SJ Property Services reviews

★★★★★ 2/5

Google

If you are a low-income student or rely on a guarantor, I would strongly advise against using this company. For my final-year house, I assumed the process would be as straightforward as in previous years, but they refused to accept my guarantor. Unlike other companies, they required two specific conditions, which I was unable to meet. I was then presented with two options: either pay approximately £1,000 for an online guarantor service, which was completely unaffordable for me, or pay four months’ rent upfront before each term, meaning I had to pay around £2,400 a month before receiving my student maintenance. I asked if the payment could be deferred until I received my maintenance, but this request was denied. Ultimately, I had no choice but to pay upfront, leaving me in debt, stressed, and constantly anxious, which made an already challenging final year even more difficult. Sadly, the problems didn’t just stop there. Communication was a constant nightmare, and emails were ignored or delayed for weeks, even when issues were urgent. My room and my friends developed damp, which we reported repeatedly, but it took two months to get any sort out action. The eventual ‘solution’ was to lend us a dehumidifier, which helped until they took it back two months before our tenancy ended, leaving us stuck in damp, foul-smelling rooms for the remainder of our stay. I’d read negative reviews before moving in and thought maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. But having lived through it, I can honestly say the bad reviews were right. Hopefully, SJ can begin listening to student concerns and make real change to better their service for future tenants. At the end of the day, students don’t expect perfection, but we do expect to be heard and treated with fairness and compassion. (Many Thanks to Tamsin <3)

Jess · 16 October 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Thank you to SJ for all your hard work and effort you did for us in my last 2 years as a student. It’s always hard to be an estate agent when landlords may not want to sort out issues. They can only do what they can. Those at SJ always did a lot for us, and were extra speedy at replies. Thank you to Simon, Tamsin and Alexandra, as you guys were the ones I dealt with the most. Consistently kind and understanding, they did a lot for me as a lead tenant. I understand how difficult this job can be and is never straightforward! Wishing them all the best for the future. Thank you!

Lauren · 16 October 2025

★★★★★ 2/5

Google

Unfortunately we had very similar experiences to the other student reviews on here. After sending money to secure our property, the agency seemed to go MIA to the point that we were genuinely convinced we had been scammed. After countless emails from my end with a lack of response, this was finally resolved once I visited the office in-person. We gave benefit of the doubt that this communication mishap was a one-off, however, this was not the case. Our downstairs bedrooms suffered terrible damp problems, leaving awful smells and tenants clothing mouldy- yet this didn’t seem to alarm the agency. After weeks of pleading for help from the maintenance team, rather than do anything useful, we got sent a common sense PDF file about of reducing condensation. Thankfully, Tamsin later got involved and helped create a short term solution. Throughout the year, maintenance communication continued to be poor, with contractors not showing up on days we were asked to remain in the property, and issues continually dismissed. The property we rented was high-quality overall and such lovely student accommodation, however it is really let down by SJ. Despite this, it must be noted Tamsin from the lettings team is an exception to these comments. I often resorted to contacting Tamsin rather than maintenance in times of need and she always went above and beyond to help us out. Her communication was exceptional and she really saved us from having a nightmare experiences- so a huge thank you to her!

Naomi · 16 October 2025

★★★★★ 4/5

Google

After being let down at the last minute by another agent, my friends and I were left scrambling to find a new place, and the whole situation was incredibly stressful. We’d spoken to so many agents and viewed what felt like endless properties, but nothing felt right. Then we found SJ Property, and honestly, they were a breath of fresh air. From the first conversation, they made us feel at ease. They took the time to understand our situation, picked us up, showed us multiple houses, and really went above and beyond to help us find something last-minute. We’re final-year students, so we've dealt with a few agencies by now, and SJ Property truly stands out. I can’t recommend them enough for the care and effort they put in. This review is just a big thank-you to the whole team, you really made a tough time so much easier. p.s, thanks for the new sofa! Its soooooo comfy Hallie and house x

Hailie · 16 September 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

As a landlord, I couldn’t be happier with Simon and his team. They’re proactive, communicative, and genuinely look after both the property and the tenants. Highly recommended for any landlord wanting peace of mind.

Vincent · 16 February 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

STUDENTS BEWARE! Do not use this letting agency. They will try and take advantage of you. They ignore all problems you report and once you've moved out try and charge you for issues the property already had. Good luck getting your deposit back from this cowboy agency! They pray on young students and expect you to live in conditions that would be deemed illegal.

Stefanie · 2 September 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Rhia and the SJ Property team made renting easy and stress free. Rhia was always so friendly and attentive, making the whole experience a great one.

Sam · 16 February 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I previously wrote a 5 star review, simply because of Tamsin but I have to emphasise how amazing she is again. She’s incredibly attentive and genuinely listens to what you need. Her high energy and positive attitude make the whole process so much easier, and she’s always helpful, responsive, and lovely to deal with. You can really tell she cares about her clients. Couldn’t recommend her more! She’s made staying at SJ properties the easiest decision ever !!!

