Martin & Co are a fairly typical letting agent in that the service is pretty poor overall. The staff in the Manchester branch are fairly dismissive both by email and in person and I never once felt like I was being treated as anything other than a way for them to make money. The fees they charge (including the £48 checkout fee and £36 fee to get a reference when you move on) are absolutely disgusting and having lived in a property they manage for two years I can say with absolute certainty that if I was a landlord I wouldn't use them. Even though it was beneficial for me as I didn't have to deal with them they didn't do a single on-site inspection in two years so if you are a landlord with them my advice to you is request a report when these are supposed to happen as they likely don't! When I moved out of the property they managed it was cleaned very thoroughly (to the point where it was cleaner than when I moved in) and they still charged me a £70 cleaning fee.

I don't particularly like to point out bad service, but the service from Martin&Co when it came to issues was by far one of the worst experiences I've had , and even after pointing out poor service to them it didn't do much to change. I moved in to a flat my friend had tennanted for 4 years already. The set up process wasn't great, with private emails meant for other people (who were also complaining about phone calls not getting answered) and when I arranged on a Friday for the WhatsApp call that I'd be available any time the next week but tell me prior as I work in an office and won't have my passport on me unless I know I need it that day, a last minute (can we have the call) was put in the Tuesday afterwards. The day before signing they try inform the new contract was £300 more a month.This was rebuked back due to soon to start building work blocking light from the building. Things were initially fine and a first issue of a broken oven was fixed pretty quickly. No form of online tracking system for the issue did suprise me for an estate agents. The next issue that was big was a broken toilet where the button was broken. This took a week where I was left speaking with the contractors, they came went away, and weeks of trying to get updates about it where it was up to. This happened 18th October, in amongst this they replaced a part left it actually running water into the cistern to be propped to stop it running. Still had no updates. On 30th had a leak, no representative came out from martin & co to assess damage, no timescales for work given dispite asking clear questions about it got stock one liners about contractors to contact me, I was away on bereavement after a family illness, I had the leak all over the bedroom carpet and it stunk, in the week away in trying to find out information of "we can bring the tenancy to an end" no updates in the full week about cleaning the floor , it was asked if my flatmate could be in the Saturday for access which was agreed but as standard zero follow up off that email, I'd to hire a carpet cleaner myself the week afterwards. Also to note in this we had to inform the agency "the kitchen floor is damaged from the leak" which was met with a "the contractors didn't mention anything" and after getting them out again the floor was to be replaced. Might have helped if the company was actually managing the property for the landlord. The next issue of no hot water in January, well no need for an agency to respond to the email, they didn't acknowledge it and it was "the contractors will let you know so you can arrange access" . They came, tried a few things to no avail. Without following up on a non reply from Julie from the initial email the week after I then chased up again, and again. I was then met with the usual"did they not contact you is it not sorted". Zero apologies, zero customer service. After a second visit of the contractor I paid my own money for a second opinion who pointed out it was the mixer tap probably . This second opinion plumber no longer would work for Martin and co due to him not getting paid before and only up front. Julie sent out another contractor, who agreed to my found issue, didn't address the timer being broken , this still took 2 weeks from ordering, and I "I couldn't get intouch with the contractors" it was funny when I texted I got a response within 30 min and they came the next day to fit after waiting an additional 2 weeks and over a month without hot water. On check out as every other review has said , overcharged for cleaning services and although it was said I would agree with receipt of bill 5 times no receipt ever came and took a lot of chasing to get whatever deposit we were allowed back dispite no visits taking place before or during my time renting. No phones are answered, there is rarely anyone in the dingy office I tried to go in good time during the issues on a Wednesday and there was nobody there. Run like a plague if you've looked at this review and thinking of renting a Martin &co property

0 stars

Would leave a 0 star review if I could. This is the worst company in EXISTENCE. save yourself the endless sleeplness nights, anxiety, countless email trails and stress and steer clear of these cowboys. They are quick enough to take your deposit then you will never hear from them again. On the day of move I rang the office phone 36 times only to be ignored. My flat has numerous problems and no one will reply back to emails or even answer the phone. When you do get through the staff are rude and unprofessional. Jess Miles the "manager" called me at gone 5pm advising I need to sign the tennency agreement as it needs to be complete by close of play, when I asked for her to stay on the phone for confirmation of the email she advised me she'd finished 15 mins ago and "just sign the form and submit it" I have had an issue with a silverfish infestation and have yet again been ignored with all the emails sent. Funnily enough the only email that was replied to was one about a major leak in the flat (obviously due to the fact this is a major health and safety issue)

