50% lettings valuation accuracy
45% lettings fee satisfaction
Sep 14,2016
Sep 14,2016
3
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this helpful
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The worst estate agents I have been through! Inflexible terms after a year of renting and poor lettings management team! The lettings manager we were dealing with, has a poor attitude, rarely responded (no out of office either), rarely addressed any issues raised in emails, and when they did it was only after several chases.
It started off very promisingly, Stacey Gough the Lettings manager arranged our contract for the property at very short notice and answered all of our questions promptly and politely. As soon as they had our money the service stopped, the lettings management team were terrible. Prior to moving in we'd asked if there was an available lawn mover as we were moving from a flat to a house with a garden, it was a categorical no. On arrival we found that not only was there a lawn mover, but it was also on the inventory report… strange, seeing as its in black and white on documents they posses and claim to have been through?!?! The house when we arrive was filthy, bits and grime in the cupboards, the carpets, cupboard doors off, drawers stuck, blinds broken curtains half hung. They'd let us know that as it was short notice, the house was ‘ready with exception of the bins being emptied and grass needing to be mowed'. What we didn't expect was to have to clean the house top to bottom. The bins were not just full, they were overflowing and they never came to remove the rubbish and there were broken children's toys and barriers in the sheds. It took us over a month to clear the previous owners rubbish from the property. Added to which the boiler didn't work. There was an overwhelming smell of damp in the kitchen and it was clear from the walls behind the cupboard that there was a persistent issue, the issue continued to the shower room where black mould would appear on the walls within days of cleaning, despite windows being open. We reported the issue, as presumably the owner would be concerned about their property and wish to have it looked at. Apparently not. We were told that the property was old and needed to be ventilated. No check, nothing. All very good and well at the peak of the summer but during the winter is it really feesible to have all your windows open? As the year went on, the fence broke, cupboard drawers fell off and we eventually persuaded them to have an extractor fan put into the shower, correspondence was slow, often weeks to respond and only after chasing did you receive a rather curt often rude or abrupt response. We decided that for the most part it would be easier and quicker to resolve issues ourselves.
A few months from our contract coming to an end we'd put an offer in on a property and asked if we could have a two month rolling contract after the first year. They would let us move onto a two month rolling contract only after signing up for another six months, which wasn't really feasible if we needed to also pay a mortgage. After almost a decade of renting I have NEVER experienced this inflexibility, if fact it is very normal to move onto a rolling contract after the first year but Finders Keepers would not let us do this, blaming the land lord.
Now that we have moved out of the property we have been told we are being charged for cleaning, and windows, they also wanted to charge us for lawn mowing ?!?!??! Having clearly send the lettings manager images of an unclean property with the inventory when we moved in it is a real cheek to now charge us. But then again in their usual style they've just ignored these points in the email.
I sincerely hope that the landlords don't mind their houses being run into the ground and get an amazing deal with Finders Keepers because as a tenant you get nothing in terms of value for money or service.
It started off very promisingly, Stacey Gough the Lettings manager arranged our contract for the property at very short notice and answered all of our questions promptly and politely. As soon as they had our money the service stopped, the lettings management team were terrible. Prior to moving in we'd asked if there was an available lawn mover as we were moving from a flat to a house with a garden, it was a categorical no. On arrival we found that not only was there a lawn mover, but it was also on the inventory report… strange, seeing as its in black and white on documents they posses and claim to have been through?!?! The house when we arrive was filthy, bits and grime in the cupboards, the carpets, cupboard doors off, drawers stuck, blinds broken curtains half hung. They'd let us know that as it was short notice, the house was ‘ready with exception of the bins being emptied and grass needing to be mowed'. What we didn't expect was to have to clean the house top to bottom. The bins were not just full, they were overflowing and they never came to remove the rubbish and there were broken children's toys and barriers in the sheds. It took us over a month to clear the previous owners rubbish from the property. Added to which the boiler didn't work. There was an overwhelming smell of damp in the kitchen and it was clear from the walls behind the cupboard that there was a persistent issue, the issue continued to the shower room where black mould would appear on the walls within days of cleaning, despite windows being open. We reported the issue, as presumably the owner would be concerned about their property and wish to have it looked at. Apparently not. We were told that the property was old and needed to be ventilated. No check, nothing. All very good and well at the peak of the summer but during the winter is it really feesible to have all your windows open? As the year went on, the fence broke, cupboard drawers fell off and we eventually persuaded them to have an extractor fan put into the shower, correspondence was slow, often weeks to respond and only after chasing did you receive a rather curt often rude or abrupt response. We decided that for the most part it would be easier and quicker to resolve issues ourselves.
