Leaders - Southampton Reviews 53

Nice response, fast viewing, good explanation and flexible timing for homing

Lucy from the Leaders team, she gave full support during our rental process.

Sophie is really helpful and helped us with a TDS dispute. Would recommend

Smooth and professional

Great company. Been a tenant with them for 8 years. Quick to respond to emails and calls. Quick to resolve issues within the home. Would recommend

A big thank you to Will for finding me the perfect tenant. You have been a dream to work with, professional, open, and charming. You took on board exactly what I was expecting in a tenant, and you delivered. I wish you every success in the future.

A reliable and prompt service. Assistance is usually swift and thorough with easy communication methods.

I rarely write public reviews, but my experience with Leaders estate agents (Southampton Branch) regarding the sale of my property has been extremely disappointing.

From the beginning, communication was poor and updates were inconsistent. I repeatedly had to chase the sales team for basic information about marketing activity and progress. The level of engagement I expected from a professional sales agency simply was not there.

What concerned me most was the way responsibility was shifted onto the tenants. I was told that viewings could not proceed because the tenants were refusing access. However, after speaking directly with the tenants myself, they confirmed that they had not refused or declined any viewing requests. Blaming tenants without evidence raises serious questions about transparency and professionalism.

There was also a major oversight where the property was not reinstated on Rightmove when it should have been, which delayed the marketing process further. This was later acknowledged as an internal mistake.

As a landlord and client, you expect clear communication, accurate information and proactive marketing. Unfortunately that was not my experience.

I have now escalated the matter to the Property Ombudsman for independent review.

If you are considering selling your property, I would strongly advise doing careful research before instructing an agent. Based on my experience, I would not recommend using Leaders for property sales.

It has been great experience. Quick to resolve problems.

Renting through Leaders has been a smooth process and a really quick progression from first viewing to my move in date. There are some lovely colleagues who really try to support with any questions asked.

I’ve received lots of calls from 4 different people within Leaders and associated Romans Winchester. Appalling!!! 1st agent Jas belittling re the housing process, querying whether I knew I had to sell my house in order to buy one?!! And pushing me to get the house valued with them and on the market.
2nd member of staff called to book me in for this coming Friday and apologised for their rude colleague prior to them.
I then randomly get a call from a man in Romans Winchester without introducing who they are asking me who previously valued my house and whether I want them to do it- no I’d never heard of them!!!
4th member of staff Darrell called stating that there is no availability on the date that I had been booked in for just 30 minutes prior! And rudely stated that he had tried to call me numerous times and that I had not called him back - which is not true. Also please do recognise that I work full time, we did not have an appointment booked and again undue pressure! What a joke. An inept company. I do not want any contact with either branch!

I had a really positive experience renting through Sophie at Leaders. She was always professional, responsive, and very helpful throughout the tenancy. She made the process smooth and stress-free, and I truly appreciated her support and guidance. Highly recommend working with Sophie!

they are quick to take money but do not return overcharged money. it is taking months to get our money back

We’ve had the best experience with leaders. Which has been all down to having Daryl for support, great advice and great communication. Always there by email or call. Josh sold our home on the first viewing couldn’t have asked for anyone better. Both so friendly and helpful, Would highly recommend.

Leaders Southampton have been nothing but amazing. They’re always very quick to respond and very helpful. I would like to specifically thank Sophie Stevens, the property manager. She is extremely kind, attentive and supportive with any queries or reports. I have nothing but positive feedback for Sophie and cannot thank her enough.

Our experience with Leaders Southampton was extremely disappointing from start to finish. We were given countless assurances that turned out to be completely false.

When we moved in, we were promised that the flat would be professionally cleaned. Instead, we found mould in the bathroom and filthy markings all over the walls. It was clear no proper cleaning had been done despite repeated promises.

The contract also stated that the flat would come with a washing machine, but when we arrived, there was nothing there.

We were told we could apply for a parking permit, but after contacting the council, we discovered the property isn’t even eligible. It’s outside the permit zone and was built after the council’s cut-off for permits.

Communication throughout our tenancy was abysmal. Every time we tried to get an answer, staff seemed completely unaware of what was going on. When we moved out, they didn’t even know whether we still had the keys or that we were leaving, we had to go into the office to tell them in person.

To make matters worse, they charged us £100 for a toilet seat that became cracked due to smoke coming from another flat through the extractor fan. I had stood on it trying to block the cigarette smoke, and accepted full responsibility for the damage and offered to pay for a replacement. However, Leaders insisted on charging £100, which was absolutely ludicrous for such a cheap, flimsy seat.

