Borthwicks Sales & Lettings

Reviews

• Awful

  Borthwicks are rude, patronising and difficult to get hold off. We had to wait weeks for the return of our holding deposit after they cancelled the move-in of our house. You'd think that considering they left us homeless weeks before our move-in date that they'd send us our money back ASAP. They made some rubbish excuse about having to wait for money back from the landlord - which was just a technique to stall us. We paid our money to them which we were told was for them "as our fee for placing you in the property, arranging your references, inventory, deposit scheme, contracts etc" and had NOTHING to do with the landlord! They may seem professional in person but they will do nothing but be rude and try and swindle you out of money! Avoid!!

  10

  Lydia C.
  Review Date: 26/07/2009 Report review
• Crooks.

  Being students and therefore seemingly naive, Borthwicks obviously believed they had the right to screw us around from the onset. The viewings of the house were badly organised, with the wrong keys being bought to the wrong houses. Inventories and money negotiations were always very shady, only given vague answers when we enquired about such things. Upon having decided to go for one of the houses we were made to pay a holding fee (one weeks deposit), which wasn't noted down appropriately, and all rather rushed by Borthwicks. A moving in date was then settled, until 2 weeks before the stated date a phone call was received. Borthwicks told us that the landlord had removed all of his properties from the market so there was nothing they could do. We emailed them our addresses for the holding fee to be refunded and are yet (2weeks later) to hear anything back from them. In the mean time, it also turns out that 'our' house is still on the market, just advertised for more money. A company of crooks. Disgraceful.

  10

  Natasha N.
  Review Date: 22/07/2009 Report review
• Borthwicks are shady

  Having had to deal with this agency for the past year I have found them unprofessional, untrustworthy and generally way below par compared to other agencies. I agree with the comments above, I too had to pay an 'extra fee' and additional fees like, paying to join the lease, paying for a new inventory, paying to check out. It has taken me one full month and threatening them with legal action for them to return my deposit. After many excuses that seemed to be nothing to do with my residency there but rather a housemate, that they were withholding the deposit until the person moving into his room had written to them saying they were happy with it. shady. Do not enter into an agreement with them unless you absolutely have to. More trouble than they are worth.

  10

  Lucy G.
  Review Date: 02/06/2009 Report review
• AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!

  Do NOT use this lettings agent. We've had TWO bad experiences of them, and know plenty other people who've had more! Unless you're some sort of masochist, leave well alone! Their standard contracts contain all sorts of ridiculous clauses: you have to PAY for a checkout appointment for instance, you don't get that with a professional! They will lie and cheat - they're not on your side!! - they will take as long as they can to give you the deposit back, in our case over a YEAR, and we'd paid all the bills and rent! The houses they let out are in a disgusting state. They don't respect your right to live in the property - they will give people keys and wander in unannounced! If there's a problem (for us, electricity failed) then they'll do nothing - we were without power for a month and they never fixed it! They lied countless times about the deposit cheques being in the post, dragging it out for a year! You can't trust them - we are model tenants, have had lovely experiences with other PROFESSIONAL lettings agents, but these guys really are cowboys. Steer well clear if you know what's good for you.

  30

  Banjo M.
  Review Date: 13/01/2008 Report review
• Delaying tactics and lies.

  After we had paid the deposit to Borthwicks the landlord pulled out. Borthwicks returned my friends' share of the deposit soon enough but it was nearly a year and several phone calls before I got mine back. Through no fault of my own I dealt with them again. They took a non-refundable fee before we signed the contract. They insisted we started paying rent from a date before we moved in. They took an "extra deposit" for reasons which I'm unsure. They entered the flat and took post without warning. When we moved out, they insisted it was professionally cleaned, even though it was cleaner than when we moved in. They insisted on proof that all bills had been paid. They returned my share of the deposit shortly afterwards but my flatmates had to fight with them before they got anything. They lied about having sent it, and when they eventually did (again several, months later) they didn't return the "extra deposit". They deny there ever was an extra deposit. Do not trust them!

  10

  Migwell M.
  Review Date: 06/11/2007 Report review