A few months from our contract coming to an end we'd put an offer in on a property and asked if we could have a two month rolling contract after the first year. They would let us move onto a two month rolling contract only after signing up for another six months, which wasn't really feasible if we needed to also pay a mortgage. After almost a decade of renting I have NEVER experienced this inflexibility, if fact it is very normal to move onto a rolling contract after the first year but Finders Keepers would not let us do this, blaming the land lord.
Now that we have moved out of the property we have been told we are being charged for cleaning, and windows, they also wanted to charge us for lawn mowing ?!?!??! Having clearly send the lettings manager images of an unclean property with the inventory when we moved in it is a real cheek to now charge us. But then again in their usual style they've just ignored these points in the email.
I sincerely hope that the landlords don't mind their houses being run into the ground and get an amazing deal with Finders Keepers because as a tenant you get nothing in terms of value for money or service.
Comment on agent fees
Bad for the service
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9th Sep 2020
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17th Nov 2019
reviewed by 'Colin'
Opening Hours
Address
Finders Keepers
1 Vineyard Chambers
Abingdon
Oxfordshire
OX14 3PX
01235 535454
Performance statistics
| Services | Valuation Accuracy | Fees Satisfaction | Min Price of property reviewed | Max Price of property reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lettings | 50% | 45% | £875 | £995 |
Review statistics
| From Landlords | From Tenants | From Vendors | From Buyers | Other | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Mar 15,2023
Mar 15,2023
0
people found
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Thank you Denise McGrath for your kindness & professional approach to your work.
I met Denise when I was relocating from London to Abingdon. She was very trustworthy and professional from the moment she showed me the property, throughout the whole process of signing the contract ...
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Jun 21,2022
Jun 21,2022
0
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Excellent service,all entire team always helpful for customers, very good customer care team.As a tenant I am very much satisfied their services...
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Feb 22,2021
Feb 22,2021
0
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I started renting a property through finders keepers mid pandemic and have been nothing but impressed with there assistance. Always helpful and friendly....
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Dec 11,2020
Dec 11,2020
0
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Thank you Denise McGrath for your friendly relaxed manner in which you dealt with our recent end of tenancy. Also Fiona and Kate for your support over the last 12 years. Best wishes for 2021....
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Sep 09,2020
Sep 09,2020
3
people found
this helpful
this helpful
STAY CLEAR FROM THE LETTINGS DEPARTMENT!! I have rented with a few agencies and by far this has been the worst. When we moved in the house wasn’t cleaned after the last tenant. They ended cleaning around the things we’d already moved in. ...
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Nov 17,2019
Nov 17,2019
0
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I have two properties with FK’s Abingdon office. I have always found their service to be first class and any problems that have arisen have been dealt with thoroughly and in a timely fashion...
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Jun 21,2019
Jun 21,2019
4
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Would strongly recommend avoiding FK for lettings. They are by far the most inconsiderate, un-caring, incompetent "professionals" I have ever had to deal with when letting a property. They have no regard for you as a tenant and seems are only interested in their own ...
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Feb 25,2019
Feb 25,2019
6
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Kept putting the rent up every year saying that it was in line with market conditions, when clearly it was not and over-priced. In surrendering the lease, I moved to a larger property for nearly £200 less per month. Only to find that I had to ...
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Apr 29,2018
Apr 29,2018
5
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Having been in the tenancy for a number of months, it's safe to say we want out asap. Our property manager is less than useful, as we have reported several issues which have been slow (if ever) to be acted upon. Our numbers are handed ...
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Comment on agent fees
Extortionate
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May 10, 2018
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(2)
Good afternoon,
It may come across to you as an innocent mistake, but having been in for a meeting regarding the contractor being handed keys and having the subject danced around by a man who didn't even introduce himself, we are looking in to legal action for a case of Breach of Contract.
Thanks
Jamie Horner ...
Sep 25,2017
Sep 25,2017
7
people found
this helpful
this helpful
As an indepenadent landlord I do not employ Finders Keepers. However I do have to deal with them because they are the agents for landlord of the flat above mine.
