0% lettings valuation accuracy
99% lettings fee satisfaction
Apr 06,2018
Apr 06,2018
6
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I'll preface my review by saying that I've rented all over the UK over the past 20 years, and lived in around 15 different properties over that time. I move a lot for work. The reason for me stating that is to make clear that I have had positive experiences with landlords and estate agents for many years. On a positive note, I will say that Ulster Property Sales is not the worst I've dealt with, but they are certainly way down towards the bottom of the list.
Fortunately for myself, I never had any real issues with them during the tenancy, as nothing ever went wrong with the property, so I didn't have to get in touch. The problem started at the end of the tenancy when I was winding up to move out.
I called them over a month in advance of the tenancy ending, and said that I would be moving out of the property if the landlord wanted to renew the contract for another year, as I wasn't planning to stay in the city for another year. They said that was fine. I asked if there was anything I needed to do, and they said they would be in touch within a couple of days to sort everything out regarding the contracts, as my housemate was staying in the house.
I didn't hear from them for several weeks and just assumed that everything was fine for the move. Finally, about two weeks prior to the leaving date, they rang me and asked me what I wanted to do at the end of the tenancy. I said that I'd already made this clear when I said previously that I'd be moving out. They said that I would need to give a month's written notice to do that and that it would only take effect from the day on which the rent is paid. I asked them why they hadn't told me that when I called in to end my tenancy weeks previously. They said that they didn't know and that this was why they ask for it in writing, to avoid things like this. Since it's in my contract (which of course everyone reads cover to cover) I had no choice but to comply, and pay for two houses for a month.
I've never in my life before this property been asked to give a month's written notice at the end of a contract. Even if I had been, I would have been told that by the estate agent when I phoned them to ask for information on ending the tenancy. Not told that they would take care of it, and then weeks later surprised with the concept. The first time they got in touch with me regarding my tenancy which was coming to an end was two weeks before the close date.
On top of this, during the last weeks of my tenancy, it was nearly impossible to get in touch with them, making me glad that I'd never had to do so during the tenancy. For a week straight I rang them two or three times a day, trying to get in touch with Stephen, who was the only person who could apparently deal with our property. Most days the phone just kept ringing and nobody answered. On the days when someone did answer, Stephen was never there, and I left messages, which apparently he never received.
When Stephen eventually did get back to me, he rang me at 4:55 on a workday, a time when nobody is answering their mobile phone and left a message threatening me that he wouldn't let me leave the property if I didn't agree to a 'moving out inspection'. This is coming the week after he'd already been round to the house and inspected it. I finally got a hold of him the next day, and told him that I would be moving out, inspection or not, as I'd given them their written notice and they had no legal basis to force me to pay rent anymore. I asked him what the 'moving out inspection' was for, that wasn't covered by the previous week's inspection, and he wouldn't answer the question. Eventually, he agreed to not have that inspection, although I was still none the wiser as to what it was for in the first place. Again, I've lived in a ton of different places, and never had a 'moving out inspection'. They usually just inspect the place after you move out, or on your leaving day.
Every time I dealt with Stephen, in any capacity, he was dismissive of any questions I had, and talked over me or interrupted me if I was trying to ask him about anything that wasn't on his list of approved conversation topics for that day. He seemed ill-prepared to actually explain any of the policies of Ulster Property Sales, beyond just saying, "Well that's our policy" repeatedly. Several times he just laughed snarkily when I asked him for clarification on something. The attitude was sort of along the lines of, 'You signed the contract so I don't care what you say. Just pay the money and stop bothering me'.
Anyway, in summation, if you deal with these guys on any level, make sure you read everything carefully, and don't trust their word on anything. Get it in writing, or chances are it won't be true. I also wouldn't bother trying to ring them ever. Be prepared to play a long cat and mouse game, in which you will inevitably be painted as the mouse, despite doing most of the chasing.
Fortunately for myself, I never had any real issues with them during the tenancy, as nothing ever went wrong with the property, so I didn't have to get in touch. The problem started at the end of the tenancy when I was winding up to move out.
I called them over a month in advance of the tenancy ending, and said that I would be moving out of the property if the landlord wanted to renew the contract for another year, as I wasn't planning to stay in the city for another year. They said that was fine. I asked if there was anything I needed to do, and they said they would be in touch within a couple of days to sort everything out regarding the contracts, as my housemate was staying in the house.
I didn't hear from them for several weeks and just assumed that everything was fine for the move. Finally, about two weeks prior to the leaving date, they rang me and asked me what I wanted to do at the end of the tenancy. I said that I'd already made this clear when I said previously that I'd be moving out. They said that I would need to give a month's written notice to do that and that it would only take effect from the day on which the rent is paid. I asked them why they hadn't told me that when I called in to end my tenancy weeks previously. They said that they didn't know and that this was why they ask for it in writing, to avoid things like this. Since it's in my contract (which of course everyone reads cover to cover) I had no choice but to comply, and pay for two houses for a month.
