87% lettings valuation accuracy
87% lettings fee satisfaction
Sep 05,2011
Sep 05,2011
5
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I gave two stars because giving one star often doesn't register. If I could give 0 stars or even better go into negative stars then I would.
Don't quite no where to begin with this agent; we were with them for almost three years. Beyond the ridiculous agency fees every time you sign up for another term, their service and attitude is absolutely shocking...this is what I hear from friends who have also experienced Peter Sparks and his bandits.
We'll focus on the times that we needed them...firstly when we discovered none of the blinds in the house worked it took about 3 months to get one replaced and then we felt a little rude to ask the others to be replaced!
Then when the dishwasher broke and was no longer functional it took so many phone calls and letters to arrange a replacement, again at least 6 weeks...then Peter and the bandits moved it themselves looking like they were going to die trying.
Lets move onto the fridge now that kept having a wee on the floor as it had reached the end of it's days. Another 2 months to get replaced - again Peter and the Bandits moved it in and did not properly install it when it arrived leaving it in a dangerous state - good thing I read the manual as any normal person would do. Better than this...the old fridge was left on the drive way for all the other residents in the building to observe for around another 8 weeks at least.
How about the incredible amount of mould in the flat?
Plenty of that to discuss with Peter Sparks who said that we didn't ventilate the property enough...OK so the mould was never there before we moved in? What a joke, Peter was so patronising in his comments about the mould which was having serious health implications on me and my girlfriend that we did go to the doctor for help. What was Peter and the bandits' remedy - a lick of paint, not the obvious re-pointing that needed doing on the outside of the building...they didn't even have to do anything but talk to the managing agents about it - instead we just had an argument about it which caused some tears and a hour discussion in Peters office about he should really treat human beings and to get an apology out of him and admit he was wrong - but damn right I got at least that.
Wait! The best is yet to come...
About four months ago we got a email to say the landlord was thinking of moving back in for a couple of weeks. We could either leave our possessions in and go somewhere else for a few weeks or move out.
OK, so we asked for letter in writing from the landlord which we never got, instead we just got - I suppose you would call it a step down from an eviction notice - a letter that said that landlord was moving back to the UK and needed possession of the property. We moved out and got about half our rent cut after we asked for some help with the cost of moving which as you know is astronomical especially when you're not prepared for it.
We've moved now, but 4 weeks later the property is back on the market with a £125 increase on rent...it just looks like we got moved so they could hide the entire mould and bump the price up. We have no evidence that the landlord ever moved in. Peter throughout always claimed Data Protection on the landlord, I never saw or heard from the landlord unless it was in Peters own words, so I have no idea if I ever heard the truth or whether the landlord ever heard the truth.
Please do not use these guys...my friends experience is over a dodgy electricity meter which is trebling the actual cost of their usage, they warned Spark and Sons and nothing was done, now they have to pay a years bill over 3 times the actual cost.
Respect yourselves and your understanding of humanity and ignore the little green devils that offer you promises of hope and easy living.
We are not with them any more, my asthma is better.
Don't quite no where to begin with this agent; we were with them for almost three years. Beyond the ridiculous agency fees every time you sign up for another term, their service and attitude is absolutely shocking...this is what I hear from friends who have also experienced Peter Sparks and his bandits.
We'll focus on the times that we needed them...firstly when we discovered none of the blinds in the house worked it took about 3 months to get one replaced and then we felt a little rude to ask the others to be replaced!
Then when the dishwasher broke and was no longer functional it took so many phone calls and letters to arrange a replacement, again at least 6 weeks...then Peter and the bandits moved it themselves looking like they were going to die trying.
Lets move onto the fridge now that kept having a wee on the floor as it had reached the end of it's days. Another 2 months to get replaced - again Peter and the Bandits moved it in and did not properly install it when it arrived leaving it in a dangerous state - good thing I read the manual as any normal person would do. Better than this...the old fridge was left on the drive way for all the other residents in the building to observe for around another 8 weeks at least.
How about the incredible amount of mould in the flat?
Plenty of that to discuss with Peter Sparks who said that we didn't ventilate the property enough...OK so the mould was never there before we moved in? What a joke, Peter was so patronising in his comments about the mould which was having serious health implications on me and my girlfriend that we did go to the doctor for help. What was Peter and the bandits' remedy - a lick of paint, not the obvious re-pointing that needed doing on the outside of the building...they didn't even have to do anything but talk to the managing agents about it - instead we just had an argument about it which caused some tears and a hour discussion in Peters office about he should really treat human beings and to get an apology out of him and admit he was wrong - but damn right I got at least that.
