Regal Homes Northwest / Owl Estates
Regal Homes Northwest / Owl Estates: Unprofessional and Exploitative Practices
I am writing this review to share my experience, companies owned or managed by Zafer Mahmood. I previously posted a review months ago, but it was mistakenly logged into my daughter’s account (Maddie Tomaszewski Review). Now, I am revisiting my experience to highlight the unfair and bullying tactics that this company uses to exploit vulnerable tenants.
In response to a comment made by the owner regarding the condition of the property when we left, I’d like to clarify that the property was cleaned, repainted (even though repainting is typically not required as it falls under general wear and tear), and all of our belongings were removed. Despite this, the owner still tried to charge us outrageous amounts. His persistence in pursuing this was admirable in a way, but ultimately, it was clear that his goal was to profit off vulnerable tenants who might not understand their legal rights.
Unfortunately, this seems to be a common practice. According to the Channel 4 Landlords from Hell documentary and a report by The Scotsman, Zafer Mahmood owns over 200 properties and has been involved in unethical practices, including pleading guilty to operating unregistered lets in Edinburgh. You can read about this in the article: The Scotsman article, and I also recommend watching the Channel 4 documentary Landlords from Hell Revisited from 2011: Channel 4 documentary.
Additionally, the charity Acorn helped a man named Ben, whose elderly guarantors were threatened by this company. You can learn more about Ben's case here: Acorn Charity Facebook link.
Now, onto my personal experience: the property I rented had severe mould issues, which resulted in my daughter being hospitalized for pneumonia over Christmas, including Christmas Day. My older daughter also faced recurring respiratory problems, which were confirmed by two respiratory specialists in Manchester and Bolton. Their advice was to leave the property immediately due to the mould and poor living conditions, which we did. The mould was a direct result of the substandard property conditions, including leaking roofs, poor maintenance, and multiple issues that the landlord ignored. When I sent proof from the specialists about the mould, the owner had the audacity to claim that mould was a tenant’s responsibility and that I would be charged for having a specialist come out to fix it. This is, of course, a complete lie—mould is a landlord’s responsibility.
The property also had numerous other issues, such as faulty boilers, no CO2 alarms, leaking bathroom radiators, and blown windows that caused drafts. The owner refused to take responsibility. It was clear that he was only interested in getting as much money as possible from tenants, even if it meant putting their health and safety at risk.
He tried to take me to court over the charges, but I won my case because I had documented every issue, from missing pieces of skirting boards to tiny holes in the walls from day one. I also recorded all interactions with the landlord and kept evidence of the substandard conditions. He eventually withdrew his case when he realized we had more than enough evidence. He also repeatedly tried to use the Reposit scheme to claim money that he wasn’t entitled to, but in the end, he only received the rent that I would have paid anyway.
I’m not writing this to slander the company but to inform others about the tactics they use. If you’re renting from Regal Homes Northwest or Owl Estates, make sure to take photos of everything, document all issues, and always read the paperwork carefully. Don’t fall for their tricks. If you find yourself in a situation with this company, I strongly recommend you stand your ground and take them to court if necessary. The system is in place to protect tenants, but this company exploits those who don’t understand their rights.
Be cautious when dealing with this so-called business and owner. I’m happy to offer evidence to anyone who needs it for their own case.