Overall, the entire experience was chaotic, unprofessional, and stressful. Leaders Southampton repeatedly broke promises, mismanaged the tenancy, and unfairly charged tenants. I would strongly recommend avoiding them, there are far more reliable and transparent letting agents in the area.

Claims of active buyers proved false from Daryl and Josh; even within the cooling-off period, fees were still charged.

If I could give it zero stars I would.
From start to finish its been appalling. Lucy never responds to my emails - even in the early days of simple questions about viewings and questions about properties. I would always have to chase with several calls which should of been a warning sign then.
I finally found a place and signed the contract after a virtual viewing - due to living the other side of the country and not being able to view the property before moving down. I told them about my health conditions with allergies and particularly to mould and asked for the property to be deep cleaned before I arrived.
On my move in date I collected the keys and headed to the property excited with everything I had packed in a van that had come from the other side of the country. As soon as I walked into the property I started coughing due to the smell of black mould throughout the property.
I walked in and walked straight out again. I took photos of the black mould everywhere.
Within this time I was sent an email from Lucy at Leaders sending me a survey of the property containing bad damp and mould problems - Why was I not made aware of this before I signed the contract?

I drove back to the office as no one seems to be able to answer a phone when you call the branch.
I went in there shocked but calm, explained the situation that because I am allergic to black mould I can't live there and not only that but it isn't safe for anyone to live there. I asked for my money back and for them to find me somewhere else to live. As I am now homeless, have a van full of all of my belongings on street parking, I start my new job at the hospital Monday morning. Lucy said she would investigate this further and then get back to me. This was all in the morning.
Half an hour before they closed still heard nothing and no answer on the phone - shock horror. I heistantly walked back into the branch for an update on what was happening as I had no where to live. I was told they had sent over the photos I had taken and sent them to the landlord and was waiting for a response. Confused, upset and completely distressed I booked a hotel for the night. The following day I went in at lunchtime for an update. Lucy had no updates and clearly not chased anything.
As I continued to tell her I am homeless and start my new job on Monday a man starts speaking loudly at us from behind his computer screen in the background - doesn't stand up, introduce himself or anything like.
Saying he is waiting to hear back from the Landlord regarding the matter... and I quote 'The contract is between you and the landlord I cannot release you from it.' Fair enough.
We explained the conditions of the property and they said they had no idea about the mould... however that wasn't true because they sent us a survey on it, they told us when we confronted them about the mould issue that they thought they had cleaned it up, also they had put down 6-7 moisture absorber boxes around the property. None of this was mentioned to me before I signed, on the video tour, none of that was highlighted even though I told them about my severe allergy problems. We explained we needed the deposit money back so we can secure another property to move into.
After saying this the man said - and I quote.
'You are not our client, the Landlord is our client.'
Okay so if we are not your client can we have our deposit back and first months rent? Why am I paying you?
Can I have the Landlords details if I am not your client so I can deal with them directly?
After not getting anywhere we excepted defeated and went back to the hotel to start looking at what legal action we could take - which turns out we had a few options. The sheer lack of empathy, support, and consciousness from one human being to another was disgusting.
On Monday 7th July towards the end of the day I finally had an update from Lucy - To tell me the Landlord has released me from the contract and agreed to a full refund of my deposit and first months rent. She asked if I would like a refund or for them to hold on to the money to use on another property with them. I requested a refund straight away and gave her my bank details.
We are now the 22nd July. I have had no response from Lucy since, numerous emails have been sent with no response, numerous calls to the branch that haven't been answered. I have finally gotten through today to someone and they have told me they are not sure why Lucy hasn't responded and they aren't sure what has happened with my refund as she is on annual leave. Why am I not surprised.

Not only have I lost money on hiring a van for longer, hotel costs, losing a weeks wages due to being homeless, cancelled patients appointments, been left completely distressed, I still have had no luck getting my refund.

If I don't get my money back in my account in the next 24 hours. Not only will I be going to the papers but I will be taking legal action.

Avoid at all costs.

We dealt with Josh Rahman, he was very good. Very prompt and responsive with queries. He went above and beyond and great advisor.

Moved into an apartment at the end of 2024.
The apartment was dirty after "two cleans had been done"
The landlords contractor told me that leaders gave them 24 hours to sort the apartment out before i moved in so i got shoddy painting and no repairs.
everything that i logged with leaders didnt get back to the landlord and i had to wait months for my first fix or replacement this was after i got the number and contacted the contractor myself.
The contractor then told me that they would be moving from Leaders to a new estate angency company and that they should have let me know about it two weeks prior, i didnt get any communications about this until a few days later.
Basically just shoved me into an apartment and told me to do one for 3 months before giving us to the new estate agent.
They also told us that we would have a garden,we dont!
every month we paid our dues and every month they said we hadnt.