James Laurence Sales and Lettings reviews

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

DO NOT rent through James Laurence, especially at New Hampton Lofts. Our tenancy was plagued by undisclosed property defects, poor management, and an exhausting deposit dispute. The flat had serious issues from day one that were never disclosed: failed window seals and broken vents across large windows, making the apartment freezing (around 10°C in winter) and causing constant condensation and mould. James Laurence dismissed this entirely, advising us to keep windows open and heating on 24/7. Heating is electric and the building forces residents onto commercial electricity rates, resulting in £200+ monthly bills without using heating. Mould caused by condensation was never properly treated, only covered up, despite being repeatedly reported. Communal areas were also problematic. The “secure” car park and post room were repeatedly accessed by non-residents, resulting in car damage and widespread parcel theft. James Laurence consistently redirected responsibility to building management and offered no support. The deposit dispute was the final straw. We paid a £1,125 deposit and, despite leaving the flat clean (with overlapping tenancies and two deep cleans), James Laurence attempted to deduct £640 with no explanation initially. When challenged, they claimed: £270 for cleaning £200 for mould cleaning (despite us reporting it multiple times) £80 for broken bed drawers (also previously reported) £80 for mattress cleaning (we used a protector and topper) Several of these charges are prohibited under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. We disputed the claims, which went to DPS adjudication. After 4 months, the adjudicator dismissed most charges and awarded James Laurence only £243, proving how inflated and unjustified their claims were. Our property manager, Lindsay, was consistently unreachable and dismissive. Ironically, when contacting the landlord directly, he was responsive and helpful, contradicting James Laurence’s repeated excuses. The apartment looks great on paper, but the management is stressful, dismissive, and financially aggressive. Based on our experience, I strongly advise avoiding James Laurence.

Leigh · 16 February 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Sharp, knows the details, fast and trustworthy

We’ve been working with Sana who has excelled in every way. She came to view the flat we’re renting out with a thoroughly prepared pack and shared James Laurence experiences of flats in the same building. Throughout the process of finding a new tenant, Sana and the team have been thoughtful and communicative. We found a tenant relatively quickly. Then when the tenant had electricity issues when he moved in, Sana demonstrated care and a great sense of responsibility in resolving the issue by contacting me quickly with the right info, frequently talking and helping the tenant over the phone, and also messaging building management. As a landlord, you can feel reassurance that your estate agent is sharp, knows the details, fast and trustworthy. I am very grateful!

Chenting · 14 January 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Excellent Service from Purchase to Rental, Highly Recommended

We used James L. Lawrence Agency for our property purchase, and they were helpful all along the way. Whenever we requested to see the property, Karan was always willing to show it to us. Then, when we purchased the property, Charlotte assisted us with renting it out. She was incredibly helpful, always quick to reply to my emails, and so cheerful and friendly whenever we spoke on the phone. I definitely recommend them to anyone looking to buy or rent a property.

Mona · 4 December 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

A truly professional and caring…

A truly professional and caring customer service by Sonia and the James Laurence team. I have felt truly cared for and assisted throughout, with all my queries. Sonia and team have been patient and generous with their time throughout. I cannot recommend enough!

Tim · 4 August 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Good afternoon Team JL, It is a pleasure working with Henry and the team. We find your company to be incredibly professional and easy to work with, which makes our job much easier. We truly value our partnership and look forward to continuing our work together. Thank you for everything! Best regards, Louise Burford Director

Skribes · 9 April 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I had a great experience selling a house with James Lawrence, Tom and Karan were in contact with me every step of the way so I always knew what was going on, and my house sale went through with a minimum of fuss - I would happily recommend and use them again

Steve · 10 April 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

James Laurence found me a replacement…

James Laurence found me a replacement tenant very quickly & Sonia kept me informed & upto date at every stage of the process.

