Martin & Co Birmingham Land & New Homes Birmingham reviews

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

I spoke with Shannon who was a pure…

I spoke with Shannon who was a pure delight. Very knowledgeable and understanding, thank you Shannon!

Dawn · 12 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Renters - avoid at all costs

Renters - avoid at all costs. Martin and Co tried to scam me out of my deposit. They claimed the carpet was new at the start of my tenancy and a number of other false accusations in order to try and keep half of my deposit. Luckily I had plenty of evidence and was able to wait the 3 months it took the DPS to decide it was unfair, and I am finally in the process of getting my money back. In addition, the agency use poor contractors, leaving issues unresolved for long periods, and let themselves into the property unannounced. If you find yourselves unlucky enough to be renting one of their properties, make sure you take plenty of photos and save all evidence upon leaving as they WILL try and con you out of money.

Alice · 30 October 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Landlords if you want a property…

Landlords if you want a property management service DO NOT USE this company. They are unethical, unprofessional and incompetent with property management.The communication from these agents is shocking and disgraceful and give letting agents a bad reputation.Considering they advertise themselves as "professional and trustworthy agents" my experience with them has been anything but. AVOID AT ALL COSTS

TRISHA · 8 February 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

They took a deposit of £850 and a…

The previous company were bad. They took a deposit of £850 and a months rent in advance at their Bournemouth branch. Now the tenant wants their deposit and the branch say it must have gone to a charity.no récords to help at the office as 8 years ago approx.The present manager helped try trace the £1500 but head office have not responded.Any ideas on whether this is trading or is it theft by a letting agent .

Customer · 31 October 2018

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Horrible unprofessional customer service, rude attitude from at least 2 people. Vicky smith the manager really rude on the phone speaks as though she doesn’t want to be there. Kim Green doesn’t have to try hard to put off potential buyers. Their attitude is absolutely disgusting. I would never ever enquire from them again or ever offer them to tenant find for any of my properties. Vendors please be aware that these people put customers off and your properties will be waiting on the market for months. Also they have the cheek to ask in advance evidence of money just for a viewing. When other agents are known to only request this once an offer is made . Really disgraceful behaviour. If you don’t like your job then perhaps you shouldn’t be doing it Vicky smith.

Sky · 25 October 2023

★★★★★ 2/5

Google

When doing my inquiries recently, I said I was busy so texts or emails were preferred to calls. I did not think they treated my messages properly, because I got so many phone calls from them which was definitely annoying during my work. Apart from calling, they seemed unable to communicate with texts or emails. Never replied, never responded. Maybe direct calls are much more comfortable and convenience from their side? Such a lazy behaviour from an award winning agent.

Hikariヒカリ · 25 October 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

I was a tenant with Martin & Co. I gave notice on 20 July and started moving my stuff out with my tenancy ending 20 August 2023. Since I did not stay at the property from 20th July, I came back on 1st of August to attend my inspection to find out the viewing agents left my windows open and all my lights on. When I made a complaint I got a call from the complaints manager saying that the viewing agent was new and very sorry that lights were left on and windows open. I told them I am not paying a week's electricity due to their neglegence. I was told that the complaints manager will speak to a director to see what can be done. After a week I followed up and their response was that the agent denied that she left the windows open and the lights on and that I had no evidence and thus they have concluded their investigation. The dishonesty here on director and employee level is appalling and unprofessional. They never requested my evidence for their investigation and after I said but I have train tickets to prove I was not even in Birmingham that whole week, now all of a sudden I need to send them that. I ask all Landlords to please not use them. If they can be this corrupt with tenants, just imagine how deceitful they are to you, the owner of the property.

Retha · 25 October 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

CHECK TRUSTPILOT FOR ACCURATE REVIEWS! This is genuinely the worst agency you could ask for when it comes to being a young person renting in the city. It's hard to get in touch with the team when you need them and they will try to take as much of your deposit as possible and claim that they aren't responsible for the check out report when given evidence against their claims. From my experience, the staff won't get back to you in a reasonable time frame and they will also book apartment viewings without giving you notice. The only way I can describe this company are sly with a complete disregard for their tenants.