Wait! The best is yet to come...
About four months ago we got a email to say the landlord was thinking of moving back in for a couple of weeks. We could either leave our possessions in and go somewhere else for a few weeks or move out.
OK, so we asked for letter in writing from the landlord which we never got, instead we just got - I suppose you would call it a step down from an eviction notice - a letter that said that landlord was moving back to the UK and needed possession of the property. We moved out and got about half our rent cut after we asked for some help with the cost of moving which as you know is astronomical especially when you're not prepared for it.
We've moved now, but 4 weeks later the property is back on the market with a £125 increase on rent...it just looks like we got moved so they could hide the entire mould and bump the price up. We have no evidence that the landlord ever moved in. Peter throughout always claimed Data Protection on the landlord, I never saw or heard from the landlord unless it was in Peters own words, so I have no idea if I ever heard the truth or whether the landlord ever heard the truth.
Please do not use these guys...my friends experience is over a dodgy electricity meter which is trebling the actual cost of their usage, they warned Spark and Sons and nothing was done, now they have to pay a years bill over 3 times the actual cost.
Respect yourselves and your understanding of humanity and ignore the little green devils that offer you promises of hope and easy living.
We are not with them any more, my asthma is better.
What agent could do to change your mind?
Respond like a human.Attached Filesnbsp;
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Opening Hours
Address
Spark & Sons
45 Western Road
Hove
Brighton and Hove
BN3 1JD
01273 220077
Performance statistics
| Services | Valuation Accuracy | Fees Satisfaction | Min Price of property reviewed | Max Price of property reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lettings | 87% | 87% | £470 | £2,200 |
Review statistics
| From Landlords | From Tenants | From Vendors | From Buyers | Other | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 6 | 85 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
Areas covered
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Oct 21,2024
Oct 21,2024
4
people found
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Excellent service highly recommended
Had a very good service from them
They go the extra mile to provide you the
Excellent service...
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Oct 15,2024
Oct 15,2024
6
people found
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I've been a landlord for several years, 10 of which with Spark and Sons. I don't quite understand the opinion of those commenting, however I suppose everyone has their own experience. Sparks look after 20 units for me, and I haven't met a more proactive and hard ...
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Oct 09,2024
Oct 09,2024
1
people found
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this helpful
Scammers they took my deposit and rent no responses and when they did they did in a really bad way...
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Oct 03,2024
Oct 03,2024
1
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Best avoid this lot...after renting from them for many years.....if you don't have communication with your actual landlord ...the sparks grisly crew won't help at all with anything
Of course if they can grab money from you besides the rent...then they make ...
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Sep 23,2024
Sep 23,2024
3
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Avoid at all cost. Dreadful experience, I let my property through Sparks, background checks and references appear to be something this firm does not do. Property left in a state. Adam and Daniel appear to have not working emails and phones, AVOID....
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Sep 19,2024
Sep 19,2024
3
people found
this helpful
this helpful
If you are a landlord AVOID this company ..... absolutely dreadful communication - emails went unanswered, even repeat emails with 'please reply to this today' all ignored. Requests for information ignored. Even my email to say we were terminating out contract with them was ignored! Never ...
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Oct 04, 2024
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I will add to this review and say that we had to threaten to report them to the PRS to get them to finally return the deposits for two of our properties. ...
Aug 06,2024
Aug 06,2024
0
people found
this helpful
this helpful
As a property owner with several flats, spark and sons always go above and beyond to make sure my properties are fully occupied and always on the other end of the phone should I have an questions or queries. Highly recommend this agency....
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Aug 02,2024
Aug 02,2024
6
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I've never seen such rude and fraudulent people before, they didn't pay my deposit, they don't even have a reason not to pay, everyone should stay away....
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Jul 31,2024
Jul 31,2024
3
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Terrible real estate agent, I have been waiting for them to pay my holding deposit for about a month, they neither answer the email nor the phone....
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Jul 20,2024
Jul 20,2024
2
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Great agency, fantastic service as a landlord with multiple properties....
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Jul 14,2024
Jul 14,2024
6
people found
this helpful
this helpful
The worst agency in Brighton and I rented as a student for 4 years. Chloe and Adam are liars and thieves. Quick at getting your money just to get you into a busted flat. I had a slug infestation under the carpet and a serious damp ...
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Jul 05,2024
Jul 05,2024
5
people found
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this helpful
Don't go near this company. Bottom league services, slow to reply, and whoever they have on their books to do any electrical work for them is a cowboy and crook. Have spent hundreds of pounds fixing mistakes by this company....
