Newest first, from every platform, with the office each review is about. First names only.
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleIf I could 0 Star I would,
Extremely disappointing experience with Hair & Son Rayleigh, would not recommend.
I was looking to take over a commercial property and, unfortunately, I am extremely disappointed with the way the whole transaction has been handled.
From the very beginning, I made it clear that one of my main stipulations was having some certainty that, after the initial lease term, I would be able to extend the lease. I was told by the estate agent that this would be possible. After three weeks of discussions and negotiations, I was then told that the landlord would only make a decision closer to the expiry of the lease.
That simply does not work for me. I would be investing a substantial amount of money into the property and the business, and I cannot reasonably take the risk of being told to leave at the end of the initial term with no assurance that the lease could continue. Had I been given the correct information from the outset, I would never have proceeded as far as I did.
Secondly, because I was taking the property on a sublease, I asked all the relevant questions and believed I was receiving clear and accurate answers. From the beginning, I was told that I would be paying the same rent as the head leaseholder. Today, I was finally sent a copy of the head lease, only to find that the rent section had been blacked out.
After questioning this, I was then told that I would actually be paying more rent than the head leaseholder. At no point during the three weeks of discussions was this made clear to me.
Thirdly, I specifically asked what protection I would have as a sub-tenant if the head leaseholder were to default on their rent obligations. I received no clear answer to this at all. I find this particularly bizarre because it is a fundamental question when considering taking a commercial property on a sublease. Surely this is something that should have been clearly explained before expecting someone to commit a substantial amount of money.
These aren’t minor details. They are fundamental issues that directly affect the security, cost and viability of taking on the property.
I spoke to Hayden, the manager, about the situation and was genuinely stunned by his reaction. Rather than acknowledging how frustrating and disappointing this had been, there seemed to be an attitude that this was simply normal procedure. What made matters worse was that no apology was offered.
I have worked in customer service myself for nearly 20 years, and I genuinely cannot believe the way this has been handled. When someone is potentially investing a substantial amount of money into a commercial property, I would expect honesty, transparency and clear communication from the outset.
Instead, I feel I have been given misleading information on fundamental aspects of the deal, had three weeks of my time wasted, and been left with more questions than answers.
You simply cannot start a potential business relationship with information changing from one conversation to the next. Any business relationship should be built on honesty, transparency and, above all, trust. Unfortunately, after this experience, I have absolutely no trust or confidence in Hair & Son.
I would not recommend Hair & Son Rayleigh to anyone looking to take on a commercial property. Absolutely shocking experience.
Tomo · 15 August 2026 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (1528 London Road)
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleFrom the very beginning it was very stange feelings that nobody even was interested in my existence. When I already gave up of waiting that somebody will reply about a property, I received viewing appoitment for it, even when agent said he not going to be there, I went to see it I wasted 30 min waiting and knocking a door for nobody.... Higly not reccomending...
HeopuH · 22 June 2026 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleJohn Allison hasn’t refunded my deposit or even contacted me despite multiple emails and tenancy on my garage ending over 1 month ago.
Update: instead of an apology or helpfulness, Hayden Harle has responded to tell me how damaging my review can be to the business. Plenty of useless excuses as to why I haven’t yet been refunded my deposit (simply blaming an anonymous accounts team member). Shame that I had to resort to a 1* review to get a response. Shame on H&S for not even apologising for how long it’s taking to simply refund a deposit.
5 weeks later and ‘the deposit is being processed’ is the only update I receive.
Jack · 22 May 2026 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleGreat people and good service
Imran · 22 May 2026 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleI recently engaged Hair & Son to carry out a commercial property valuation and had the pleasure of dealing with David Brandajs. From the initial enquiry right the way through to receiving the final report, I was impressed with David’s efficiency, professionalism and responsiveness. I would highly recommend.
Sam · 6 March 2026 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleAmazing experience, thank you Paul .
Abraham · 20 February 2026 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleHave been trying to contact Hair and Son property management since september 2025 regarding repairs needed to the building. Every time I call I'm told that somebody will call me back, but that never happens. I've emailed them several times on their website contact form and on multiple email addresses found on their website and I am yet to receive a single reply. I am pulling my hair out as the damage to my property is getting worse as time goes on. Truly awful/non existent customer service
Ryan · 20 February 2026 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleRude - Replied to my email with no curtesy or respect. Just sent the information they thought I was asking for without any message. When I replied explaining the information I actually was requesting they haven’t bothered to reply.
Catherine · 20 January 2026 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleJust got the keys to our first home thanks to Hair & Son. Couldn't have wished for a better estate agent, thanks so much to Adrian for his honesty and willingness to help us through it all, from start to finish. Did not feel pushed or rushed into anything unlike other estate agents in the past. You've made a stressful time a lot easier so thank you to all the team 😊
Ellie · 20 December 2025 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (1528 London Road)
Agent replied · 20 March 2026
Thank you for your kind words Ellie! We wish you all the best in your new home!