Worst agency I’ve ever dealt with. Took over 6 weeks to return my deposit. I had to argue every step of the way and file a case with the tendency deposit scheme. I overpaid rent once and they took a month to return the over payment, took me threatening a small claims lawsuit. When it was returned, it was missing a portion. Had to again threaten small claims court before I received the remainder. They will lie and bully you. I cannot explain how terrible they made me feel the last 6 months I lived there. I don’t know how they live with themselves. Avoid at all costs.

they're discriminatory and incompetent. I thought you needed some sort of a license to work in property? 1st. - when I said i wanted the property during my viewing the agent said 'he needs to check with the landlord as he might not want to rent to a pregnant person due to potential damages' - this is discrimination and it is disgusting, it's also blatant ignorance as exactly what damage can a new born baby do? 2nd - maintenance takes weeks. we needed the washing machine replaced (after not having a working one for over a month) and a pipe broke while installing the machine which led to a leak under the floor boards that lifted the floor boards and completely damaged the floor in the kitchen, part of the living room, and the hallway. they left the leak for weeks even with me sending pictures and videos regularly showing the damage to the floors (never mind the waste of water that I'd have to pay for also!). This was during winter as well so likely has caused mould in the underlay. The thermostat was never functional and after a few attempts to fix it they've just given up, so there is no thermostat in the property. A few years ago I was without heating for weeks over winter when my kid was a newborn. I don't know the landlord personally but I know this isn't him because he has authorised changes that were due to preference and not 'need' - like a new sofa for example, so I know he's sound. The incompetence is completely from the letting agency who clearly do not care. I've never had an inspection here, and apparently my smoke detectors were 3 years expired. My boiler was also a year past inspection (and the switch caught on fire in the middle of the night which is how I found out any of this!). Now they want to raise the rent (even though the floors are wrecked and the thermostat doesn't work?) - and they're trying to intimidate me saying if I don't agree and sign a new lease they will evict. I've been here for 6 years, by law I do not need to sign a new lease. I've also said I would agree to a rent increase if they fix the floor and the thermostat which I think is very fair. But instead of fixing the damage they allowed to get worst, they try to bully tenants since a lot of tenants don't know rental laws or don't feel empowered to defend themselves. It's disgusting an agency would do this to a home with a young child. I've used 3 letting agents in Manchester and the other 2 never had a problem with them. Just this one. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!! As a tenant and as a landlord. They do not care about your property. update: I moved out a month ago, there are already new tenants in the property, yet there is no clarity relating to when my deposit will be refunded or how much of it will be returned - i have now started a TDS dispute. Seriously vile behaviour.

Worst and most incompetent estate agents I've ever encountered. 1 star is generous.

Do yourself a favour and DO NOT use this agency. They have literally stolen a chunk of our holding deposit and offered absolutely no explanation why - which in my books counts as stealing. Whenever I had any questions about the referencing Sameera just told me to reach out to RightMove and ask them - it's literally your job to know this why are you making me do it for you? We then sent a £288 holding deposit and asked for a 6 month tenancy (which was an option given to us), then the landlord said he only wanted 12 months so Sameera offered to return our holding deposit. We then received £218 back and not £288. I sent MULTIPLE emails asking her for an explanation and she completely ignored me!!! I don't even know how it's possible for a registered and reputable business like this to just take some of our money without even specifying why. I'm not someone that ever leaves reviews really but this is just shocking on so many levels, I had to.

Very poor experience with this agency. Me and my girlfriend tried to contact with them via phone number from the morning to evening but no one pick up the phone. They only communicate with us via Whatsapp with very unprofessional messages. We want to see the property before pay more than £5000 but Rashid (agent) refused. Even though we already proved that our total income meets the requirement, she still wants to take full amount of rent WITHOUT LETTING US TO SEE THE PROPERTY??? Luckily that I saw these reviews on Google before actually working with this agency. Now I understand why so many low rates from people.