We used Martin & Co to sort out our uni accommodation. Things ran fairly smoothly and when we were unclear they managed to help.

I left the property 17th of April still I can’t reach the person who is responsible for my deposit. Very poor service.

Is the western service-based economy failing us? From my experience with Martins and Co, I would say that it very much does. On day 1, I arrive in the office loaded with suitcases that I cannot carry alone. They tell me that I have to wait outside for them to prepare my check-in package. No problem about that, the weather is nice and the birds are singing. A few minutes later they let me in to give the keys and documents and rudely tell me to leave. The flat being located nearby I ask what is the best way of getting there. They are unable to answer my first question (really?). This is the start of a long and painful series of events that will forever change my perspective on letting agencies. I, then ask whether I can leave one bag in their office while I drop my first load. They tell me that I cannot because they don't want to take responsibility. Is your office so criminal that you don't trust your own staff with customer's goods for a few minutes? Anyway, I move into the flat which has very obviously been cleaned by no one else than the previous tenants. And from what I've seen, they were not the cleanest people in town (wink). Worst, there is no hot water. I go back to the office and they tell me that an engineer will come soon to fix it. One week later I surprise myself realising that going to the gym to take a shower is now part of my daily routine. They eventually fix it, or at least we thought so. From this point, we realise that the electricity bills are rising like Kurt Cobain's cocaine consumption accross his twenties. The reason is that they simply locked the boiler's booster on and disconnected the light that indicates so. Clever. 4 winter months and 800 pounds in bills later we decide to complain and the landlord kindly reimburses us 250 pounds (read further as this is too good to be true). The rest of the tenancy happens without too many problems and we were naively thinking that those cold days were behind us. When the checkout happens we make sure that leave the flat nice and tidy. Apparently, our job was not up to the standards of the most glorious real estate agency on earth, I'm sure you guessed it, Martins and Co which claims 250 out of our deposit. We obviously contest this via the Deposit Protection Scheme and from this point onwards the landlord stops responding similarly to a child that did not receive the Christmas present he so dearly wanted. Since both parties have to accept litigation, we are forced to see and pay a solicitor to get the process started. Today, 7 months after leaving the property, we finally received our deposit back. I might have a pint to celebrate, but not an expensive one. For the simple reason that I've lost more than I have won in this story. In money, time and most importantly trust in what seems to be a religion for students and renters in general, letting agencies. I use the term religion because it is mostly based on beliefs and miracles rarely happen if they happen at all. Oh also! They never fully fixed the boiler issue and we strongly suspect that the next tenants are now dealing with the same problem. BTW, the environment is also thanking you (wink wink). Long story short, if you're getting involved with Martins and co, buckle up, you're in for a bumpy ride. Or even worse, if you're moving into 100 Empress Court, the only thing you can now do is pray because you're going to hell

