Northwood GB Avis 

AVOID at all costs.

On 23 August I made an offer for a 1 bedroom flat. I went to view it and was told by Mark Jarret that the property was was immediately available. I sent over my holding deposit, completed referencing and heard radio silence for 16 days straight. Each time I called no colleague could give me an update as Mark was “on annual leave” and his cover had covid. We’ve been living with Covid for almost 3 years now and I know that they have enough staff to do appropriate handovers.

The tenancy agreement I received was full of illegal clauses and completely unreasonable terms, so unfortunately I couldn’t continue.

Have been emailing for my holding deposit to be returned but silence. Complaining to the Property Ombudsman next. These people are crooks and enjoy wasting time.

Northwoood Carlisle branch.
I've been approached by this agent regarding 2 bedroom bungalow in Carlisle (45 Pennine View)
Agent (Matthew) invited me to view the property.

I live over 6 hours away from Carlisle and was looking for a property for short term as I've bought a new home in Carlisle area, which isn't going to be ready until later this year. Matthew was fully aware of my circumstances.

During the conversation with M.A, I expressed my worry over driving several hours to see the property and not securing it due to the proposed short term tenancy, however I've been reassured by the agent that 45 Pennine is in under so called management scheme and that Northwood acting as the landlord, so they will have a say on decision making.

So, on Friday (02.09) I naively drove down for 6 hours, handed copies of mine and my husbands' passport, application form and expressed the proposal to pay for the entire duration of my tenancy in advance.

Matthew said that decision will be made the following week on Monday or Tuesday at the latest. I felt under pressure of time, as I was selling my house and my buyers wanted to move in asap, which meant I had to move out as soon as possible. Again, the agent was fully aware of this.

The following Monday, nobody has got in touch, so I've rung the agency. I've been told that Matthew is on holidays all week and that somebody else will come back to me....

Several hours later, still haven't heard anything, so I've made another call. This time, somebody else has answered who advised that the landlord of the property received 3 applications for the bungalow but also wishes to see the application from somebody she has has chosen as she knows them in person. I've been also told that if I was the only applicant, 'maybe the bungalow would be mine' but as there are other 3 applications, the landlord will go for the longer tenancy contact and more than likely for somebody they know.

My final thought on this is:

- Why do Northwood waste people time ?
Are you really that desperate to please registered landlords that you go to the extent of purposely misleading applicants and filling them with false hopes to accumulate more applications ?
- Do you have at least a tiny bit of respect to people, who made every effort to see you and showed up on time after a long travel ?

After all that, there was not even a courtesy email (which I have specifically asked for) to confirm the final outcome of my application form.

This is disgusting and I truly hope that with upcoming recession and your very poor customer service, you will all do yourselves out of jobs. I would certainly never register with you, made another enquiry as a tenant, or do any business as a landlord. You are the worst letting team I have dealt with.

The landlord of aforementioned property also needs to think twice about her selection methods, if she indeed is the one who was making decisions. If believing Northwood's story, she has completely undermined other applicants and wasted everyone's time.

Be aware of this.

FALKIRK BRANCH - phenomenal customer service. Consistently kind. Always happy to support. Quickly handle issues & get the job done. Feel valued as a tenant.

The most extensive inventory I've seen by any letting agents, and happy for you to edit & add until satisfied to sign.

Whole team consistently worked on my behalf everyday when Scottish Power left me without power for 7 days. The Falkirk Team were persistent, their communication regular and their proactive positive attitudes made a massive difference.

Complaints with carpets were handled with respect and made a priority - multiple tradesmen booked for a quote. New carpets ordered and fitted quickly (new lease of life in the flat).

Asked me for a guarentor because I claim benefits which I can't provide and which is a ridiculous difficult request, but I'm sure they know that and thats why they ask. So in short they are bigoted and discriminate against people on benefits. How lovely

I rented a house 2 months ago and I still can't use the shower. Agency is fixing issues which we find in the first week of renting over 60 days. So I rented house which was generally not ready to rent. Agency check was also a joke. Appliances marked as "good condition" which are not working at all. Every conversation with Northwood is based on "we can't do anything until landlord is agree" but the landlord is and was agree since very beginning. I think agency is not interested in keeping tenant as long as it possible. I am going to make proper complaint today.
Not recommended at all

WARNING!
Aberdeen.
Despite a great few years with them, upon leaving, they are attempting to take money from our deposit for issues that not only did we not cause, that are not in the exit itinerary but is believed to be caused by their own workmen while property in their possession. Tying to hold previous tenants liable for damage they cause despite exit video evidence to the contrary.

Northwood Lancaster, avoid.

Excellent, reliable, honest, responsive.

Rented with Northwood Cardiff for 3 years. Worst experience yet.
Oven needed replacing, took 6 months for action to take place. Garden fence fell down in a storm, took 6 months for repairs to be confirmed (we couldn't access the garden during that time)! Gas hob only 50% operational, never repaired. Countless boiler problems.
Property was basically falling apart. Raising rent costs on top of all of this was way over the line (the letter regarding this even had spelling errors).
They will find the pettiest excuses to deduct deposits, no matter how decent you leave the place.
Wouldn't use this agency again, not enough care for tenants; and the landlord was completely incompetent.
Only pleasant time was the initial viewing process. Ryan was very professional and informative. We didn't pick on the issue that they listed the property as semi-detached when it was in fact end-of-terrace.