Seamus · 1 September 2026

★★★★★ 2/5

Google

++Beware of attempts to unfairly withhold your deposit++ First of all, lovely staff at the start and a very smooth sign-up process, but unfortunately, this was completely undermined by the check-out process. After leaving our flat in better condition than when we were handed the keys (as evidenced by independent third-party check-in and check-out reports), we were hit with unjustified charges amounting to a third of our deposit (£450). These were for minor cleaning issues (£250) and alleged damp caused by structural problems beyond our control in an EPC band E, single glazed property (£200). When we were challenged with these outrageous charges, the agent astonishingly asked, “How much are you willing to pay?”, making it feel like a negotiation rather than a legitimate claim. Our response? “You will receive absolutely £0 of our money.” Only after persistently standing our ground and challenging this via the Deposit Protection Scheme was the decision made to return the full deposit. It makes you wonder how many tenants simply give up and accept these unfair deductions. The lesson here? Stand your ground and know your rights. ++Beware of attempts to deduct your deposit unfairly++ The initial staff were very friendly and the signing process was smooth, but sadly, it was all ruined by the check-out process. We left the apartment in better condition than when we got the keys (with independent check-in and check-out reports), but we were charged and asked to deduct a third of our deposit (£450) for no reason. The deductions were for minor cleaning issues (£250) and damp due to structural problems (£200) - issues we had no control over and the property was an older EPC rated, single glazed property. When we questioned these outrageous charges, the agent asked "how much would you pay?" - it felt more like haggling than a legitimate claim. Our response? "You're not going to take a penny from us." Ultimately, they decided to return the entire deposit only after we stood our ground and challenged it through the Deposit Protection Scheme. It makes one wonder how many tenants accept these unfair deductions by default because they don't want to argue. The lesson? Stand up for yourself and know your legal protections.

Aaron · 1 April 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Really friendly and team that goes…

Really friendly and team that goes above and beyond. Sonia has been rather exceptional, pushing for us to have our offer accepted. Has made our lives 1000x easier! Thanks so much Sonia.

Zahraa · 16 June 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Great experience with James Lawrence. Staff are friendly, helpful and professional and very knowledgeable. Karan, Tom and the team worked hard to get my property sale over the line working closely with myself, the buyer and solicitors and their hard work is much appreciated. Thank you.

S · 16 February 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I have been with James Laurence now for the past couple of years and I cannot recommend them enough. In particular Anita Chow has been incredible - her attention to detail and communication is exceptional. They have made letting my property as hassle free as it possibly can be. Thanks Anita and team!

Kelly · 7 December 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Superb experience with Edgbaston team…

Superb experience with Edgbaston team especially Tom and Henry! Sale process was made less stressful by their excellent communication and honest approach. I would say than their professionalism as second to none!! Thank you team for all your hard work and support!!

Vijaya · 20 February 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I have dealt with many estate agents across Birmingham in the 10 years I’ve been in the city and my experiences have always been really bad, both from a rental and purchase perspective. However, I found my experience with James Laurence to be very different. When I was selling my property I reached out to JL as I was struggling to sell with another estate agent, the market was difficult at the time so I wanted to try out my options. I had Henry come to visit and he explained very open and honestly the issues with the market and set my expectations. I decided to switch to JL and although viewings were low, they kept in touch regularly with what was happening and we explored different options and switching things up. We also rented out the property during the sale listing process, which again was all handled through JL. They were great from a rental perspective and secured a tenant within a week of listing, they were very thorough with the management of the rental, including regular inspections with details reports and photos. I was always paid on time and the amounts I was expecting. When we finally secured a buyer we encountered many issues in the sale process, all were out of JL control, but Henry was very supportive in helping move things forward including offering advice and reassurance, I’d even get the odd call late in the day to provide updates. This can’t have been an easy sale on JLs behalf too and they did everything they could to ensure it completed. JL have changed my perspective on estate agents, that there can actually be some decent ones out there and I would 100% recommend them to anyone from both a sale or rental perspective. Everyone I dealt with (Henry, Jack, Charlotte, Sam) were great.

