“Where do I start...Viewed the property and was told ......”
1 Star Review
Nov 15,2016
By:
'Livid'
Nov 15,2016
Branch: Birmingham, 905 Walsall Road
Services: Lettings (as a Tenant)
Would you recommend?: No
Postcode: B44
Branch: Birmingham, 905 Walsall Road
Lettings (as a Tenant)
Postcode: B44
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people found
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Where do I start...
Viewed the property and was told it was ready to go, couldn't delay moving in as the landlord needed someone in ASAP.
Referencing went through ok (fees are outrageous) but I had to repeatedly chase Shipways to find out the result. They will delay you actually coming in and signing the contract until the day you are scheduled to move in.
Unfortunately for us, *they failed to let the landlord know we would be moving in on a Monday until the Friday before, at which point the landlord stated he needed work doing to the property. *They then said I couldn't move in for another week and shouldn't have booked a van for the Monday because moving in is subject to contract!! Ridiculous to think that I wouldn't have booked a moving van by the Friday before and also because I would have happily signed the contract already, it's their sneaky little policy which means you cant sign the contract until the move in date.
Then, from the day I moved in I was not provided with a Gas Safety certificate for over a month, with *them saying it's not his fault contractors don't turn up - no dear, it's not, but it is your responsibility to manage and monitor the situation! **they will fob you off time and time again and spend the entire time telling you why it's not his fault - no good for a senior lettings negotiator, in my opinion.
Shipways use and abuse the system to their own advantage. Your deposit will not be held by the TDS, it will be insured by the TDS which means Shipways (or their parent group: Sequence UK) actually have the funds in their bank account, not a 3rd party. In line with legislation, if there is no dispute over funds to be returned to the tenant at the end of the tenancy, the deposit should be returned without delay. However, a tenant cannot complain to the TDS for non-return of the deposit for 10 days, so Shipways use that as a catch-22 to hold onto your money stating that it will be returned within 10 days... We are now 17 days since moving out and still waiting for our deposit to be returned - despite there being no deductions from it. The reason given for this is there is some security check that hasn't been done because someone was out of the office... blah blah blah. Please explain how a security check is required for a simple BACS transfer? It's utter rubbish.
They will fob you off, lie to your face and lie again. DO NOT GO WITH THIS COMPANY IF YOU TREASURE YOUR SANITY. They are criminals in suits (and cheap ones at that). This was the 6th house I have rented in Birmingham in 8 years, the first with Shipways and by FAR the worst experience. The staff at this branch should feel ashamed.
Comment on agent fees
Fees are extortionate: ƒâ€š‚£416 admin fees (for 2 people) plus ƒâ€š‚£55 inventory fee, plus deposit (usually one month or a month-and-a-half's rent) plus first month's rent upfront. BAD
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