Samantha · 25 October 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Martin & Co give Landlords a bad name! I implore Landlords and Tenants to avoid - they will do everything they can to get you through the door. Once you need to move out they will do everything possible to scam you out of every last penny. They wanted to withhold close to £200 from our deposit, we fought and filed a claim with the DPS and gladly got our full deposit back, minus £10. I have no doubt that all this came from the agency themselves and not the landlord. During the tenancy they tried to increase the rent without the landlord asking for it. DO NOT give them your business, regardless to which side of the fence you are on.

Spiros · 25 October 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Martin & Co's staff are brilliant!! From day one when I contacted them by God's grace after a week of great disappointment in dealing with other letting agents, when I had come to stay in the city just to try and be more hands on in my endeavour to find a place to live in, in Birmingham and was feeling like giving up and settle for any other place anywhere else, I have had nothing but great service from different members of their team. From Jake Kailla, Tom, Dan and more Lettings consultants who are very friendly and helpful, I got great service from Martin & Co's staff. Isabella Chadwick (Lettings Coordinator) though, just blew my mind with her kindness and hardworking nature where when I couldn't make the key collecting time because I was travelling from far and encountered other obstacles to make it more impossible, and just when I thought I deserved to be given up on by her after she already tried three or more ways for me to make the appointment, she called her manager/other higher superior and secured the right to keep the office open until I got there. Sarah who waited for me with her was also lovely. It was extraordinary!!😍 I mean, I went from highly possibly having to sleep at some station (since I was already too fed up and frustrated with all other things that were going wrong in my life that day, because I felt that I just didn't have any mental power or inner strength left to be able to try and make things work for me that day) to getting into my flat on the day I was meant to, because she was ready to fight for me to get that done more than I was willing or able to for myself at the time. For that I can't thank her enough, and all I can do is pray that God who can will bless her career and heart all the more for her benefit and that of her other clients who may need her the way I did. Together the staff of Martin & Co restored my faith in the people of Birmingham and my excitement about moving to this pretty amazing city. May God bless them all indeed!

Merlyn · 25 October 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Awful personal experience with Martin and Co. We had 5 months of a window that wouldn't close during a freezing cold winter, which was still damaged when we left. We moved in with broken furniture and are expected to pay for the furniture out of our deposit. And after moving out 5 months ago they don't respond to the emails I send regarding getting my deposit back! Completely ignored the whole time I've been with Martin and Co and even after.

Oliver · 25 October 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Appalling- you'd get better service…

Appalling- you'd get better service from a monkey.We had been renting from Martin and Co for 3 years, with the same bank account servicing the rent. They withheld our rent overpayment for 4 months... still haven't received it. i suppose it's hard to care about money that's not yours... especially if it's making interest in your bank account?When we first checked into the property it was filthy, we spent the first 2 days cleaning! The check in sheet even said how filthy it was but again... if you aren't living there why should you care? No work was done to the property since we lived there, no maintenance work ect - they didn't really care about the property at all. Very clear through out our tenancy that we were no more than cashcows. I would not recommend doing any business with them at all. We found a lovely property to buy but they were the ones in charge of the sale,,,, nope!Avoid!

Kathryn · 24 October 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Try to avoid!

