the cold with our baby for no reason at all.
Prior to leaving, we contacted the office and asked them about changing the utilities out of our name upon moving out (a month prior to the end of tenancy) and were instructed to contact the utility companies directly to do so. Four months after we moved out, we received an email from JDW stating that we owe money for the electric used in the month after we moved out. When we explained that we had actually checked with the office about the utilities, rather than taking responsibility for their mistake, they then accused us of ASSUMING that we could move the utilities out of our name upon moving out and that, although it was their responsibility to arrange for this agreement in writing, they had not done so and we were responsible for payment. We are landlords ourselves and would never put our properties in the hands of such a disorganized, incompetent and unprofessional group of people.
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Shocking! ...
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1 Star Review
By : 'Lee' Services : Letting( As a Tenant ) Rent PCM : £1800 Would you recommend ? : No Postcode : TW9
24 Oct 2019
People found this helpful4
From the moment we were given notice John D Wood failed to give anything like a decent service - emails and calls were rarely responded to. Duplicate requests for information came from a range of staff, often no response to contact - you literally have to bombard them with emails / calls to get... Read Full Review
Services : Letting( As a Tenant )Date: 23rd Oct 2019
From the moment we were given notice John D Wood failed to give anything like a decent service - emails and calls were rarely responded to. Duplicate requests for information came from a range of staff, often no response to contact - you literally have to bombard them with emails / calls to get any communication and return of deposit after months of leaving the property and a significant period (nearly a month, not the 10 days legally required I believe?) since the landlord confirmed an agreed amount. One staff member I think had good intentions and was helpful on speaking to her but the process will wear you down. I think the corporate / company ethic and values must be rotten as they simply do not provide any tiny hint of service that you might expect from a professional outfit. On checking other review sites and this one, I realise we are not alone in our experience. I'm not sure if they read these reviews, but clearly systemic change needs to happen soon or word of mouth will surely stop any further business going their way??
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I had experience of both ...
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1 Star Review
By : 'Chiswick12345' Services : Letting( As a Tenant ) Would you recommend ? : No Postcode : W4
20 May 2019
People found this helpful2
I had experience of both tenancy side of lettings and buying side of sales. As arrogant as they are incompetent, they feel that access to your money is their right.
Lettings are the most incompetent business unit I have ever had the displeasure of working with. Apart unnecessary hassle they put... Read Full Review
Services : Letting( As a Tenant )Date: 19th May 2019
I had experience of both tenancy side of lettings and buying side of sales. As arrogant as they are incompetent, they feel that access to your money is their right.
Lettings are the most incompetent business unit I have ever had the displeasure of working with. Apart unnecessary hassle they put us and the landlord through, in our estimations their property management company must have cost our landlord around £3k in unnecessary, repeated works due to the awful contractors they have in house and terrible management of those contractors.
It's gratifying to see in these reviews and elsewhere on other sites that our property management point of contact has been named as just as incompetent as we found them. You know who you are.
It's awful how a company with such incompetent and arrogant staff can still be in business.
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Appalling ...
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1 Star Review
Sousan
By : 'Sousan' Services : Letting( As a Tenant ) Would you recommend ? : No Postcode : TW9
17 Jan 2019
People found this helpful3
An appalling experience throughout. My flat had a water leak from the start which was incompetently delay with until it caused the ceiling below to collapse onto a mother feeding her child. The issue was then incompetently dealt with for three months leaving me without a shower in the hottes summer ... Read Full Review
Comments on Agent Fees
Exorbitant even before I had to end the tenancy halfway through and be incorrectly charged for fixing the flat. It is very clear that it is in this agent’s interest to encourage tenants to terminate their tenancy mid way as it means more fees from both tenant and landlord.