I've never in my life before this property been asked to give a month's written notice at the end of a contract. Even if I had been, I would have been told that by the estate agent when I phoned them to ask for information on ending the tenancy. Not told that they would take care of it, and then weeks later surprised with the concept. The first time they got in touch with me regarding my tenancy which was coming to an end was two weeks before the close date.
On top of this, during the last weeks of my tenancy, it was nearly impossible to get in touch with them, making me glad that I'd never had to do so during the tenancy. For a week straight I rang them two or three times a day, trying to get in touch with Stephen, who was the only person who could apparently deal with our property. Most days the phone just kept ringing and nobody answered. On the days when someone did answer, Stephen was never there, and I left messages, which apparently he never received.
When Stephen eventually did get back to me, he rang me at 4:55 on a workday, a time when nobody is answering their mobile phone and left a message threatening me that he wouldn't let me leave the property if I didn't agree to a 'moving out inspection'. This is coming the week after he'd already been round to the house and inspected it. I finally got a hold of him the next day, and told him that I would be moving out, inspection or not, as I'd given them their written notice and they had no legal basis to force me to pay rent anymore. I asked him what the 'moving out inspection' was for, that wasn't covered by the previous week's inspection, and he wouldn't answer the question. Eventually, he agreed to not have that inspection, although I was still none the wiser as to what it was for in the first place. Again, I've lived in a ton of different places, and never had a 'moving out inspection'. They usually just inspect the place after you move out, or on your leaving day.
Every time I dealt with Stephen, in any capacity, he was dismissive of any questions I had, and talked over me or interrupted me if I was trying to ask him about anything that wasn't on his list of approved conversation topics for that day. He seemed ill-prepared to actually explain any of the policies of Ulster Property Sales, beyond just saying, "Well that's our policy" repeatedly. Several times he just laughed snarkily when I asked him for clarification on something. The attitude was sort of along the lines of, 'You signed the contract so I don't care what you say. Just pay the money and stop bothering me'.
Anyway, in summation, if you deal with these guys on any level, make sure you read everything carefully, and don't trust their word on anything. Get it in writing, or chances are it won't be true. I also wouldn't bother trying to ring them ever. Be prepared to play a long cat and mouse game, in which you will inevitably be painted as the mouse, despite doing most of the chasing.
Comment on agent fees
The fees are reasonable enough.
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Apr 27, 2018
If I could heart this review I would do it 100 times, I've had so much trouble with Stephen also and we are wanting to move out and he done an inspection 2 days ago and is wanting to come out and do another one, and when I asked him what for he couldn't give me a straight answer apart from "It's our policy" .. They are the worst estate agents I have dealt with and they have been trying to take money off me which was "arrears" when it shouldn't have been arrears in the first place, it was his colleagues fault it went into arrears and that's why I have refused not to pay it and Stephens only answer is "she doesn't work for us she lives in Australia now" .. absolute joke..
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Latest Reviews
16th Jun 2021
reviewed by 'Michelle'
6th Apr 2018
reviewed by 'Robert'
Opening Hours
Address
Ulster Property Sales
409 Newtonards Road
Belfast
County Antrim
BT8 6FX
2890456146
Performance statistics
| Services | Valuation Accuracy | Fees Satisfaction | Min Price of property reviewed | Max Price of property reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lettings | 0% | 99% | £550 | £550 |
Review statistics
| From Landlords | From Tenants | From Vendors | From Buyers | Other | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Areas covered
Services offered
- Sales
- Lettings
- Block Management
- Surveys
- Conveyancing
- Mortgage Advice
- Home Builder
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Jun 16,2021
Jun 16,2021
1
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Absolutely appalling.
I chose UPS to sell a property we are currently renting out.
I heard NOTHING from them after it went on the market. They put it on property pal and hoped for the best. I had to chase them for updates (I wasn't ...
read full review
read full review
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
Apr 06,2018
Apr 06,2018
6
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I'll preface my review by saying that I've rented all over the UK over the past 20 years, and lived in around 15 different properties over that time. I move a lot for work. The reason for me stating that is to make clear that I have ...
read full review
read full review
Comment on agent fees
The fees are reasonable enough.
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
Apr 27, 2018
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(1)
If I could heart this review I would do it 100 times, I've had so much trouble with Stephen also and we are wanting to move out and he done an inspection 2 days ago and is wanting to come out and do another one, and when I asked him what for he couldn't give me a straight answer apart from "It's our policy" .. They are the worst estate agents I have dealt with and they have been trying to take money off me which was "arrears" when it shouldn't have been arrears in the first place, it was his col ...
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