Really disappointed!For my first viewing, the agent did not turn up, when I called the office, the viewing was in their diary, however the agent didn’t know. I was then told that there was not an agent available and I would have to rebook.I rebooked an appointment for a couple of days later, and I reconfirmed on the day, I spoke to an agent who said “you will be meeting with me today” she then asked if I was booked in at 2 or 3pm (I was booked in at 2pm with an email confirmation), I was then asked if I could change to 2:30, but I was unable to do so (the agent had sent an email prior to this, but I had not seen it).The agent that arrived was a freelance agent and was not the agent I had been booked in with. She didn’t know anything about the property, other than the price, I had a few questions which she could not answer, so she called the office, she tried to call quite a few times and there was no answer. She eventually got through to the office, and I was having to communicate through the agent that was with myself to the agent in the office. I did not receive an answer to my questions and I was told to “make an offer” when I asked if there was any movement on price. The agent that met with me really tried to do what she could to assist me. She was as frustrated as I was with the service I had received and didn’t find it acceptable. The property was in a bad state and was not worth the money that it was up for. I am really disappointed that I was booked in with the same agent each time and she failed to turn up on both occasions. I understand that things come up and mistakes happen, but I feel that the service I have received has been unprofessional. I also understand that the property would not have been a high earner for the company and that it wasn’t a large premises, but I believe that there still should have been effort made for viewings.

Keara · 23 October 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Thank you Dan been very helpful in assisting with leasing matters. Get things done quickly , smoothly and super fast.

Wai · 26 June 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Facebook

We have just moved into a new place and the whole process was so easy, we dealt with Oscar from the Harborne office and he was truly amazing, he was always friendly and very quick to reply to all of our queries, he really helped making this move a positive experience! Thanks Oscar and Martin and Co.

Rachel-lee · 22 June 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

DO NOT USE THIS AGENCY

I paid a 5% rent guarantee so if the tenants did not pay rent I would be guaranteed to receive my rent. Marin & Co vetted the tenants who proved to be fraudulent, I am out 2 months' rent, as they refuse to honor, as the tenants were frauds. While away (from Dec) I tried to get the agents to get access to the property as previous tenants had complained of damp. However, they never gained access to the property till I received an email saying they haven't paid 2 months' rent do you want us to serve notice? bear in mind this is meant to be a fully managed property. They gained access in June and eventually sent me the report a month later after I had complained about being granted access. the report was a waste of time it showed me nothing of the state of my property. These frauds had been growing cannabis in my house and have caused a lot of damage, when we finally entered the property towards the end of August the predominant smell was smoke and this was a no-smoking property. the backroom smelt of urine. Ok, so this is extreme case, let's rewind to last Nov when the previous tenants left, a) the green bin went walkabout, never ever been stolen on that street, b) they put decking up, outside c) they changed the carpet in the front hall to crude decking and lost the runner rug that was in the kitchen. No permission was asked or given. The agency did not pick up on this and did not like that I argued against the return of their deposit.Now to top it all off they have lost a couple of keys belonging to the property and their tradesperson has charged for new locks front and back. 1 lock was left in the house (so i was informed), so they put that back on and the other has an old key so no way it is a new lock. they never sorted out getting a new green bin for the property. This agency 'claimed' the loft was not part of the house, but it has electricity, is all boarded out, and has carpets, basically another room.The agency doesn't care that I am out 2 months' rent, or that they are the ones that did the checks, 1 person 'claims' that they tried to gain access in Feb, Mar, Apr, and May. I do not the law, but am sure as a landlord, or someone acting on behalf of you can send a notification that I will be entering on such and such a date and will let myself in if no one is home. Surely if you cannot gain access to the property alarm bells start to ring? Oh and the person 'managing' the property is part-time and emails are sent before they finish for the week, and no handover so someone who is there knows what is going on.I would NEVER use this agency for anything, thoroughly disgusted, oh and my insurance policy is null and void because the tenancy was fraudulent.

Elizabeth · 14 October 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

The team has done an outstanding job at managing my real estate portfolio. Thank you Mandi and team!

Rupreet · 26 July 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Very happy with the service i received. Jessica was great and very helpful throughout the rental process thankyou!

Elle · 26 July 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Thank you Kav!