Services : Letting( As a Tenant )Date: 17th Jan 2019
An appalling experience throughout. My flat had a water leak from the start which was incompetently delay with until it caused the ceiling below to collapse onto a mother feeding her child. The issue was then incompetently dealt with for three months leaving me without a shower in the hottes summer ever. There was no management of the landlord who was in breach of tenancy and absolutely no support for a tenant whose home was more or less uninhabitable. Once the issue was fixed the agent actually ended up charging me for part of the fix and deducted the cost from my deposit.
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Rental ...
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1 Star Review
Sandra
By : 'Anonymous' Services : Letting( As a Tenant ) Would you recommend ? : No Postcode : TW1
12 Dec 2018
People found this helpful5
We have been using John D Wood as a letting agency for the last 5 years. We were a good tenant who never missed a payment within these 5 years.
Upon giving notice, they failed to book us in for a check out and consequently was done later than we requested.
10 weeks after leaving the property,... Read Full Review
Services : Letting( As a Tenant )Date: 12th Dec 2018
We have been using John D Wood as a letting agency for the last 5 years. We were a good tenant who never missed a payment within these 5 years. Upon giving notice, they failed to book us in for a check out and consequently was done later than we requested. 10 weeks after leaving the property, they have still not paid us back our deposit. There are constant excuses and delaying tactics being used, and each time we follow up with our 'Account Manager' she continues to tell us its all in process and we are made to feel as though we are being a nuisance. This is completely unacceptable and I would urge anyone to stay clear of this lot. In previous experiences, we have normally had our deposit returned within two to three weeks of leaving the property.....10 weeks later and we have nothing.
Sandra Bradley at the Richmond Office, your service and general attitude towards us has been nothing short of dismal and embarrassing.
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Excellent ...
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5 Star Review
By : 'James&Mariana' Services : Sales( As a Buyer ) Sold price : £375000 Would you recommend ? : Yes Postcode : TW9
26 Nov 2018
People found this helpful0
We recently purchased a property through John D. Wood & Co. It was a very challenging purchase, everything that could have gone wrong pretty much did!. Jack and Edward were excellent and really helped us secure an amazing property, they went above and beyond and were there for all eventualities ... Read Full Review
We recently purchased a property through John D. Wood & Co. It was a very challenging purchase, everything that could have gone wrong pretty much did!. Jack and Edward were excellent and really helped us secure an amazing property, they went above and beyond and were there for all eventualities and situations. Their experience and manner were excellent.
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Not ...
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4 Star Review
By : 'anon' Services : Letting( As a Tenant ) Would you recommend ? : Yes Postcode : TW10
18 Oct 2018
People found this helpful1
Found a flat in Richmond with John D Wood, but after moving in I found it unlivable due to noise.
Expecting the worst, I contacted the agent and was pleasantly surprised â they allowed me to cancel the contract early and move out.
They didn't have to do this, so it was nice to see a London ... Read Full Review
I would just like to say how fantastic Jack and Ed at John D Wood in Richmond have been. We purchased a property where it seemed everything that could go wrong did, the solicitor on the other side...
Management service is a ...
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1 Star Review
By : 'Twickenham' Services : Letting( As a Owner ) Would you recommend ? : No Postcode : TW1
1 Mar 2013
People found this helpful3
Management service is a complete joke. Money for nothing. They do not reply to e-mails for days/weeks.
Received 2 quotes for work to be carried out for over 1000 pounds. Rang around even though I am based overseas (which is the whole point of having someone else manage the service) and found... Read Full Review
What agent could do to change your mind?
All I would ever ask is that they did their job properly. This did not happen!
Services : Letting( As a Owner )Date: 1st Mar 2013
Management service is a complete joke. Money for nothing. They do not reply to e-mails for days/weeks.
Received 2 quotes for work to be carried out for over 1000 pounds. Rang around even though I am based overseas (which is the whole point of having someone else manage the service) and found I could get it done for 500.
They don't have an 'out of office' on ever so you have to keep chasing. When you finally get hold of someone they then go AWOL and of course with no out of office so you are left in the dark.....
Very high fees for nothing back. 10% is merely for rent and there is another 6% for having to put up with the hassle of incompetent service! SHAMBLES
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