Ok - here is a review that I never thought that I would write - one praising those money grabbing, ruthless estate agents in London and the South East - Foxton (cue pantomime boos)

Location
Foxtons have offices all over London and the South East - they also have a great website where you can register to look for rental or to buy a property.

Offices
These are open much longer than normal estate agents - 7 days a week and until 7.00 - 8.00 in the evening so you don't have to spend all day house hunting at the weekend or when you should be at work!

Services
They, as the name suggests sell and rent properties. We used them to rent out our house - having fallen pregnant and found a gorgeous house to buy we needed to rent out our other house, or sell it fairly quickly. We had tried using other estate agents but despite the house being well located (4 mins from East Putney Tube, 10 mins from Rail station, well served by shops, bars etc, and beautifully redecorated throughout we could not find a tenant).

Foxtons are by no way the cheapest estate agent to use, so don't expect to get a bargain as a landlord! However what you will get is viewings seven days a week and in the evenings, not just the day time -the property being advertised EVERYWHERE, and very aggressive sales people pushing your property.

Having had it on the rental market for 3 weeks with another agent it took Foxtons two days to get our first offer - one we turned down because it was for a family of 4 sharing our two bedroomed house (which suits a couple or two sharers). THis is typical Foxtons - if you have a tiny one bedroomed flat expect them to take a couple with a baby to see it (and of course they will get an offer) - be strong and say no!!!!

Having done so - Foxtons took 1 week to come back with a better offer - two sharers - an accountant and a surveyor, willing to pay a great rental price with minimal furniture. We took this offer - the best thing being that they wanted to move in 2 days later.

Extras
If you are renting a house through Foxtons they will offer you all the necessary paper work (Energy Performance Certificate, gas safety certificate etc) - STEER CLEAR - DO NOT TOUCH WITH A BARGE POLE - they will charge you £99+VAT for a gas safety certificate (I paid £40 elsewhere) and £150+VAT for an EPC (I paid £50 elsewhere). The Foxtons staff are always really sweet about this (they say well done you for getting it so much cheaper!)

Contracts
Given that we had two days to arrange everything I expected there to be problems - but there are not Foxtons will send the contract over by fax / email and you can return it the same way. They got the tenants to pay their deposits and have organised this for us too.

Price
Ok - now as I said Foxtons are not cheap but for a rental and rent collection service they charge an 11% commission. THis is the same as most of the other estate agents commissions so is not too bad.

Foxtons also charge a £375 admin fee for landlords - which is a lot more than other agencies - but much cheaper than a month with the house unoccupied!

As I mentioned above their "extras" prices are extortionate so steer well clear.

They also charge the tenants a huge fee, so make lots of money for very little.

If you take their management service expect to pay 16% commission (again not much more than other agents).

The commission is all taken up front so you won't receive any of your first month (or two) rent - but then all the money is yours and you don't have to chase the tenant!

Overall
OK they are cowboys - they charge the earth and they will rip you off where possible but if you want to sell / rent your house quickly and for the best price go to Foxtons (you don't have to like them)