Andrews Estate Agents Review

Overall Rating

Nothing to compare against other agents

Indifferent service. No guidance on their contract terms. Very unfavourable terms. Bad methods of arranging contracts.

My partner has recently rented her house using the Swindon agency to find tenants and arrange contracts. They promised a fair valuation would be advertised and expected a quick uptake. On that basis my partner agreed to let them act for her. There were very few actual viewings for ages and certainly no takers. Eventually a rent reduction was agreed. It was suggested she let to a couple who would accept the property if certain improvements were incorporated. It was agreed, but without any feedback suddenly it was announced another set of tenants would take the place. This was agreed but there were so many delays in arranging the completion of work they undertake. To be fair this might have been slow provision of information for employers providing salary details, etc.

The deal was bad in that the commission was payable based on 12 monthly rentals being received and was a percentage of that figure. The tenancy agreed was made for a one year tenancy but with a 6 month let out. This, we were informed, was to allow us to cease the tenancy if they were unsatisfactory tenants. However we learned, after the tenants moved in, that they had only wanted 6 months tenancy to fit it with their work terms.

The agreement to be signed by the potential landlord had a lot of small print which was not explained during the introduction process. After signing I noticed some clauses that I thought were unfair. The most significant was that if the tenant later decided that they wanted to buy the property and it was agreed to sell, then Andrews would claim an additional 2% of the sale proceeds. I don't know if all agents have this clause but it has the endorsement of ARLA, and I think this against the interests of the owner.

Having provided the introduction service the agency told the tenants not to contact them if any problems arose as they would then have to be dealt with by the landlord. OK, that was the service we accepted but they could have been a bit more sympathetic to the tenants needs.

The whole method of dealing with customers and tenants gave the impression that the only consideration in their minds was of making the most money possible and satisfaction and service were of low priority. Sadly they gave no reason for us to return to them for a future rental arrangement and I would advise great caution of potential letters of property to be vary wary of such methods of dealing. I would not recommend using them again and will be ultra cautious when approaching other agencies to act on our behalf and I wonder if ARLA is supposed to be acting for the benefit of Letters or tenants, but the impression seems that they are paid by agencies and work solely for the benefit of agencies.