Winkworth-less (Winkworth)

Member Name: littlepinkcat

Product:	Winkworth
Date:	20/09/06 (457 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good website, high quality properties

Disadvantages: Some rude staff, unauthorised access to homes

I am currently renting a property via Winkworth and have had problems with their service throughout the rental process:

1) Therr Kennington branch failed to turn up to a pre-arranged viewing, and were extremely rude to both my partner and me when we called to enquire about this.

2) We arranged a programme of Saturday viewings with an agent at the Streatham office. On arrival at the properties it became clear that the current tenants had not been informed and were in various states of undress, or asleep. The agent appeared to have no qualms about using her keys to access the properties if tenants did not answer the door quickly enough - I dread moving out!

3) Having agreed to rent a property we attended the office to sign a contract. We informed them that obligatory sections of the contract about the Housing Act were not in place - they remedied this grudgingly.

4) They insisted on sending our standing order forms to the bank, rather than letting us arrange this ourselves. They sent the wrong form to the wrong bank, did not inform us that the orders had been returned, and we received complaints from our landlord that the first month's rent had not arrived.

5) Following ongoing problems with the roof management of the property was passed from our landlord to Winkworth. 2 days after they took over the property they accessed it without our permission, leaving only a voicemail leting us know. What would you do if you found a man with a hammer in your house?!

Don't use them - it's not Winkworth it!

Summary: Winkworths gave us problems at every stage of the rental process