Acorn Estates in Cardiff

cardiffgull

I would recommend avoiding them like the plague....in my experience, they don't deliver what they promise, provide accommodation that is below an agreed standard, and completely ignore the Deposit Protection Scheme.

They previously traded under A to Z properties, but rebranded last year. (due to a poor reputation perhaps?)

If you must use them, get EVERYTHING in writing, but personally i would recommend avoiding them altogether. Established agencies such as Moginie James and Kelvin Francis are established for a reason....they are professional, and honest.

arcon5

Unfortunately the DPS scheme is a bit of a joke anyway. Recent judgements mean you cannot sue for the statutory penalty after your tenancy has ended and beginning court proceedings during will likely be responded with a section 21 and the second the landlord registers the deposit your case has disappeared.

Not only that but either party can opt out of the alternatute dispute service in favour of court anyway.

Personally, I would never pay any agency any money without all terms in writing anyway. Too many are sly & corrupt in my experience.

So hat exactly is your gripe with this company?

cardiffgull

arcon5 wrote: »

Unfortunately the DPS scheme is a bit of a joke anyway. Recent judgements mean you cannot sue for the statutory penalty after your tenancy has ended and beginning court proceedings during will likely be responded with a section 21 and the second the landlord registers the deposit your case has disappeared.

Not only that but either party can opt out of the alternatute dispute service in favour of court anyway.

Personally, I would never pay any agency any money without all terms in writing anyway. Too many are sly & corrupt in my experience.

So hat exactly is your gripe with this company?

I agree, the majority of landlord's ignore the DPS requirements, as with such scope to "put things right" once their malpractice has been exposed, why would they??

Main gripe with Acorn involves their lack of integrity.

From the first to the last, they didn't fulfill promises to bring the house to a certain standard (on day one of the tenancy, their was no fridge or oven, yet they claimed that full rent would be due as the house was "liveable"...which i found "laughable"!).

When this point was argued, they agreed that management fees would be refunded, which never materialised. Twice they asked us in for meetings at their offices at a certain time, only to find their office locked and their phones switched off. They failed to conduct a house visit, even when i provided evidence that other housemates were growing drugs on the property! The list goes on....

Unfortunately, with so many people now resorting to renting due to high deposits required for a mortgage and/or lack of appetite to invest in an asset with no growth, the demand for rent means tey are likely to get away with shoddy practices.