50% lettings valuation accuracy
20% lettings fee satisfaction
Mar 04,2015
Mar 04,2015
8
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Not normally one to leave bad reviews but prospective landlords and tenants really need to be made aware of this dishonest company. Contacted them via rightmove and viewed a property advertised at £760pm. Agent said on the day to put in an offer straight away if we liked it as the flat was in a popular location. We took the paperwork that same day for the references etc and then called them just after 9am the following morning to make an offer- the £760 they were asking for. They spoke to the landlord and then called us back saying there had been a mistake and the property should have been advertised at £775. A bit miffed, but not put off altogether we agreed to the new price and paid a £400 holding deposit. We filled in all of the necessary paperwork, had verbal confirmation and an email saying that the landlord had accepted our offer (pending reference/credit checks), with the email also saying that marketing of the property would now cease. We spent the next day cancelling our other viewings and celebrating our new flat. At 4:30pm the next day, we get a call from another member of staff at AB saying that someone else had now made another offer of £790, and that we would have to match this if we still wanted the flat. This is in spite of giving AB £400 of our money to 'hold' the flat for us, and in spite of our offer already being agreed to. The property was still being advertised on Rightmove over the weekend, but at £775- it had been updated after they spoke to the landlord about our offer (when they first realised their earlier 'mistake') but clearly still being marketed. We gave it some thought over the weekend but then called them back on the Monday reluctantly declining to match the other offer as we had lost our trust in AB and didn't want to get into a bidding war with the other prospective tenant. We were told that since then, the current tenant had decided to stay and the flat was no longer available anyway. It then should have just been a case of handing back our £400. This was over 2 weeks a go. There should be no dispute about us having the money back-we haven't even stepped foot inside the flat since the first visit, and our checks were never carried out. They keep telling us we'll get it back, but after calling them after the first week of checking our bank account we were told it can't be paid back onto the card (even though there was no problem taking it off the card in the first place!) and that they would have to send a cheque instead. When that didn't arrive they blamed their accounts team. We were then told it would be sent by 1st class post on Thursday. It is now the following Tuesday and there is still no cheque. When we called them again they told us 1st class wouldn't reach us that quickly! I am completely appalled that they a) took our money dishonestly to hold a flat that they had no intention of acrually holding for us and b) that even though there is no reason whatsoever for them not to pay our deposit back, they have still failed to do so and continue to make excuse after excuse! We are now dealing with a much better agency in TW and although the fees are still high I have a lot more faith in them. Landlords please please use other letting agencies for your properties!
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
Agent Response / Add a Comment
You can use this form to reply to the above review or a displayed comment on the above review.
Browse popular links for estate agents, letting agents and properties nearby
Latest Reviews
17th Oct 2019
reviewed by 'Julia'
22nd May 2019
reviewed by 'nk'
3rd Dec 2018
reviewed by 'Old'
24th Nov 2018
reviewed by 'Raven'
Performance statistics
| Services | Valuation Accuracy | Fees Satisfaction | Min Price of property reviewed | Max Price of property reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lettings | 50% | 20% | £575 | £1,650 |
Review statistics
| From Landlords | From Tenants | From Vendors | From Buyers | Other | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Areas covered
Services offered
- Sales
- Lettings
- Block Management
- Surveys
- Conveyancing
- Mortgage Advice
- Home Builder
Advertise on
Members of
Rankings
Overall
Overall
Estate agents
Latest Properties
No Properties
Oct 17,2019
Oct 17,2019
0
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I have been using AB T Wells Branch for 7 yrs to rent properties in and around the Tunbridge Wells / Tonbridge area. I have always found Darren and Tom to be v responsive and professional on both the phone and email. Properties have always rented quickly ...
read full review
read full review
Comment on agent fees
New rules on fees in 2019 makes this largely irrelevant. Any fees charged are in line with other agents in the area.
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
May 22,2019
May 22,2019
0
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Had to pull out of contract because there were rats in the flat and I was never told, was actually told it was the property next door and that it was dealt with before paying my holding deposit. Move in date changed 3 times at great ...
read full review
read full review
Comment on agent fees
Expensive especially since I was expected to meet the land lady on a weekend so she could tell me how to clean the flat and that I would not have a working tele point or improved water pressure and then told she wanted to do more work and I couldn't move for another week and a half. Ashton Burkinshaw no help no involvement at all.
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
Jun 19, 2019
View all comments
(2)
This is complete nonsense and if you hadn’t made such mistakes that you fail to take responsibility for you wouldn’t have offered a gesture of good will.
The payment was never issued until my father on my behalf came in and you had made a same day payment. I did send you all statements to prove the kidney was never received.
I have since used another agent who have been appalled by my previous experience. I urge anyone looking for a property to avoid.
Had nothing but poor treatment and ...
Dec 03,2018
Dec 03,2018
0
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Avoid with all costs if letting from these.
