Warning to landlords
Part of this review appeared on the Victoria Derbyshire programme feature on abuse of tenants on 30/11/18.
Part of this review featured in the Property Services ombudsman award of £500 against Chattings for gross dereliction of duty.
Part of this review featured in County Court award (E8QZ4111) of £1490 for ransacking of my property.
I pulled my properties from Chattings 18 months ago and put them with a local lettings agent Lovetts at 2% less charge and a massively better service.
This is Chattings record in management of our properties:
They let a property without my consent and without a guarantor to a convicted drug dealer with only a fictitious job, with no address since leaving prison for assault against a woman. They never checked the property during his tenancy in spite of numerous neighbour complaints and a police break in. When he departed the property leaving unpaid rent, they still had not visited the property.
They charged a tenant with poor English comprehension £300 for changing the name of his partner. On his concluding the tenancy, Chattings delayed returning his deposit for more than a month even though I had immediately signed it off. (Pure spite against a vulnerable tenant)
My new lettings agency (Lovetts) had mess to clear up including failing to register meter readings with energy supplier on changeover, and calming nerves of distraught tenants.
Accounting procedure undertakings were repeatedly broken
On inspecting back monthly statements, I found numerous spurious charges made by Chattings against the accounts. After getting reimbursement, they would appear again later.
One couple split up so never showed on the date to sign and commence the tenancy. Nobody at Chattings even noticed till I enquired days later. It seems all they were interested in was receiving the tenants deposit which they pocketed. When I challenged it, the regional manager who was barely literate was quite threatening. His conduct was addressed by senior management but he remained in post.
On two occasions tenants changed locks without Chattings being aware.
I renovated a flat to a very high standard. It was trashed to the extent that it cost over £2,000 and a lost holiday to put right. Chattings had not taken up references. The tenant had done similar to a previous flat and has apparently done similar again.
Prospective customers should study their contract carefully. Chattings are very adept at contract mechanisms to lock you in. I make one comment in Chattings favour. They were excellent until they were taken over by Countrywide Properties. Like an earlier landlord review, the answer to ‘Would I recommend?’ is an equivocal NO. I would advise using a local lettings agency. For me, Lovetts in Burntwood have been superb.
13 de enero de 2020
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