They have been no use whatsoever. Every year they have to be chased to maintain ...
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Sep 25, 2017
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Let me begin with a potted history.
Approximately fifteen years ago you became agent for the flat in question. All regular maintenance of the grounds ceased. The first time the fence was replaced there were no shrubs in that strip of ground! I know because I had no problems erecting the fence. It was replaced because the ivy and ground elder had broken through from your side and was growing into my greenhouse.
Look up when the complaint came in for 'the ivy in your garden is growing up my ...
Apr 12,2017
Apr 12,2017
10
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Ridiculous agency. These people will defenitely give you some unwanted charge on final check out. While check out, the property manager said, everything is fine, just 2 hours cleaning will do, and that will be £ 30, and we agreed that. BUT, they just cut £ 154 from our deposit ...
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Comment on agent fees
Very bad.
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Apr 20, 2017
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(1)
Hi there,
From your feedback I think I recognise that we have already spoken directly about your experience. I'm sorry to read that you felt your query is unresolved, but as I understood from your last email to me you did not want to talk any further about this.
Kind regards,
Victoria Lyall ...
Sep 14,2016
Sep 14,2016
3
people found
this helpful
this helpful
The worst estate agents I have been through! Inflexible terms after a year of renting and poor lettings management team! The lettings manager we were dealing with, has a poor attitude, rarely responded (no out of office either), rarely addressed any issues raised in emails, ...
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Comment on agent fees
Bad for the service
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Jan 27,2016
Jan 27,2016
7
people found
this helpful
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Atrocious Service Level!!!
I recently terminated my tenancy agreement early with Finders Keepers due to a lack of maintenance on the property:
- Neither fridge/freezer or washing machine was working for more than a month,
- unable to use main bathroom for 6 week due ...
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What agent could do to change your mind?
BAD!Attached Filesnbsp;
Comment on agent fees
BAD!
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Feb 03, 2016
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(1)
Hi Michelle,
I'm sorry to read about your experience. I'm in contact with the Office Manager of the Abingdon office to try to get a little more detail about the situation.
Kind regards,
Victoria Lyall | Marketing Manager ...
Aug 20,2013
Aug 20,2013
4
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I would not recommend Finders Keepers to anyone.. From the start of the tenancy we have had issues with our names being mixed up and I also find the staff rude and uninterested
Our tenancy is up for renewal and I have contacted the branch ...
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What agent could do to change your mind?
The only reason we are going to renew our tenancy is due to the hassle of moving. I would not recommend Finders Keepers, their inability to perform basic admin tasks such as tenants names is disgraceful and they are clearly not interested in their tenants.Attached Filesnbsp;
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Aug 20,2013
Aug 20,2013
7
people found
this helpful
this helpful
We have recently moved out of a property rented by Finders Keepers (Abingdon) and have to say we completely agree with the comments made by Gail in the previous review. Again Finders Keepers are trying to make a series of unjustfied deductions from our deposit, ...
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Aug 20, 2013
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(1)
Hi there, I'm sorry to hear that you have had a bad experience. Gail did get in touch with me and we resolved the situation, although she didn't update her review on here. We do not charge tenants at every opportunity, so if you would like to email me with the details of your situation I can contact the relevant team members to discuss this. My email is [email protected]
Many thanks,
Victoria ...
Jul 26,2013
Jul 26,2013
4
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I would never rent from Finders Keepers again, and certainly will never recommend them to anyone. We have just finished our tenancy, and are currently trying to get our deposit back. We have had the flat professionally cleaned (including the carpets) and it is spotless, ...
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What agent could do to change your mind?
Stop putting barriers up to refund our deposit, and deal with us respectfully instead of talking down to us.Attached Filesnbsp;
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Jul 26, 2013
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Following my above comments, Finders Keepers have agreed in writing to refund our deposit in full. We are greatly relieved, and looking forward to receiving it and putting an end to this matter. We are feeling a little better about them now, despite the stress of the checkout! ...
Jan 25,2012
Jan 25,2012
5
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Shown round the property by an agent, any question was given the answer I wanted, only to find later that these were lies. For example, property advertised as 'all bills included'... however, even though each of 8 tenants has to pay £100 pcm EACH for bills, you ...
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What agent could do to change your mind?
made some mistakes that didn't just benefit themselves. Told the truth. Actually acted like reasonable human beings.Attached Filesnbsp;
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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.
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