Fees are extremely high to get in and to renew contracts to stay costs £125 a year which they forget to tell you about!
Once you have got sucked in, then trying to get anything out of them ...
read full review
read full review
Comment on agent fees
A 3 week holiday for a family of 4 to Disney is cheaper
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
Dec 17, 2018
View all comments
(1)
I'm sorry to learn that you have been dissatisfied with the level service that you have receive during your time renting through Ashton Burkinshaw. In response to the points above; The £125 renewal fee is for preparation of the legal paperwork to renew a tenancy. It's not a hidden fee and is published on our website. The charge is only applicable if the tenancy is renewed and therefore is optional. If the tenancy continues on a periodic basis after the fixed term ends no charge applies as there ...
Nov 24,2018
Nov 24,2018
0
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Awful , very high fees and lots of hidden fees to rent through this company , If there are any problems when in the property they are useless at dealing with issues you have to chase them which is disheartening and becomes stressful if left without heating ...
read full review
read full review
Comment on agent fees
Fees are ridiculous extremely high for level of service
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
Dec 12, 2018
View all comments
(1)
I'm sorry to learn that you were not satisfied with the level of service that you received from Ashton Burkinshaw. As a hard working member of staff in the Tunbridge Wells branch we always endeavor to provide our customers with a professional and proficient level of service at all times. May I also say that to suggest anyone within the office would sit here with our feet up on our desks is an utterly absurd statement and simply not true. Perhaps you would like to say you are and which property y ...
Nov 05,2018
Nov 05,2018
14
people found
this helpful
this helpful
As a landlord who used Ashton Burkinshaw (Tunbridge Wells) to manage my property I can safely advise both landlords and tenants to avoid them at all costs.
When you pay them to manage a property, you expect them to do that and keep the tenants ...
read full review
read full review
Comment on agent fees
A waste of money - it would be better to do it yourself.
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
Jun 25,2017
Jun 25,2017
4
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Overall, whilst renting, I think we had a fairly standard experience.
When we were looking to rent, Ashton Burkinshaw came across as quick in correspondence, professional and competent. Their agent fees were steep.
Once in the property, we had no real issues. They were slow ...
read full review
read full review
Comment on agent fees
Seemed steep - will be interesting to see how they fair under the new incoming legislation.
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
Mar 22,2017
Mar 22,2017
4
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Very very bad people trying there hardest to mug money out of my deposit very rude people charge me aloy of money in initial stage of my tenancy and when I left the property trying hardest to take money out of my deposit and gave ...
read full review
read full review
Comment on agent fees
Very huge fees on initial stage and still charge me large amount for wear and tear
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
Aug 18,2015
Aug 18,2015
3
people found
this helpful
this helpful
We were very disappointed with Thomas, he didn't seem to engage with us in our search for a property to rent. He seemed disinterested in whether we had a roof over our head. We have taken our business elsewhere!!! We feel he would benefit from ...
read full review
read full review
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
Mar 04,2015
Mar 04,2015
8
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Not normally one to leave bad reviews but prospective landlords and tenants really need to be made aware of this dishonest company. Contacted them via rightmove and viewed a property advertised at £760pm. Agent said on the day to put in an offer straight away ...
read full review
read full review
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
Jun 09,2014
Jun 09,2014
6
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Dishonest ,disrespectful ,deceitful,
A truly horrendous experience from start to finish.n
So bad in fact I would never privately rent again.
Hidden fees, a one of charge of £75 because we had a dog.
A non refundable holding deposit .so decide you don't want the ...
read full review
read full review
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
Jun 16,2013
Jun 16,2013
5
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Awful. Took ages to respond to communications, only responded when we turned up in person to their office and caused a fuss, maintenance slow to be carried out (if at all!), things promised that would happen before we moved in didn't and we had to ...
read full review
read full review
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
Sep 25,2012
Sep 25,2012
6
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Worst agency EVER !!! They gave us 3 days notice to move out for a re-leasing. They lied about an inventory (thank God I had video camera evidence to prove otherwise). They tried to charge us 5 different fees which didn't apply! They where late paying us back ...
read full review
read full review
What agent could do to change your mind?
Worst agency EVER !!! They gave us 3 days notice to move out for a re-leasing. They lied about an inventory (thank God I had video camera evidence to prove otherwise). They tried to charge us 5 different fees which didn't apply! They where late paying us back our deposit, they broke verbal agreements, they sent people over to view the property with out turning up themselves... oh, and they're administratively poor - They don't get back to you untll you threaten legal action and bad press.Attached Filesnbsp;
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
No fees information available
Kindly note that legally, letting agents need to publish information about their tenancy fees, government-approved redress schemes and client money protection schemes on their website and on third party websites (on which agents are listed). For properties to lease/rent in England, agents need to keep this information up to date and precise on allAgents or specify within the property description.
Complaints Procedure
No procedure available.
