50% sales valuation accuracy
100% sales fee satisfaction
0% lettings valuation accuracy
0% lettings fee satisfaction
Sep 11,2013
Sep 11,2013
27
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Ok, this my first time on this website. When it comes to reading things on the internet, I generally don't take them for granted. Therefore, in this review I hope to share with you my experience and whether you accept my story, I will give you some tips which any sane person should do when dealing with the likes of John D Wood (if only I had seen this website before).
My experience is very similar to what the Landlord below indicated. This is the first time that I rent my property (I am moving out of London). JDW were delightful to deal with whilst I was looking for a tenant (very affable and on appearances fairly helpful). The problems started once they found me a tenant:
(1) The charges soon mounted up (you can't get out of the tenancy agreement charge £275 + VAT, either they draft it or charge that to review yours), they deduct £250 for a couple of months towards a float for potential call out charges and they push you for the inventory to be outsourced (£225 + VAT). Whilst their terms of business clearly highlight this, it is not discussed before you are hooked.
(2) the tenancy agreement that they send you is a generic document, so it needs to reviewed very carefully as it is full of errors (I am solicitor). It begs the question as to you pay the princely sum £275 + VAT if you have to effectively re-draft it for them.
(3) you will not receive the rent for the first month or two or worse three months (depending on the amount of rent you get), as they deduct their 16% Management Fee upfront for the length of the tenancy, even though this is not spelled out in their contract with you. When challenged, they say that this is established practice.
(4) they promise to make the handover smooth, taking the hassle out for you, including switching over utilities. This is not true, the tenant called me a month into the rental to ask what to do regarding utilities, as he was expressly told that the Agent would take care of this and they hadn't. My contract with JDW was clear that this was their responsibility and hence part of the 16% management fee.
Anyway, I will not be renewing my property with them. So make what you want of my experience, I wish to stress that I do not know if I had a one off, bad experience or not.
However, to avoid what I went through, if you use John D Wood in Battersea my advice is as follows, BEFORE you sign any document or agree verbally to giving them a mandate to manage your property:
(1) Always communicate by email.
(2) If you have a conversation with them in person or one the phone, back this up with an email to resume your understanding.
(3) Ask for precise information as to when the first month's rent will hit your account (i.e.: which day after the tenant has paid, bank transfers nowadays are instant, so any delay due "bank systems" means that they are really sitting on the cash to earn interest).
(4) Ask for confirmation for the amount of their management fees and when and how this is expected to be taken (do not get fobbed off with their terms of business, ask them to spell it out in an email).
(5) Ask for confirmation as to who will be tasked for switching over utilities.
(6) Ask for confirmation as how the tenant deposit protection scheme works, who looks after it, what the landlord's and tenant's rights are and how much it will cost to administer (again is this taken up front or monthly).
(7) Ask for a copy of their complaints procedure and whether their terms of contract include:
(i) an undertaking to act truthfully and with integrity at all times (it does not, it only says that they will act with due care which does not cover misrepresentation).
(ii) termination due to breach of contract or gross negligence by JDW, which results in them forfeiting their right to their management fee (it does not).
If you ask for all the above, you will be protected to an extent in that you will have written evidence of your negotiations to cover what is not covered in your contract with JDW. HOWEVER, just do not expect any good follow up or actual management of your property, based on my experience JDW's view is that the 16% management fee is their right irrespective of the service they provide.
My experience is very similar to what the Landlord below indicated. This is the first time that I rent my property (I am moving out of London). JDW were delightful to deal with whilst I was looking for a tenant (very affable and on appearances fairly helpful). The problems started once they found me a tenant:
(1) The charges soon mounted up (you can't get out of the tenancy agreement charge £275 + VAT, either they draft it or charge that to review yours), they deduct £250 for a couple of months towards a float for potential call out charges and they push you for the inventory to be outsourced (£225 + VAT). Whilst their terms of business clearly highlight this, it is not discussed before you are hooked.