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleHow can you have a management agency with 2 directors on Chalkwell Lodge Society board @HairAndSonLLP just don't get it 🤣you can't serve the interest of it members and maximise profits for HairAndSonLLP ⚖️😱
#Southend
#Rayleigh #StrictlyComeDancing
William · 20 October 2025 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
Agent replied · 20 March 2026
Dear Mr Howard,
We are sorry to hear of your concerns and take all feedback seriously.
We would like to clarify that our role as managing agents is to act in the best interests of the building and its leaseholders. Service charges are based solely on the actual costs of managing and maintaining the property. Any increase reflects rising external costs - including insurance, utilities, and contractor services - and, in the case of Chalkwell Lodge, includes new statutory requirements such as the preparation of the Building Safety Case, now required by law. These are challenges currently affecting developments across the country.
With regard to our previous involvement in relation to secretarial and treasurer responsibilities - this support was only provided due to a lack of volunteers coming forward at the Annual General Meeting, despite leaseholder participation being strongly encouraged. Should you or any other leaseholders wish to stand for either position, this would be welcomed at the next AGM to support CLRLS.
To further clarify, we do not receive any profit for assisting with the secretarial duties, which were carried out free of charge, and the treasurer-related administrative work is provided at a minimal cost, simply to cover necessary admin overheads.
All service charge expenditure is accounted for and reviewed by the Directors and, where appropriate, by independent auditors. Our management fees are agreed in advance and presented transparently.
Marie Corbyn MTPI AssocRICS
Head of Leasehold Management Department
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleAs the former tenant of a property managed by Hair and Son Southend, I recently navigated the process of transferring my business lease to a new tenant, and I regret to say that my experience with their customer service, particularly with agent Hayden Harle, was deeply disappointing.
I sought the landlord’s consent to assign the lease to a new tenant who wished to extend the lease for six years. The landlord, who was professional and cooperative, agreed. As the ex-tenant, I had always paid rent on time, maintained the property in pristine condition, and had no outstanding debts or issues.
Hayden was tasked with drafting a new lease agreement between the landlord and the new tenant, as well as preparing a deed of surrender for me. I promptly signed the deed of surrender, expecting my obligations to be concluded once the document was finalized.
Unfortunately, Hayden’s handling of the process was marred by a lack of competence and poor communication. He failed to properly confirm the monthly rent with the landlord, mistakenly agreeing to a lower rent rate with the new tenant than what the landlord expected. This error led to a conflict after the new lease was signed, as the new tenant anticipated the lower rate while the landlord expected the standard rate. Instead of taking responsibility, Hayden withheld the hard copies of the lease and deed of surrender, pressuring me to persuade the new tenant to accept the landlord’s terms. He even threatened that I, as the ex-tenant, would remain liable for rent payments despite the landlord and new tenant being willing to resolve the issue amicably.
Hayden’s actions not only caused unnecessary delays for all parties but also felt unethical. He wrongly blamed me for the miscommunication and attempted to shift the burden of his mistake onto me. This distressing experience forced me to engage a solicitor to protect my rights, adding avoidable stress and expense. Ultimately, the landlord and new tenant reached an agreement, but I declined to act as a guarantor for the new tenant, as I could no longer trust Hair and Son to handle matters professionally.
While the landlord was lovely and the new tenant was understanding, Hayden’s lack of diligence and poor customer service turned what should have been a straightforward lease assignment into a frustrating ordeal. My advice to tenants is to always involve a solicitor to safeguard your rights, as I found my interests were not adequately protected. For landlords, I recommend closely monitoring the agency’s work to avoid such conflicts.
I had hoped for a professional and seamless process from Hair and Son Southend, but their service fell short of expectations. I hope they address these issues to improve their client experience in the future.
Nhung · 9 May 2025 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
Agent replied · 3 June 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding the recent lease assignment of an unmanaged property involving your tenancy. While we understand that this transition was important to you, we must respectfully address several significant inaccuracies in your account.
Your suggestion that Hayden acted unethically or with a lack of diligence is wholly unfounded. At all times, Hayden acted in accordance with his responsibilities and in consultation with both the landlord and the parties involved. It is important to clarify that neither Hair & Son nor Hayden had any authority to finalise terms independently - the agreed rent figure was based on information provided by you or the landlord at the time, and any discrepancy that later emerged was addressed quickly, transparently and in co-operation with all involved parties.
To suggest that you were pressured or threatened is not only inaccurate but completely unsupported by any factual basis. You remained the legal tenant until the lease was formally assigned, which understandably meant certain liabilities remained in place until that process was completed. It was not unreasonable or unethical to remind you of this legal reality.
It is also incorrect to imply that we attempted to shift blame onto you. Our communication throughout the process focused on resolving the rent discrepancy quickly and fairly, without attributing fault. While we acknowledge that the situation may have caused frustration, I can advise that Hayden acted in a way that supported both parties to come to a suitable outcome.
