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Why are Connells so Crap??

4 replies

HorribleHisTories15 · 04/12/2023 14:00

Has anyone ever rented using the so called professional renting company Connells?

We rent one property out through their management services and have been doing so for nearly 10 years with the same trustworthy and reliable tenants.

The tenants have only recently had one increase in their rent and they are good communicators with us, unbeknown to Connells.

Connells pay out the rent to us late - it is meant to arrive on the 1st of each month. Sometimes up until the 5th, nothing arrives. The tenants have been sending us via email a receipt of the rent paid via their bank account and they often pay into their Connells account by the 27th of a month in advance (e.g.they pay on the 27th March into Connells' account, and Connells are meant to pay into our account on 1st of April).

They email Connells with us in BC and they get lazy responses back. Like "we will have to check with the landlord", meanwhile they don't bother until they get another email from the tenants. We have written many times and telephoned, and earlier on in the contract we would go in as we lived not too far away; Connells should make necessary updates/ changes especially if it affects the tenants quality of life (replace the cooker/boiler/ windows etc), there was a whole list that we agreed to of items which would be seen to immediately given the necessity. They still delay on every last thing.

They sent interim statements which show nothing, absolutely no change in the account.

There is a change in contact person about every three months. So, James will be gone, then Saskia will be there. You communicate with Saskia, then the next time Saskia's email is forwarded to someone else as Saskia no longer works there. We've got a list of about 10 people that we have communicated with in as many years. And have had to keep restarting the conversations and topics.

Things don't get followed up. Storm damage isn't a priority, alternatives are substandard (we want to keep the property to with the style of the build, wooden doors to be replaced/ updated, and Connells offers 2 plastic PVC doors for example). Even the tenants have wondered at some suggestions.

The tenants have had a son move out (now an adult), and a daughter's friend move in. Yes it is fine. Connells are unaware of the change in a member, and believe that the tenants had 2 daughters all along. Even the neighbours with whom we are still close to have concurred that one adult child is now elsewhere.

Is anyone else familiar with such a farcical company?
Grr

OP posts:
cannotfindanickname · 04/12/2023 16:01

I used them to manage my rented out house for 2 years. I don't believe they did any managing at all. It completely put me off using an agency for this and i now do it myself. As i was effectively doing it myself then anyway!

KievLoverTwo · 04/12/2023 16:35

Seriously, just get rid.

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.connells.co.uk

https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/news/2023/08/11/brokers-warn-conditional-selling-becoming-more-prevalent-as-connells-under-fire/

The last managed tenancy we had was Belvoir (who I believe are franchised branches?), and they were absolutely superb. It didn't matter how many problems we threw their way, they always got them fixed (and they were MANY, many many).

There are agencies out there who would cut one another's throats to get your business right now; the lettings industry is keeping a lot of estate/managing agents afloat.

Just jump ship.

Connells is rated "Poor" with 1.9 / 5 on Trustpilot

Do you agree with Connells's TrustScore? Voice your opinion today and hear what 1,338 customers have already said.

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.connells.co.uk

Desolatewardrobe · 04/12/2023 16:37

They sound crap but why are you still with them?!

HorribleHisTories15 · 04/12/2023 19:51

Thank you for the websites @KievLoverTwo and the support @cannotfindanickname . Yes, I know @Desolatewardrobe , that is a very good question. We have had so many cyclic events with Connells, that we have kept on believing that it was teething problems on their part, or change of staff, or new staff, or or or. There always seems to be some random excuse on their part. And we used to live abroad many years ago (another continent), so we didn't want to change estate agent whilst so far away. We also didn't want to cause any upheaval for the tenants, who are very hands on if need be. I think that because we have let the property with them for such a long time, we falsely kept going with them. Our experience with other estate agents has been good on our side, but we have understood that they have been bullish towards our tenants on the other side, so I think that we have been a bit hesitant.

DH has always said that we should let independently, as we have with a property abroad @cannotfindanickname . Have you found home insurance and rental insurance okay to acquire? We still have a small mortgage on the property and part of the insurance whilst letting is that a management letting company is involved (although that was probably because we were on the other side of the world).

I'm going to show those websites to my DH @KievLoverTwo and get on with changing. I have never had such an animosity towards estate agents. I'll probably write to you and yours too.

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