(2) the tenancy agreement that they send you is a generic document, so it needs to reviewed very carefully as it is full of errors (I am solicitor). It begs the question as to you pay the princely sum £275 + VAT if you have to effectively re-draft it for them.
(3) you will not receive the rent for the first month or two or worse three months (depending on the amount of rent you get), as they deduct their 16% Management Fee upfront for the length of the tenancy, even though this is not spelled out in their contract with you. When challenged, they say that this is established practice.
(4) they promise to make the handover smooth, taking the hassle out for you, including switching over utilities. This is not true, the tenant called me a month into the rental to ask what to do regarding utilities, as he was expressly told that the Agent would take care of this and they hadn't. My contract with JDW was clear that this was their responsibility and hence part of the 16% management fee.
Anyway, I will not be renewing my property with them. So make what you want of my experience, I wish to stress that I do not know if I had a one off, bad experience or not.
However, to avoid what I went through, if you use John D Wood in Battersea my advice is as follows, BEFORE you sign any document or agree verbally to giving them a mandate to manage your property:
(1) Always communicate by email.
(2) If you have a conversation with them in person or one the phone, back this up with an email to resume your understanding.
(3) Ask for precise information as to when the first month's rent will hit your account (i.e.: which day after the tenant has paid, bank transfers nowadays are instant, so any delay due "bank systems" means that they are really sitting on the cash to earn interest).
(4) Ask for confirmation for the amount of their management fees and when and how this is expected to be taken (do not get fobbed off with their terms of business, ask them to spell it out in an email).
(5) Ask for confirmation as to who will be tasked for switching over utilities.
(6) Ask for confirmation as how the tenant deposit protection scheme works, who looks after it, what the landlord's and tenant's rights are and how much it will cost to administer (again is this taken up front or monthly).
(7) Ask for a copy of their complaints procedure and whether their terms of contract include:
(i) an undertaking to act truthfully and with integrity at all times (it does not, it only says that they will act with due care which does not cover misrepresentation).
(ii) termination due to breach of contract or gross negligence by JDW, which results in them forfeiting their right to their management fee (it does not).
If you ask for all the above, you will be protected to an extent in that you will have written evidence of your negotiations to cover what is not covered in your contract with JDW. HOWEVER, just do not expect any good follow up or actual management of your property, based on my experience JDW's view is that the 16% management fee is their right irrespective of the service they provide.
What agent could do to change your mind?
General observation: to act with honesty and integrity which was lacking in our negotiations. Precise observation, to do a much better on drafting contracts rather than send a generic document, otherwise their charge of ‚£275 + VAT is unjustifiable.Attached Filesnbsp;
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Latest Reviews
13th Oct 2020
reviewed by 'Manuel'
3rd Feb 2019
reviewed by 'K'
22nd Feb 2017
reviewed by 'william'
14th Jan 2014
reviewed by 'Sophia'
20th Dec 2013
reviewed by 'Huw'
9th Dec 2013
reviewed by 'Charlie'
Opening Hours
Address
John D Wood & Co
501 Battersea Park Road
Battersea,London
Greater London
SW11 4LW
020 7717 5105
Performance statistics
| Services | Valuation Accuracy | Fees Satisfaction | Min Price of property reviewed | Max Price of property reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | 50% | 100% | £0 | £0 |
| Lettings | 0% | 0% | £0 | £0 |
Review statistics
| From Landlords | From Tenants | From Vendors | From Buyers | Other | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Areas covered
Services offered
- Sales
- Lettings
- Block Management
- Surveys
- Conveyancing
- Mortgage Advice
- Home Builder
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Oct 13,2020
Oct 13,2020
0
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Quite possibly the worst company in the UK. John D Wood manages a flat we have are renting out and it's taken them 7 months to fix a rodent problem we had in our property.
The service is appalling and I can easily say it's the ...
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Feb 03,2019
Feb 03,2019
1
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I moved to my wonderful new home in Battersea. I had great help from Sophie and the team at John D Wood. This is the second home I have bought through this company in thirty years. The whole expierience was smooth and professional and I ...
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Comment on agent fees
Everything was thoroughly explained.
