We have just completed a tenancy with Richard James and have asked for a manager to call me to discuss issues but have not received a phone call in the last 2 weeks. Problems were not fixed, we didn’t have a garden fence for 2 months. Communication was poor. We ended out tenancy early as we had moved out and they had a new tenant but Richard James still made us pay until the new tenant moved in, even when we handed the keys back 2 weeks prior. This was not discussed, so our refund of extra rent was 1/2 what we expected as we were paying for a property we didn’t even have the keys for. We had a professional cleaner in to do our end of tenancy clean and the staff member who hosted the check out report was extremely rude about the cleaners and charged us for further cleaner. The cleaner list for check out sent after we had paid for an end of tenancy clean externally and handed our keys back. Apparently this is ‘guidelines’ but they still referred it to when deducting money from our deposit. We were good tenants, always paid rent on time, fixed any minor repairs ourselves and accommodated their request to move out earlier as they found a new tenants, but felt money is too important to them and it’s Richard James’ way or the highway.

Bought a house through Richard James, the person who showed the house was nice. But after I was handed to Danny, he applied pressure and pushed us to use ASAP Assured Sale and Progression. Informing us that the sellers were going to use this too so it would make the process easier. This was not the case, not only did the sellers not use ASAP but ASAP were the worst solicitors I’ve ever seen. They wrote inaccurate reports, didn’t respond to messages or read documents sent to them. I can only assume that Danny recommended them so he could get further commissions. When it came to the day of collecting the keys, the agency didn’t even bother to meet me in person. Instead opting to leave the keys with the building receptionist and washing their hands.

Parents were in the process of buying a property with Richard James, with a price agreed and most of the legal paperwork completed the owner suddenly increased the price by £12000. Before giving my parents the chance to increase their offer Richard James relisted the property that same day. This seems like this was done to put pressure on my parents to quickly hand over the extra £12000. Disgusting morally. Terrible communication. Edit after response: Maybe grow a back bone and ask the vendor to give the people they have strung along for 2 months at least a day to take action.

Not transparent with information. A simple query like - the vendor has done modifications, have they got any approvals or planning permission in place is not answered. The buyer just gets told that "Your Solicitors will need to find it out". So basically they are expecting the buyer to pay money to solicitors and find this out almost two months in the sale. Ridiculous!!

Rented a flat in Swindon for 2.5 years, upon leaving the property Richard James tried to take over half our deposit because 'it wasn't clean enough'. We paid for a professional end of tenancy clean before departing and funnily enough, the cleaner warned me that Richard James try to rinse tenants of their deposit by claiming that it is not clean enough! We took our deposit to the TDS, and got back 60% of our deposit that way! Be careful with this estate agent when renting and be aware that they will probably try and take all your deposit off you when you leave...

AVOID AT ALL COSTS I rented from Richard James at the end of last year, I moved into the property with zero information about the place nor any manuals. I was on a pay as you go meter, which I wasn't informed of, and was left to update it to a smart meter myself. The doors in the property wouldn't close, I believe it took nearly 2 months to fix that issue. I handed in my notice in April to move out in July, I didn't hear back from Callum for around 10 weeks. I have now moved out and worked through the deposit refund process. I paid a deposit of £950 for a 1 bed flat, to which I have received deductions of £305, even though all parties have admitted the flat is in great condition. I was told the landlord had reviewed the move out documents and proposed a deduction of £175, I reluctantly accepted. The deposit portal then moved into the refund stage as all deductions were agreed, the landlord then decided to re-look at the check out report and asked for another £130 to be deducted. Depository, who operate the checkout portal have admitted it's incredibly rare for this to happen, and they're in turn surprised. I accepted the initial deduction (£175) on the assumptions all liabilities had been raised. God knows if more liabilities will come. In good faith I offered to do the decorating to save the £130, however they came back to me too late for this to be feasible. I have been handled by Sue, who advised throughout multiple quotes for works done would be sent to me, they never had, she advised certain costings for things like bin removals were sectioned out in the quotes, since speaking to the cleaner, they don't section out their quotes, so Sue has lied to me. I have now tried to negotiate the costings and Sue is advising there is no negotiations to be had. Bullying, redecorating on my deposit, horrendous company.

Absolutely disgusting experience... Appointment was confirmed 3 hours before viewing the property. Once I got there after waking up a 3 months old baby, the property was locked and no agent in sight... After a 20 minutes wait I called just to be told that the agent did not have the keys and they are calling everyone to reschedule the viewing... Mind you, I was never called and the whole area smelled like weed and was nothing like it was portrayed in the photos... Absolutely unprofessional behaviour and will definitely not ever use again... Disgraceful...

After pulling out of the sale of 17 Widham Purton Wiltshire due to the fact that the seller (18 Widham. Purton Wiltshire) didn't disclose that he has a soakaway far to close to property 17. After refusing to move it or my offer to move it we had no option but to pull out as the end result could undermine the foundations and cause damp. Speaking to the Council Surveyor the soakaway needs to be moved to min 5 mtrs away from the property. It might also affect the properties close by. We and our buyer are now left with legal fees as we had already got to contracts. BUYER BEWARE. IT IS SAD THAT THE NEXT INTERESTED PARTY WILL NOT BE INFORMED OF THE SOAKAWAY ISSUE BY THE ESTATE AGENT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU. THEY WILL NOT TELL YOU. THEY HAVE NO DUTY OF CARE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

Typical lettings department that can't be bothered to call you back.