High charges, poor service

Students using this agency need to take good advice. Firstly there's their 'holding deposit' which they claim is non refundable should they be unsuitable for whatever reason - such as Landlord doesn't like the sound of you! Their referencing fees are in the £100's when it the actual credit reference costs them less than £20. Guarantors are sent a document in which they are requested to agree that any damage in the property is payable by them regardless whether it is caused by the person they will be standing guarantor for, so if you think of it, should there be 4 tenants and an item they deem worth £100 is damaged they could potentially attempt to charge four individual guarantors earning them £400. Very alarming is the inventory supplied when collecting the keys. It is advisable to take an independent witness as Cardens do not accompany clients to the property. We discovered over 30 faults/discrepancies some as serious as damp patches; missing handles on wardrobes; burn marks on a carpet - none of which had been noted on this inventory meaning that if the students had not had someone independent with them ,in this instance a former estate agent, they could find themselves in a tug-of-war with Cardens at the end of the tenancy when it comes to the return of their security deposit. When you have a multiple household, with 4 students paying £500 deposits that could be a very nasty shock for them and a nice little earner for Cardens and their Landlords. Once the legal and binding tenancy agreement has been signed and you have moved in be aware that out-of-the-blue Cardens may write to you with additional new terms and conditions they allege they/landlords forgot to add into the agreement prior to your signing. Feel pretty certain this could be illegal/unethical practice and exploitative when dealing with young people who have not rented previously. Cardens also not being clear about who is managing / inspecting properties etc means students find Landlords emailing and popping by and this is not the quiet occupation they should be afforded. Disappointed Exeter Univeristy list this company and will be contacting them too in order to consider these practices. Cardens tried already to deny these matters, quite bizarre when it's all in writing.