The worst estate agent I have dealt with in 20 years. First, I was pushed out of the flat after three years of renting because they refused to add a six-month break clause while renewing the contract, as we had done in previous occasions, and instead they asked for a 12-month break clause. Obviously, they then put the property in the market for £175 more a month, an increase that they could have not put forward with me as a tenant. Second, they kept £350 from my deposit for cleaning a one-bedroom flat that was already cleaned. They were intransigent, rude, aggressive, and acted like thugs. The goverment should really keep an eye on how estate agents such a Martin & Co in its Bournemouth branch operate.
Reply from Martin & Co Bournemouth: Dear Lorena, why are we the worst estate agents when you have refused to adhere to the agreed renewal terms of your tenancy? You agreed terms and then refused to sign the tenancy agreement? Is the Landlord not important to you ? The Landlord is a human being just like you who has worked hard to purchase the property and pays a mortgage. We were nothing but exceptionally good in handling all your problems for the past 3 years, up until you moved out recently. You and your pet cat have moved in a property cleaned to the highest of standards, why don’t you expect for the landlord to require the property is delivered back in the same condition as it was originally delivered to you? Why did you not clean the property before you moved out? You made all sort of excuses. We even negotiated a reduction in the costs with the cleaning company and you apologised for the state you left the property in. These are all documented in your emails, check-in and check-out reports? Your comments about us being rude and aggressive is unacceptable, we deducted only the full costs of cleaning the property back to the level it was delivered to you in the first place. You state we are intransigent but you only just moved out on the 1st of the month and we have agreed terms 7 days later and you have your deposit balance being returned as we speak. Please rest assure we adhere to all estate agents governing rules. We win awards as a top level company in Bournemouth and our attention to detail is perhaps something you wish for us to overlook. It is a shame that you did not put yourself not even for a second in the Landlord’s shoes. Perhaps a lesson learnt!
Philip Skorochod