Daniel · 28 December 2024

★★★★★ 2/5

Google

Terrible experience from the start to end as a tenant. Maybe they’re landlord friendly, but as tenants, it was exhausting. Had two emergency situations where they were practically useless. Got Locked out of house and they expected me to magically produce £100 in cash just to get an extra key to enter, even when I told them all my cards were locked in the house. Security Alarm went off one day and there was no answer on the emergency number. Heating wasn’t working in the middle of winter and it took 2 months to sort out. Claimed some ridiculous charges at the end of tenancy which caused a lot of undue stress. Thank god for deposit protection laws. I know they’ll just say the landlord made the claims but what were they doing, not verifying the apparent imaginary damages with the check in report? Quotes for claims was provided only upon request and with no invoices or evidence of actual damage. When refuted, there was no response so had to challenge it through DPS. Wouldn’t consider any rental listing by this agent again.

Man · 19 December 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

My husband and I would like to extend our sincere thanks to Karan Dulai for his outstanding professionalism and unwavering dedication throughout this process. He has consistently demonstrated trustworthiness, kindness, and a genuine commitment to providing exceptional support. His ability to understand and address our needs with such care and precision has been truly remarkable. Karan’s knowledge, approachable nature, and attention to detail made what could have been a stressful journey much smoother. We deeply appreciate the effort he has put into ensuring we had all the guidance and information we needed. His exemplary service is highly commendable.

Pınar · 3 December 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Sonia Kanda has been very efficient and…

Sonia Kanda has been very efficient and friendly and dealt with this very well

Michael · 18 August 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Dear Mr David Gibbins, First of all, congratulations to your company for reaching its 20th anniversary in what I’m sure is a rather challenging economic climate. This is undoubtedly an achievement that hasn’t come easily. However, as the Founder and Managing Director, you must surely be aware of how your team is running the business. I came across your company’s description on your website, where you proudly claim: “You can rest assured that your dedicated James Laurence team will use its industry knowledge and professional expertise, combined with excellent standards, to exceed expectations, providing you with friendly, honest advice you can trust, whether you are a vendor, landlord, buyer or tenant.” If this truly reflects your company’s service ethos and promise, I do hope you’ll ensure that it’s upheld. After all, it’s hard to predict whether today’s tenant might one day be tomorrow’s property buyer. Now, to my experience as a tenant, which, frankly, has surpassed even my wildest expectations, and not in a positive way. If you’re an owner, I imagine they’ll treat you with courtesy, since you’re the one paying for the service. But if you’re a tenant, well, tough luck, no service for you, as they can’t make a single penny off you. As a tenant, I never imagined I’d be asked for the building entry code. Shouldn’t your team, when serving your customer, i.e., my landlord, know the building inside and out? I repeatedly reminded them to bring the management key for the property viewing, only to be told, in the end, that they didn’t have it. Worse still, they demanded that I “immediately” return home. Yes, you read that correctly, they actually insisted that I immediately return home. Now, I do wonder: how exactly is someone who’s already on a train, on a business trip, meant to immediately return home? Quite the paradox, wouldn’t you say? This experience with your company has truly been eye-opening. I do hope your team will consider broadening their horizons a little. While I’m “only” a tenant now, there may come a time when I’m in a position to buy property. If you can deliver the level of service that’s promised, I’m sure I’ll remember you when I come to purchase, and would be happy to entrust you with managing my property. Again, congratulations on your anniversary, but I do hope you take this feedback to heart. Reputation is built on consistent service to all your customers, not just those who are currently able to generate immediate profit.