Chloe · 16 December 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Will absolutely take advantage of you, both at the start of the tenancy agreement and at the final stage of giving your deposit back. Securing a house was a complete nightmare, with the excessive amount of paperwork they required which I have never encountered with an estate agency before. Their communication was poor and often ignored half of what you were saying. Do not expect to receive your full deposit back with SJ - they demanded money from us for a SECOND professional clean even though we had already paid for one. The house was falling apart from the beginning and pre-existing marks and damage were attributed to us during the tenancy. Basically just a complete scam

Lottie · 16 October 2025

★★★★★ 4/5

Google

I've just moved out of a 5 bed house managed by SJ Properties and myself and my housemates can firmly say it's been one of the best experiences we've had with an estate agent. They have mostly been very efficient in responding to our concerns and taken the upmost care in making sure we were prepared when having works done on the house etc (btw for whoever moves in next, youre lucky because it looks gorgeous). In particular, we want to say a big thank you to Simon who has been so friendly to us and treated us with so much kindness and respect especially expressing his gratitude for how clean we kept the house. As a tenant it's very nice to have that appreciated. While the phone lines can often be busy, if you establish contact with SJ and build a relationship with them, I'm sure you'll have a great tenancy :)

Bella · 18 September 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I lived in a house managed by sj properties last year and they were very friendly and helpful throughout the duration there. After moving out of the house following my graduation last year, I accidentally sent a parcel to my old address. I would specifically like to highlight one of the agents, Cheryl, who was an absolute gem in helping me retrieve the parcel as the shipping company was so unhelpful. Thank you Cheryl for going above and beyond for helping me.

Becca · 20 July 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I've just moved out of an SJ property after renting a flat in Kemptown with them for two years. Reading reviews here about 'poor customer service' are confusing to me, as Simon was nothing but helpful throughout our tenancy, often answering calls and texts outside of office hours. Prior to this flat, I had never had any positive experiences with lettings agents and unfortunately wasn't able to find another suitable property through SJ for my current move but if I find myself having to move again in the future I'll be going with them as a point of preference. We had a mould issue on our lounge wall in the flat when we moved in (unfortunately common with old, Georgian buildings by the sea). Because it was caused by a guttering issue, this fell under the remit of the managing agents of the building, a separate company to SJ. The managing agents took around eight months to fix the issue, during which time SJ chased them for progress on our behalf. When the issue was finally fixed, SJ and the landlord they were representing discounted half a month's rent for us, and Simon brought round a bottle of wine by way of apology - considering the issue was out of their remit, this was a really lovely gesture. Application process and referencing were painless, communication was very good, move out process has been a breeze. A+ would recommend.

Juniper · 15 June 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Tamsin was very helpful and friendly throughout the whole paperwork process, answered all questions thoroughly with fast replies!

Holly · 24 November 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

This letting agency is totally incompetent. They have no processes in place for reporting issues with the property, they do not get things fixed in an appropriate timeframe, and they implement lots of unnecessary bureaucracy. As a landlord, I would steer clear of this letting agency. They are disorganised time wasters.

Iona · 16 October 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

SJ Property services always perform on top form. They have increased my rental income year on year. When it comes to managing properties they truly manage each house as if it was their own. I have been with previous letting agents in Brighton and SJ Property services have been far better than any other agency. There has never been hidden fees or surprise costs. Rent is paid straight to my account always on time. I would highly recommend using SJ property services for your portfolio no mater how large or small. Thank you to all the hard work.

Kishan · 16 June 2018

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

If you're a student, you will get taken advantage of. It was a terrible and frustrating experience. I have been a student in Brighton for 4 years, and SJ is by far the worst property service company I have had the displeasure of renting from. The team was incredibly slow to address issues. We experienced dangerous levels of black mold and damp in the property, which were not properly resolved, despite numerous emails sent to various departments at SJ. The Admin, Lettings, and Maintenance teams were dismissive of the many problems, with some issues taking months to resolve. My fellow tenants and I had to persistently email the company to get them to notice and address the unresolved concerns. The only team member who seemed responsive was Luke, who made efforts to query and help with the problems we faced. Ultimately, I would strongly discourage any student from renting through this company, and I'm glad to be done with them.

George · 26 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Appalling service. Total lack of communication with tenants. Avoid at all costs

Ben · 26 September 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

We are a family who were looking for a 'family home' to rent, SJPropertys had one for us to look at, we put a holding deposit immediatly and moved in 3 weeks later. Simon and Tamsin are so friendly and helpful. Any issues are dealt with immediately, it can be stressful finding a house but we have found it easy through SJ Propertys, not all agents are the same!!!

ToCoSo · 25 November 2024

★★★★★ 2/5

Google

If you are a low-income student or rely on a guarantor, I would strongly advise against using this company. For my final-year house, I assumed the process would be as straightforward as in previous years, but they refused to accept my … More

Jessica · 26 September 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Sj have been amazing! We have just renewed our tennecy to stay another year. This process is made as easy as possible. And they always answer the phone/respond to emails.

Lauren · 16 January 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Relative is a tenant and they have nothing but constant grief. My sister is there every week cleaning the house but it is still not “appropriate” for their standards. None of the tenants issues are sorted but whenever the tenants aren’t up to their standards it is subsidised immediately. Wouldn’t recommend for new students. We will be looking elsewhere next year and suggest other students do aswell.

Cal · 26 October 2018

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Relative is a tenant and they have nothing but constant grief. My sister is there every week cleaning the house but it is still not “appropriate” for their standards. None of the tenants issues are sorted but whenever the tenants aren’t up to their standards it is subsidised immediately. Wouldn’t recommend for new students. We will be looking elsewhere next year and suggest other students do aswell.

Marvin · 16 June 2018

★★★★★ 4/5

Google

I recently had the pleasure of renting with SJ, and I must say, their service exceeded my expectations in every way. From start to finish, they demonstrated a level of professionalism, friendliness, and expertise that made my property search a breeze. One of the best things about SJ is their fantastic selection of properties. The range and quality of options available were impressive, and I was able to find the perfect home that ticked all the boxes. Their attention to detail in curating such an exceptional portfolio truly sets them apart from the rest. Their helpfulness and willingness to go above and beyond made me feel supported and valued as a client. I wholeheartedly recommend SJ to anyone in search of a reliable and professional letting service. Their commitment to excellence, friendly approach, and outstanding customer care make them the go-to choice in the industry.

Blessing · 11 December 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Very useful in helping to find and secure a property, very quick response and very helpful team!

Hasaan · 16 February 2026