0% lettings valuation accuracy
0% lettings fee satisfaction
Oct 08,2012
Oct 08,2012
6
people found
this helpful
this helpful
We have been at our rented property with Countrywide for 2 years. In that time we have had excellent dealings with the landlady and do not really have an issue with the Durham office as they are pleasant to deal with.
However it is Countrywide itself that is the issue. Initial fees were excessive so I managed to get them to reduce them (credit checks etc). After 1 year they decided to charge almost £200 to have the tenancy extended (again I got them to reduce this fee) and we took a further 6 months due to the fact I may have had to move due to work. After 6 months they again came back to ask for a further £200 or so to re-new the lease agreeement. I asked them for a reason for this amount of money to which the answer was curt and dismissive. In the end we said no and went onto a montly rolling contract.....no fee paid and have had no problems at all!!
Now we come to move due to needing more space and Countrywide have said we have to pay £24 for them to supply a reference to the new letting agents. Their reasoning behind the charge is that "You signed a contract and by doing so accept any charges like this one - All our other tenants are happy to do this".
There is nothing in the contract to obligate us to pay ad hoc fees, no fee structure is posted on their site nor was it supplied in a letter of notification when the tenancy was signed or on any renewal or monthly roll on term. It seems Countrywide want to charge for EVERYTHING even if it is not listed in any legal way.
Our new agents charge a one off fee for everything and renewals are free.
We will NEVER use Countrywide again ..... avoid as they are a rip off company.
However it is Countrywide itself that is the issue. Initial fees were excessive so I managed to get them to reduce them (credit checks etc). After 1 year they decided to charge almost £200 to have the tenancy extended (again I got them to reduce this fee) and we took a further 6 months due to the fact I may have had to move due to work. After 6 months they again came back to ask for a further £200 or so to re-new the lease agreeement. I asked them for a reason for this amount of money to which the answer was curt and dismissive. In the end we said no and went onto a montly rolling contract.....no fee paid and have had no problems at all!!
Now we come to move due to needing more space and Countrywide have said we have to pay £24 for them to supply a reference to the new letting agents. Their reasoning behind the charge is that "You signed a contract and by doing so accept any charges like this one - All our other tenants are happy to do this".
There is nothing in the contract to obligate us to pay ad hoc fees, no fee structure is posted on their site nor was it supplied in a letter of notification when the tenancy was signed or on any renewal or monthly roll on term. It seems Countrywide want to charge for EVERYTHING even if it is not listed in any legal way.
Our new agents charge a one off fee for everything and renewals are free.
We will NEVER use Countrywide again ..... avoid as they are a rip off company.
What agent could do to change your mind?
Countrywide should be more transparent and reveal ALL charges at the outset of the tenancy. Also WHY is there such an exhorbitant fee every time the tenancy is renewed. All it takes is a printing of a form and it signed, a 5 minute task for which a moderate fee of ‚£20 would be more apt if anything at all.Attached Filesnbsp;
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
8th Oct 2012
reviewed by 'Keith'
14th Mar 2012
reviewed by 'Haggard'
1st May 2011
reviewed by 'Steve'
Opening Hours
Address
Countrywide Residential Lettings
15 Elvet Bridge
Durham
County Durham
DH1 3AA
0191 383 0768
Performance statistics
| Services | Valuation Accuracy | Fees Satisfaction | Min Price of property reviewed | Max Price of property reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lettings | 0% | 0% | £0 | £0 |
Review statistics
| From Landlords | From Tenants | From Vendors | From Buyers | Other | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Areas covered
Services offered
- Sales
- Lettings
- Block Management
- Surveys
- Conveyancing
- Mortgage Advice
- Home Builder
Advertise on
Members of
Rankings
Overall
Overall
Latest Properties
No Properties
Oct 08,2012
Oct 08,2012
6
people found
this helpful
this helpful
We have been at our rented property with Countrywide for 2 years. In that time we have had excellent dealings with the landlady and do not really have an issue with the Durham office as they are pleasant to deal with.
However it is Countrywide itself ...
read full review
read full review
What agent could do to change your mind?
Countrywide should be more transparent and reveal ALL charges at the outset of the tenancy. Also WHY is there such an exhorbitant fee every time the tenancy is renewed. All it takes is a printing of a form and it signed, a 5 minute task for which a moderate fee of ‚£20 would be more apt if anything at all.Attached Filesnbsp;
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
Mar 14,2012
Mar 14,2012
8
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I agreed to rent a property from Countrywide at the advertised rate.
However after I had agreed to the move Countrywide revealed they were demanding the better part of a months rent for a range of additional charges. These charges were not notified to me ...
read full review
read full review
What agent could do to change your mind?
HonestyAttached Filesnbsp;
Was this helpful?
Yes
Yes
May 01,2011
May 01,2011
3
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Try to charge for a new inventory that they never did, 'hidden' charges, only tell you what you want to hear, no support from them with problem tenants and put a tenant into my property that was a non smoking, no pets and no children ...
read full review
read full review
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.