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Feb 22,2017
Feb 22,2017
6
people found
this helpful
this helpful
John D Wood Manages my property whilst I am based overseas. do not use them if you want your property properly managed. Terrible service...
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Jan 14,2014
Jan 14,2014
6
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I would advise anyone looking to rent a house (or landlord for that matter) to use anyone in preference to John D Wood in Battersea.
They do the minimum possible. Emails to the property manager go un-answered. On top of that, we have had 3 different ...
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Dec 20,2013
Dec 20,2013
6
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I contacted John D Wood in Battersea as prospective renter. At first she seemed pleasant and asked me a lot of details about my search. I told her that I was only interested in properties in and around Queenstown Road, no where else. She later ...
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Dec 09,2013
Dec 09,2013
11
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I have been renting my flat with John D Wood for the last 4 years. Like most managing agents, they have been pretty useless but happy to pocket their 15% Management Commission from me for frankly not a lot. Anyway, my main gripe came as a result ...
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What agent could do to change your mind?
Unethical. They tried to hoodwink me into accepting something which breaches the law let alone the Property Ombudsman's guidelines.Attached Filesnbsp;
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Nov 29,2013
Nov 29,2013
16
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I have the worst experience with John D Wood estate agency!! To start with they charge me an agency fee of £275 (plus VAT) to check my references -and I know they have NOT checked anything! After that they made a real mess with the contract ...
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What agent could do to change your mind?
Better diligence in drafting tenancy agreement and more integrity in dealing with tenants.Attached Filesnbsp;
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Oct 21,2013
Oct 21,2013
22
people found
this helpful
this helpful
I rented my house through JDW and then received an offer from the tenant who wanted to acquire the property. As it happens, we were thinking of selling up. We agreed the terms of the sale on a private basis and then the sale was ...
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What agent could do to change your mind?
Dishonest. Illegal clause in tenancy agreementAttached Filesnbsp;
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Oct 20,2013
Oct 20,2013
22
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Terrible experience with JDW in Battersea. After the tenant moved in, I did not receive rent for the first 3 months as they took their fee up front. This was the first that I knew about this and however much I raised this issue, I hit ...
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What agent could do to change your mind?
Be more honest with me in dealings on fees and manage property betterAttached Filesnbsp;
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Sep 11,2013
Sep 11,2013
27
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Ok, this my first time on this website. When it comes to reading things on the internet, I generally don't take them for granted. Therefore, in this review I hope to share with you my experience and whether you accept my story, I will give ...
read full review
read full review
What agent could do to change your mind?
General observation: to act with honesty and integrity which was lacking in our negotiations. Precise observation, to do a much better on drafting contracts rather than send a generic document, otherwise their charge of ‚£275 + VAT is unjustifiable.Attached Filesnbsp;
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Yes
Yes
Sep 03,2013
Sep 03,2013
27
people found
this helpful
this helpful
First time renter with John D Wood. Cannot recommend them I am afraid. Charged me £275 to draft the Tenancy Agreement which was full of mistakes. They told me that they would clean the flat before moving in, they did not do this. 10 days after rental, ...
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What agent could do to change your mind?
Responding to correspondence. Paying rent promptly. Following basic instructions (some of which were relayed 4 times).Attached Filesnbsp;
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May 23,2013
May 23,2013
27
people found
this helpful
this helpful
Not good experience at all.
Took several weeks and a lot of chasing to recover my monies from their so-called "Registration fee" (read Extortionate fee). As to be expected their tendency not to respond, and ignore requests for explanation of their fees deducted also remains ...
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Sep 03, 2013
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(1)
Just be mindful that the Office of Fair Trading got a ruling from the High Court in 2011, precisely to protect Landlords against such sharp practice of evergreen fees and renewal, the onus is now on the Letting Agent "to check that their terms and conditions are fair and transparent".
This means that such fees have to be very clearly highlighted (bold underlining etc.) and frankly should be stipulated orally and followed up by an email for good order.
More details on the OFT website below: ...
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.