We take client feedback seriously and are committed to improving service where justified. However, in this case, the complaint appears to be based more on personal dissatisfaction than on factual errors or professional shortcomings.
We trust this provides clarity on the matter.
★★★★★ 4/5
GoogleWent over to ask for a property.Was give advice immediately and was nice.
Felistas · 22 April 2025 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
Agent replied · 22 April 2026
Hi Felistas, thank you for your kind words! We hope to help you again in the future and hit 5*!
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleRating only, no written review.
Mae · 22 April 2025 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
Agent replied · 24 October 2024
Thank you
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleHair & Son Property Management signed a contract with a private car parking management company without consent of ALL landowners. They claim they are allowed to do this as they act on behalf of the Directors of the Association. I have …
Victoria · 22 April 2025 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleStay away if you can! I purchased a flat which hair and son are in charge of the block. In completion day I was given an unexpected bill one of these was for building insurance at over £700. A couple months later I can another invoice …
Dillon · 22 April 2025 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
Agent replied · 24 October 2024
Hi Dillon,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We apologise that … More
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleI am not a competitor.
I expect I will get rundown by an employee. That's fine If that happens I will …
Nick · 22 April 2025 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleRating only, no written review.
Julia · 23 March 2025 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
Agent replied · 17 April 2025
Hi Julia, than you so much for your review!
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleRating only, no written review.
Sajib · 18 March 2025 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
Agent replied · 4 May 2025
Thank you!
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleRating only, no written review.
Danny · 28 February 2025 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (1528 London Road)
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleI would like to say a big thanks to Paul Cutmore who kindly gave me a very knowledgeable insight into auctioning a property which I’m currently considering doing. His knowledge is outstanding, but more importantly put it across in such a way that I could understand and appreciate! Should I decide to go down the auction route, I will have no hesitation using Hair and Sons, thanks to Paul. Highly recommended
Gary · 3 February 2025 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
Agent replied · 3 June 2025
Hi Gary, thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear you had such a great experience with Paul.
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleAs a long-standing leaseholder, I have had repeated and deeply concerning experiences with Hair & Son over the years. My primary issues stem from their lack of transparency, dismissive responses to valid concerns, and an apparent disregard for leaseholders’ legal rights under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
Transparency Issues: Despite multiple formal requests, Hair & Son have failed to provide itemised invoices and detailed breakdowns for significant expenditures, including major works like the caretaker’s flat refurbishment. Their refusal to share this information suggests a lack of accountability for how leaseholders' money is being spent.
Dismissive and Uncooperative: Requests for committee meeting minutes, which should reflect decisions about leaseholder funds, are denied on the grounds of "sensitive matters." However, as a former committee member, I can attest that 95% of discussions are about leaseholder-related matters, not sensitive issues. This secrecy undermines trust.
Unfair Charges: They have demanded additional fees (e.g., £18 for archived receipts) for providing documents that should be readily available as part of their statutory obligations. Meanwhile, leaseholders already pay substantial management fees (£17,800 annually for our property alone).
Legal Concerns: Their reliance on thresholds (e.g., Section 20 consultation) appears to be exploited to bypass meaningful consultation with leaseholders on costly projects. It feels like decisions are made for the benefit of the management company rather than the leaseholders they are meant to represent.
These practices have left me and other leaseholders feeling powerless, dismissed, and financially exploited. If you are considering Hair & Son as your managing agent, be aware of these serious issues. Leaseholders deserve fair treatment, transparency, and accountability, not evasive responses and unmanageable service charges.
I would not recommend Hair & Son to anyone seeking ethical, responsible, and cooperative property management. My experience reflects a consistent pattern of dismissiveness and resistance to engaging with leaseholders’ legitimate concerns.
John · 3 February 2025 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
Agent replied · 14 August 2025
Dear Mr Lockyear
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We take transparency and open communication very seriously, and were sorry to hear you feel otherwise.
We understand that our Leasehold Management Department are in communication with you on this matter and are trying to confirm a suitable date for you to inspect the information requested under Section 22 Landlord & Tenant Act 1985.
A clear explanation has been provided on all the matters raised, so we would like to understand what remains outstanding, and would be grateful if you could provide further information to management@hairandson.co.uk
Kind regards,
Hair & Son
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleTerrible service
I tried so many times by phone and email and was never replied to
Waste of time looking at a unit and never had no help from the team
Real bad service
Lee · 16 January 2025 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
★★★★★ 4/5
GoogleWent over to ask for a property.Was give advice immediately and was nice.
Felistas · 8 November 2024 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
Agent replied · 8 December 2024
Hi Felistas, thank you for your kind words! We hope to help you again in the future and hit 5*!
★★★★★ 4/5
GoogleWent over to ask for a property.Was give advice immediately and was nice.
Felistas · 5 November 2024 · Hair and Son Leigh On Sea (54 Broadway)
Agent replied · 12 November 2024
Hi Felistas, thank you for your kind words! We hope to help you again in the future and hit 5*!
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