I had a very positive experience with Kav Pahal, who consistently provided us with excellent customer service. He has been extremely helpful, friendly and made the process easier than expected. Kav is a great asset to the team.(Martin & Co Birmingham City, Carver Street)

Olivia · 20 September 2022

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

HORRIBLE SERVICE

Prior to even considering renting and moving in last May, I was told by the guy who showed me around the property that black out blinds/curtains can and will be installed. This was a huge factor for me as i work a lot of night shifts. By May 31, 2023, I logged in an official request via the letting agency's online repair service and waited. Come July, nothing happened. Rung them several times and nothing. Logged another request by July 17 and their operations manager replied but wasn't able to fix the blinds as I wasn't in the country and no one got back to me. Fast forward to Sept 8, got hold of the agency and i was advised that someone will come and fit measurements by Sept 11 and aim to fit the blinds by end of that week, 15. I waited and heard no one again, Rung them by Sept 27 and was then only advised that the landlord has just approved the job. I was then advised that blinds can finally be installed by Oct 3. I asked to move it on another day as I am on night shifts and they offered to have it done today, Oct 4 and we agreed that contractors will come after 12nn. I waited, sacrificed my whole day and sleep post my night shift and Lo and behold, its 16:46 as of this writing and Ops manager from letting agency advised me that for some reason he doesn't know, he cant reach either of the 2 guys who should have set out to do the job today!!!!!!!!! I am now advised that he will send a lady to fix the blinds tomorrow!!!! What a waste of time!!!!On another note, on September 12, there was a sudden outage in the whole property. Rung and spoke to agency and they had absolutely lacked the initiative and willpower to help us had I not asserted myself and got angry of the situation! Had i not done so, we would have been left with no power and no heating whatsoever on that day!!!!Absolutely disgusting! He/they keep on saying theyre just saying whatever they are being advised but they dont seem to bother on liaising our concerns and rightful needs as tenants. I am baffled why they are unable to give any update and why we, people who are rightfully paying rent, would need to go thru so much to have things "repaired" or even get an update of the things reported . They say they understand my frustration but what theyre doing says otherwise! Absolutely horrible service! I would not recommend this letting agency at all.

Ryle · 4 October 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Both Ben and Jessica were extremely helpful in the letting process and very efficient! Highly recommend

Paul · 25 August 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Burgess Hill - First Class Rental and Sales

I worked with the Burgess Hill office for over 10 years. Jason Chandler and Caroline Wooden and the whole team provided first class customer service: friendly, professional, knowledgeable, flexible, with great commercial insight. They let the property for nine years consistently and then sold the property within a week of it going on the market. I cannot rate their performance highly enough. Thank you!

Richard · 24 August 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Thieves

Was a tenant with this property manager for 2.5 years. Took care of the place, worked with them any time there were issues and always paid my rent on time. They try to pay me in full by trying to pocket my £1k deposit and not responding to any queries regarding return. I now have to go through the faff of going through the DPS.

Manny · 7 August 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Mould. No maintenance, horrible company

Myself and my girlfriend moved into a 1 bed flat in the city center with martin&co and our experience was shocking. As soon as we arrived there was a horrible mouldy, damp and musty smell, as well as the oven not working and the radiators were what I can only describe as a health hazard, cracked tiles in all the rooms and a general filth on everything. After deep cleaning the flat we moved in and continued to find issues; we mentioned this to the agency and they did absolutely nothing to rectify this. Within a few weeks we could see mould growing in and around the apartment effecting our personal belongings as well as furniture and the walls. Again we emailed. They did nothing about this, after a very long email exchange about maintenance and the mould growing they did nothing to help, I started to get sick from the mould and they still didn’t help. They offered a termination on the contract rather than seeing the tenancy through and again did NOTHING to help or protect their tenants. Hands down the worst agency I’ve ever dealt with. Ignoring emails and then finally replying and brushing off any comment we made about the state of the flat. DO NOT USE THEM

Consumer · 28 September 2023