Chattings Reviews 9

I had a really great experience using Chattings. The whole process was straightforward and stress-free, and everything was handled quickly and efficiently from start to finish.

Ellie and the rest of the team were brilliant — always friendly, professional, and happy to help with any questions. Communication was clear throughout, and they made the whole process feel easy and well organised.

I would definitely recommend Chattings to anyone looking for a reliable and effective agency.
My viewing with Oisin was also a pleasant experience as he made it a good laugh allowing me to feel at home.

Abysmal throughout.
As a tenant I arranged a date to move in (April 2024) and turned up at 2pm as agreed and was asked if I could come back tomorrow because they hadn't completed the paperwork.

After 6 months the contract came to an end. I was advised of this approx 4.5 months into the contract that it wouldn't be renewed. Quoted that it might not be exactly on the 6 month mark as it depended on when the letter would be written. They eventually gave me a date 4 or 5 days after the 6 months had ended but the amount extra that I had to pay didn't calculate correctly. When I contacted them about it, they couldn't explain how those extra days had been calculated and there was no effort to rectify it. I must note that it was in my favour, but there was no effort on their behalf to correct it.

When the property was up for sale they were supposed to advise me of the time of the viewings. Incorrect times given and they couldn't even get the address correct when writing to me.

On moving out of the property. Multiple mistakes were made on the checkout and comments were made on the report that things such as curtain hooks and shelves were missing but were clear to see in the ingoing and outgoing report. They made sh+t up which just says lazy, incompetent and untrustworthy.

The deposits team were not interested and I'm still waiting on my deposit 6 weeks later, despite being ordered by the deposit protection scheme to pay the full amount. I could tell that they had not chased the landlady for my deposit or even looked into the file as they referred to the landlady as Mr and other comments stating that they would wait until Mr x responded.

Unhelpful and incompetent. I've never been treated with such disregard by anyone in my life.

19th Nov'
Received the following email from the company.
Thank you for your email.

I am sorry to hear you have been unhappy with the service.

Please see attached our Complaints Procedure for your perusal, please confirm by reply if you are looking to have this investigated through a formal complaint.

conclusion: They are not interested in resolving any issues, let's shuffle some paper instead of doing anything proactive.

Without a doubt this is the worst real estate agency I've ever dealt with. Utterly incompetent, rude, and just a nightmare to deal with on all letting-related matters. Calls and emails are outright ignored, paid-for work is not done and then agreed refunds are delayed for weeks on end.

I wish I'd read the online reviews before dealing with this company, particularly David Pearce's absolutely scathing review, updated 23 January 2021, which refers to Chattings being hauled over the coals on the Victoria Derbyshire programme.

Avoid at all costs. My partner and I would give zero stars if this site allowed it. We were promised a refund of our letting deposit by Chatting's parent company earlier today, and we will update this review in the event that our deposit is not returned in line with their assurances.

From the moment we called to view the property to paying a deposit and collecting the keys the team (josh and Ellie) they couldn't of been more helpful.

Requests are left months to be sorted, if at all, despite being from both the tenant and the landlord. Or, and they keep your deposit money once the tenancy has ended, too. Avoid.

As ever, a first class service from Chattings. I am very confident in them and have used their services several times. They are friendly, but professional and go above and beyond to ensure they find the perfect tennant for you. They thoroughly vet prospective tennants, so you can relax, knowing that whoever they put forward is reliable and trustworthy. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone. Thanks Chattings Team

Very good agents, managed a number of my properties over the years and always found a tenant quickly at a fair rent, very professional

Part of this review appeared on the Victoria Derbyshire programme feature on abuse of tenants on 30/11/18.
Part of this review featured in the Property Services ombudsman award of £500 against Chattings for gross dereliction of duty.
Part of this review featured in County Court award (E8QZ4111) of £1490 for ransacking of my property.
I pulled my properties from Chattings 18 months ago and put them with a local lettings agent Lovetts at 2% less charge and a massively better service.
This is Chattings record in management of our properties:
They let a property without my consent and without a guarantor to a convicted drug dealer with only a fictitious job, with no address since leaving prison for assault against a woman. They never checked the property during his tenancy in spite of numerous neighbour complaints and a police break in. When he departed the property leaving unpaid rent, they still had not visited the property.
They charged a tenant with poor English comprehension £300 for changing the name of his partner. On his concluding the tenancy, Chattings delayed returning his deposit for more than a month even though I had immediately signed it off. (Pure spite against a vulnerable tenant)
My new lettings agency (Lovetts) had mess to clear up including failing to register meter readings with energy supplier on changeover, and calming nerves of distraught tenants.
Accounting procedure undertakings were repeatedly broken
On inspecting back monthly statements, I found numerous spurious charges made by Chattings against the accounts. After getting reimbursement, they would appear again later.
One couple split up so never showed on the date to sign and commence the tenancy. Nobody at Chattings even noticed till I enquired days later. It seems all they were interested in was receiving the tenants deposit which they pocketed. When I challenged it, the regional manager who was barely literate was quite threatening. His conduct was addressed by senior management but he remained in post.
On two occasions tenants changed locks without Chattings being aware.
I renovated a flat to a very high standard. It was trashed to the extent that it cost over £2,000 and a lost holiday to put right. Chattings had not taken up references. The tenant had done similar to a previous flat and has apparently done similar again.
Prospective customers should study their contract carefully. Chattings are very adept at contract mechanisms to lock you in. I make one comment in Chattings favour. They were excellent until they were taken over by Countrywide Properties. Like an earlier landlord review, the answer to ‘Would I recommend?’ is an equivocal NO. I would advise using a local lettings agency. For me, Lovetts in Burntwood have been superb.