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May 13,2024
May 13,2024
4
people found
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this helpful
From a landlord's point of view, steer well clear of this business. Communication is awful, emails go unanswered, rent is not passed across unless you chase, tenants not vetted thoroughly... I could go on and on, absolutely dreadful agency....
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Dec 07,2023
Dec 07,2023
3
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I don't understand why landlords use this estate agent. Messages are never received or are totally ignored.
I lived at the property for over 5 years and it has had a raft of problems as its an old building. I could be here all day listing ...
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Apr 16,2023
Apr 16,2023
3
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Horrible company! Lies and thieves ! Will keep your deposit and say they dont have it! Did not put it in a tenancy deposit scheme despite saying they would...
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May 13, 2024
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From a landlord's point of view, steer well clear of this business. Communication is awful, emails go unanswered, rent is not passed across unless you chase, tenants not vetted thoroughly... I could go on and on, absolutely dreadful agency. ...
Mar 26,2023
Mar 26,2023
2
people found
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this helpful
Avoid this agent at all costs! They're practically running illegally and you can tell just from visiting their website and office. They've attempted to steal our deposit by completely ghosting us from all avenues of contact, resulting in us having to spend money and time ...
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Sep 24,2022
Sep 24,2022
1
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Really dissapointed and outraged by treatment of one of their tenants- a key worker evicted for standing up to substandard fire regulations after a fire at their property...
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Jun 15,2022
Jun 15,2022
5
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The most disgraceful letting agents I have ever experienced. I have rented with Sparks and Sons for around 2 years. We had several issues with the house, and some of them never were fixed. There was mould on Bathroom ceiling and walls, windows falling apart, etc. ...
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Mar 09,2022
Mar 09,2022
0
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My name is Annie. I am a Hong Kong born Australian, who recently relocated to UK for my new position with NHS (BNO visa for UK settlement) I found my Brighton rental property from Spark & Sons. For anyone who lives in Brighton will know it ...
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Feb 08,2022
Feb 08,2022
1
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I am very happy with sparks and sons letting agency,I have been with them for two years and always found them very good. Oliver is very professional and is excellent dealing with the rentals. He helped me as I was in a difficult situation . ...
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Jan 09,2022
Jan 09,2022
0
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I had a great experience renting through this agent. They were friendly and human in thier approach while also dealing with any issues quickly and professionally. I wouldnt hesitate to recommend them....
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Dec 17,2021
Dec 17,2021
0
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We let our flat for 10 years through Spark and Sons, and have just sold it through them. Peter could not have been more professional in his approach. At every step of the way, he gave us great advice, kept us informed and problem-solved on our ...
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Dec 08,2021
Dec 08,2021
0
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Great communication and very helpful with the annoying finer details. Oliver was my contact from enquiry to getting the keys and could not be happier with the process. Made all the annoying and stressful bits seem easy . Would thoroughly recommend...
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Dec 02,2021
Dec 02,2021
0
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Oliver was very helpful and made the whole renting process very smooth and stress free. He is responsive and helpful when we have questions. I would definitely recommend Spark and Sons. Thanks Oliver!...
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Nov 20,2021
Nov 20,2021
0
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We have recently rented a newly renovated flat through Oliver Isted at Spark & Sons. Oliver has been friendly, helpful and straightforward throughout. There were a few outstanding issues with the renovation and our previous experience of agents is that these sort of things can drag ...
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Nov 09,2021
Nov 09,2021
0
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Our experience renting with Oliver, from Spark and Sons, was very good! He exceeded our expectations for an agent. He was very helpful during the process, replied to all of our questions, and made sure everything that we noticed that wasn't working properly got fixed. ...
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Oct 16,2021
Oct 16,2021
0
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Really great experience renting through Spark and Sons. Oliver has been super helpful and responsive, and I'm starting to settle in and enjoy the area. Thanks team :)...
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Oct 15,2021
Oct 15,2021
0
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This is the second time we moved with SparkandSons. The service is excellent, they always help us to find the right place and with a fair price. You can trust them!! Big thanks to Peter, Adam and Oliver!! Definitely recommemded ;-)...
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Oct 14,2021
Oct 14,2021
0
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Overall a good experience with Oliver - but room for improvement.
Oliver has been a great point of contact and always replies promptly to emails with any queries/issues. The viewing and deposit process was seamless - all furniture was removed from the flat and ...
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Oct 12,2021
Oct 12,2021
0
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I recently moved house while under a lot of pressure from my previous landlord and agent and Oliver at Sparks and Sons was a great help. Made the application process super easy and didn't pressure me into making decisions unlike other agents did. We had ...
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Best Letting Agent in Hove 