K · 12 November 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Thank you very much dear James Laurence team, and special thanks to dear Henry, Kitti, Charlotte, Jade, and Daniella. I had a great experience with the JL team, and thanks to their professional team, I secured the tenancy for my 1st choice among the properties I had saved for viewing. I emailed Henry and explained the reasons that I'm interested in this apartment as my 1st choice. I told him if everything went well and the place was relatively close enough to the photos in the advertisement, I wouldn't view other places as this place looks ideal for me, close to my office and gym, decent, spacious, central heating, good EPC and council tax rate, reasonable price, etc. Thanks to dear Henry and Kitti, I got the first opportunity to view the flat, fill out the application form, and secure the tenancy. Charlotte and Kitti are excellent in communication, professional and nice. They helped me promptly throughout all the stages of application, referencing, etc. and they informed me about the development in each stage. There was a bit of misunderstanding about my move-in date but they handled it professionally and immediately. I collected the keys in the JL Birmingham city centre branch from dear Ms Jade who is a very nice, quick-witted, and professional lady. When I entered my new apartment, I was delighted that it was in even better condition, compared to when I viewed it because further cleaning, maintenance, checks, etc. was done as it was promised. Overall, I recommend James Laurence's team to anyone who wants to have peace of mind to rent a new flat. I will definitely ask for their help again when I want to buy my first flat.

Amin · 28 October 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

I regret to say that my experience with Charlotte Evans as a real estate agent has been extremely disappointing. From the outset, the process has been plagued with unnecessary stress, largely due to her lack of communication. Charlotte rarely responds to emails, and when she does, it's often after significant delays. This lack of responsiveness has caused countless setbacks and added frustration to what should have been a straightforward process. Additionally, Charlotte seems to be constantly on annual leave, leaving me without support during critical moments. This frequent absence has made it nearly impossible to get any consistent help or guidance, further complicating the transaction. Overall, my experience with Charlotte has been overwhelmingly negative. Her lack of professionalism and commitment has made this a stressful and frustrating experience, and I would not recommend her services to anyone looking for a reliable and competent real estate agent.

Jade · 22 September 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Amazing! I had a great experience with James Laurance, as a first time buyer. Sam was brilliant on showing me the apartment and really sold it on the first viewing! Jack and Henry's support through the sale was great, especially considering it was not the easiest process - it actually took a lot of patience for us to complete. They kept me up to date throughout the process and made sure to reply promptly at all times. Really appreciate all your care and patience!

Jéssica · 22 September 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

We recently had the pleasure of working with James Laurence Estate Agency, and we could not be more satisfied with their services. The team, particularly Charlotte and Daniella, have been exceptional in getting our property let. Their personal touch, timely feedback, and consistent updates on the platform have made the entire process seamless and stress-free. Moreover, Sam has been outstanding in handling the purchase of our property. His reliability and transparency have been top-notch, and we are already planning to work with him again for future transactions. The communication from the entire team has been excellent, ensuring that we are always informed and confident in their services. Overall, James Laurence Real Estate has proven to be a trustworthy and professional agency, and we highly recommend them for both letting and sales.

Ross · 22 September 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

A big thank you to Karan, Sam and Henry, for their support and kindness in the journey in selling my apartment, they have gone above and beyond, I am so grateful. Kind regards. Molly

Mo · 16 February 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I want to thank Jade Maskell and Henry Crane for their exceptional work in managing my property. Despite a challenging six-month vacancy period, they finally found the right tenants for my property. Their dedication, particularly Jade's efforts in navigating the difficult council licensing process, was invaluable. The professionalism and commitment demonstrated by the team at James Laurence Estate Agents in Birmingham made all the difference. I truly appreciate their hard work and support throughout this journey. Thank you, Jade and Henry, for making this experience a positive one!

Jennifer · 20 August 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

This is the type of reviews that I love to write! I an a potential tenant. I saw a loft in Birmingham that I fell in love with. I called yesterday at 5:27pm not realising the office closed at 5:30pm. Daniella picked up the phone and she was so kind and helpful. I fell in love with a property and I hope I get to move in at the end of the month! Daniella is very professional, proactive, passionate about her job and assisting others. This is by far the best experience I have had with an Estate agent. I actually think it may be the only time. I look forward to viewing the property next week and making an offer! Thank you Daniella for all your help and support.

S · 13 August 2024