Terrible, poor commutation, ended up taking 6 months to sell due to inexperienced staff

Operating illegally in Scotland. They ask for a holding fee, which is illegal in Scotland. Now on the third business day waiting for a refund for the holding fee after they changed the move in date. They advertised property as available immediately, only for us to find out it would be available in a months time.

Dear People,
please be aware of this:
I rated Northwood Ipswich but probably it is common problem for all other their brunches. The real rating level is here on Trustpilot becasue they can't pay them to create fake reviews.
Maybe they are racist and they don't like other nations or maybe they are perfect in scamming. They are using the platform Trustist where people are writing paid reviews. Be careful renting house from them.
Their standard as they confirm: bathroom shower tap replacement - 5-6 months, bathroom fan replacement - 3-4 months, kitchen tap replacement - 5-6 months or more, fence replacement - 4-6 months. They inform these are not important things for them and you need to wait in queue. If you need a help ask independent lawyer or solicitor.

Northwood Coventry -

BEWARE AND STAY AWAY FROM THIS AGENCY !!!!!!

Signed an agreement in February 2022 under guaranteed rent scheme. Till date no information shared about the tenants and tenancy !

Requested access to the property for a valuation for remortgage, been told tenants refusing access and therefore they can't do anything ! Was willing to give plenty of notice. Suggested options are - end the contract and start eviction process or pay 1 month's rent and moving cost to the tenants to end the contract !

Prior to handing over the property, clearly advised them that it must have to be a single tenancy as per my mortgage provider's terms. Now neighbors raising concerns about possible HMO. Asked clarification, but yet to receive any response !

Unprofessional and disrespectful. I am currently going through their internal complaint process. Don't know if anything will change as the director has already said that its my 'lack of understanding and that's not basis to complain'. It's been 3 days since i sent my complaint; no acknowledgement or response yet !

I am about to lose my mortgage offer !!

Singed up with them seeing good reviews, but now know that their management changed in December 2021 !!

Landlords beware don't use Northwood. Our property was returned Trashed, the Tenant was breeding dogs in the House!!!
To cap it all Northwood reneged on a hand shake agreement made with Paul Ryder and hid behind legislation so they didn't have to honour deal.

The lees office are helping us buy a new house and sell our own, and they have been absolutely amazing. Emma Owen and David Yates have been extremely helpful and very knowledgeable on all aspects of the buy and sell, and both very responsive to all communications. Would highly recommend this office and the staff there and would definitely use them again if ever needed. Thanks Northwood Lees!

David Yates and Emma Owen in the Lee's office were simply terrific. Nothing was too much trouble for Emma and David was very knowledgeable about the market and superb at showing the apartment - according to one client he was "the best I have ever come across". Thanks to you both. David and Hilary

I'm really disappointed about that agency. They start making problems from the beginning. Can't properly take the record of the tenants and make wrong spelling on names, even when they got ID. Really poor respons on costumers needs even when you report maintenance issues. On 2 years living in property they couldn't fix thermostat from the beginning, cannot pick up letters for landlord, instead they only interested of inspection and to cheat you on the end. They try to charge you for some issues which have been reported from the start of letting. When I show them proof of issues then they start explaining the person who was dealing with it is already gone and they didn't have any record. Weird cause I have mine with them on email. Overall could not avoid take money from deposit, cause the really want to take something from tenants so they said - we gonna charge you for curtain poles. Those which wasn't damaged but taken down for cleaning. It was enough to fit them back which I told them. They said is to late because you surrendered keys from home and you need to be charged 60 £ for that pleasure. As a tenant can't recommend this agency but if you decided you need to be prepared they gonna charge you no matter what. One star note in my opinion is too good for them.

Brian from Northwood solihull office has been nothing but a delight from start to finish. Himself and his team where more then happy to help on every occasion we needed them and went above and beyond for myself and my partner with our property that we brought. I would most definitely recommend this solihull office.

Currently in my search for somewhere to rent in Norwich my only negative experience so far has been with Northwood. Whilst all other agents I've spoken to have been professional, friendly and easy to deal with. Northwood have been the exception. After enquiring about a rented property instead of being made to feel like my enquiry was welcomed, my possible custom appreciated and go through an easy process to sort a viewing.

Instead I was given a long email with what read like a series of non-negotiable hostage demands which was immensely overwhelming, the whole tone and structure of the email read as very hostile and cold and like I was being treated with suspicion from the outset. I know COVID hasn't gone away and that procedures should be followed to protect possible tenants and staff but it doesn't need to be rammed down my throat in this way. I get it.

Plus you can't make someone feel they are being treated with suspicion just because there may have been incidents with tenants and possible tenants in the past. It instantly made me decide to not go any further with finding out more about the property and sorting a viewing.

Whilst all the other agents I've dealt with so far I will be happy to continue dealing with, Northwood I will be avoiding and I suggest other possible tenants do aswell, there are better agents out there that make you feel more welcomed from the start and don't overwhelm and intimidate you from the outset.

Birmingham office: forced me into breaching my contract by not fixing a broken exterior lock and making my property unsecured and then, at close of tenancy, tried to dock money for black mould around the bath (in an unventilated bathroom).

Derby office: did a viewing and then when we said we absolutely wanted it, told us there were two other viewings and they would let us know… never did.

How they are still trading never mind award winning is baffling. Avoid at all costs unless you like being mucked around by cowboys.