Is the western service-based economy failing us? From my experience with Martins and Co, I would say that it very much does. On day 1, I arrive in the office loaded with suitcases that I cannot carry alone. They tell me that I have to wait outside for them to prepare my check-in package. No problem about that, the weather is nice and the birds are singing. A few minutes later they let me in to give the keys and documents and rudely tell me to leave. The flat being located nearby I ask what is the best way of getting there. They are unable to answer my first question (really?). This is the start of a long and painful series of events that will forever change my perspective on letting agencies. I, then ask whether I can leave one bag in their office while I drop my first load. They tell me that I cannot because they don't want to take responsibility. Is your office so criminal that you don't trust your own staff with customer's goods for a few minutes? Anyway, I move into the flat which has very obviously been cleaned by no one else than the previous tenants. And from what I've seen, they were not the cleanest people in town (wink). Worst, there is no hot water. I go back to the office and they tell me that an engineer will come soon to fix it. One week later I surprise myself realising that going to the gym to take a shower is now part of my daily routine. They eventually fix it, or at least we thought so. From this point, we realise that the electricity bills are rising like Kurt Cobain's cocaine consumption accross his twenties. The reason is that they simply locked the boiler's booster on and disconnected the light that indicates so. Clever. 4 winter months and 800 pounds in bills later we decide to complain and the landlord kindly reimburses us 250 pounds (read further as this is too good to be true). The rest of the tenancy happens without too many problems and we were naively thinking that those cold days were behind us. When the checkout happens we make sure that leave the flat nice and tidy. Apparently, our job was not up to the standards of the most glorious real estate agency on earth, I'm sure you guessed it, Martins and Co which claims 250 out of our deposit. We obviously contest this via the Deposit Protection Scheme and from this point onwards the landlord stops responding similarly to a child that did not receive the Christmas present he so dearly wanted. Since both parties have to accept litigation, we are forced to see and pay a solicitor to get the process started. Today, 7 months after leaving the property, we finally received our deposit back. I might have a pint to celebrate, but not an expensive one. For the simple reason that I've lost more than I have won in this story. In money, time and most importantly trust in what seems to be a religion for students and renters in general, letting agencies. I use the term religion because it is mostly based on beliefs and miracles rarely happen if they happen at all. Oh also! They never fully fixed the boiler issue and we strongly suspect that the next tenants are now dealing with the same problem. BTW, the environment is also thanking you (wink wink). Long story short, if you're getting involved with Martins and co, buckle up, you're in for a bumpy ride. Or even worse, if you're moving into 100 Empress Court, the only thing you can now do is pray because you're going to hell

Tenants have been a nuisance in our area, rubbish dumped on the street at departure, suggests very poor vetting of tenants.

Absolutely the worst estate agents I have ever come across. Terrible service coupled with total incompetance and ignorance. Steer away from them at all costs.

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.

Martin & Co. Oxford are, without a doubt, the worst lettings agency I have ever had the misfortune of dealing with. If I could award them no stars, I would. In short: I was left homeless in Oxford last December due to the negligence, pure stupidity and utter lack of care from Martin & Co. Oxford and its staff, primarily Emma Glover. I was then awarded compensation and costs by Oxford County Court. They can't run a bath, let alone a lettings agency. The longer version is herein: I was due to move into an existing tenancy in December 2024 but was unable to do so due to incorrect instructions given by Emma Glover, rendering the signed contract as invalid and not legally sound. With no other option and at sudden notice, I was forced to live in a hotel and have my belongings stored in a temporary facility, with no assistance or care from Martin & Co. I was then informed that the landlord had decided against proceeding with the contract, despite having a signed contract (albeit one that was incorrectly completed due to Emma Glover's incompetence), with no reason given to me whatsoever. I was then informed by the existing tenants that this was because I complained about a rat issue at the house. I then met with Emma Collis and Abi Rosser in person to discuss this, as I was now effectively homeless, and they had nothing else to say except that they had no obligation to help me, nor help me secure alternative accommodation. I explained that I was now homeless and had nowhere else to go. No apology was given and I left their office due to an anxiety attack. Had I not had the financial means to book a hotel at such short notice - and right before the Christmas period - I would have had nowhere else to live. My mental health, understandably, was at its lowest. I can only assume that the landlord was then made aware of the legal ramifications of reneging on a signed contract, because I was then informed that her decision had been reversed again. However, I was not allowed to enter the property under any circumstances until the paperwork was re-done, which could have taken up to 2 months. I was, thankfully, lucky enough to secure my own temporary accommodation via a sublet, with no help from anyone at Martin & Co. Upon informing David Rebe, the Director of this branch, that I would be pursuing legal action against them for the costs I had incurred, he informed me that such action would be unsuccessful and deemed frivolous by the court. Again, no apology was given at any point. In Spring 2025 I was given notice that my legal claim would proceed with an in-person court date. No representative from Martin & Co. appeared in court, much to the dissatisfaction from the judge. Not only did they show an utter lack of respect for me and what they had done, but also the court system. I was then awarded my costs and requested compensation in full. I have never received a single apology from any member of staff at Martin & Co. Their incompetence, coupled with their complete lack of respect and care, is astounding. I can see that Emma Glover, the main perpetrator of this incompetence, is still employed by this lettings agency. My best advice is to avoid them with a barge pole; save yourself the money and the trouble and rent with Lucy Properties instead.