Gross Negligence and Financial Misconduct - A Warning to Landlords My experience with Martin & Co Oxford as a landlord was a catastrophic failure of their basic duties, resulting in significant financial loss and a complete denial of accountability. I purchased a flat with a tenant in situ (my aim was to live in the flat upon the end of the tenancy). Martin & Co Oxford had supervised major renovations works prior to the tenant's entry upon the request of the former owner and landlady. Upon visiting the flat twice before purchasing it, it was in excellent condition. The sale took 6 months to complete due to the negligent former owner. My mistake: trusting the process and Martin & Co Oxford. Upon becoming the owner/accidental landlady 6 months later, and throughout the tenancy of who turned out to be a tenant from hell, this is what I discovered to my horror: The core issues were: 1. Total Neglect of Property: The agency ignored extensive, documented evidence of severe tenant damage, including vandalism and structural issues. They refused to conduct a proper investigation and expected me to pay for all repairs, accusing me instead of seeking betterment. -> A note on their contradictory claims: Martin & Co Oxford actually supervised the major renovation work in the property at the request of the former owner/seller, and it was a key online advertisement/sale argument. Yet, when seeking compensation from the tenant, the agency refused to take these renovations into account or provide details of the work done, instead contradicting themselves entirely and claiming "everything was old." 2. Unauthorized Use of Funds: Money I explicitly transferred to pay for a mandatory check-out inspection was diverted without my knowledge or consent to pay for an unnecessary service on a 4-month old boiler. This is a serious breach of trust and financial protocol. 3. Failure to Manage the Tenancy: They failed to identify and act upon the presence of an illegal occupant in the property, a fundamental breach of the tenancy agreement they were paid to enforce. 4. Sabotage of the Deposit Claim: At the Deposit Protection Service stage, the agency deliberately misrepresented my claim for major damages as a minor request for 'contributions', effectively sabotaging the process and resulting in derisory compensation. -> Here is the crucial context: Martin & Co did not have the tenant sign the check-in inventory from when the flat was first let (before I purchased it). When challenged on this major oversight, Branch Manager Conor Taylor informed me via email that they had not obtained the signature because it was "not a legal obligation". This failure of best practice meant the tenant was effectively allowed to lie to the DPS adjudicator about the flat's initial condition on top of it. The subsequent complaint to The Property Ombudsman (TPO) proved that the system designed to protect consumers is broken. The Ombudsman dismissed a well-documented case, cleared the agency without key evidence, and created a situation where I was denied a fair hearing and any form of justice. The attached photos provide a glimpse of the property's condition. The evidence is overwhelming. To illustrate the agency's culture of denial and the senior management's endorsement of it, please see an extract from our official correspondence (under JPG format along with the photos of damage) Final verdict: Martin & Co Oxford's actions demonstrate a pattern of gross incompetence and a lack of integrity. Combined with a failed regulatory system, they pose a severe risk to any property owner. I strongly advise all landlords to avoid this agency to protect their investment and their rights. Note to Martin & Co Oxford: Please be advised that any response you provide to this review will be addressed publicly and factually, with supporting evidence, in a direct update to it.