Every review we hold for the Colchester office, from every platform, shown as written. First names only.
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleTook my holding money to process my application, then said I'm not getting the flat and has kept my holding money with no reasonable explanation and no wrong doing on my part. Utter crooks. They ignore emails and requests for my money back and also failed to state the reason why they are steeling my money. Do not use this company! UPDATE! I did not send any threatening emails, I did not even use any bad language. I did not mislead anyone. The explanation you used still didn't clarify the reason of steeling my money. I work full time I'm in full time employment. You should state on your form or advertising that you discriminate against agency workers. If I had known this I wouldn't of applied.
Home · 4 August 2022
Agent replied · 31 May 2023
Good afternoon and thank you for your feedback. The comments in your review are not true as I personally have been replying to the many threatening emails that you have sent into the office. In those emails I have on more than one occasion explained why the holding payment has been retained under the Tenant Fees Regulations. For the purpose of this review I will explain once again.
Your application form provided information that was misleading which meant that the final reference report was not fitting the requirement. I sent you the contents of the regulations and highlighted the area under which we have retained the holding payment.
In my last email to you I advised that if you of our complaints procedure should you wish to progress this via a complaint. The fact is your application was misleading and as a result your holding payment has been retained. I am not able to reply to your continued threatening emails demanding payment. You are welcome to follow our complaints procedure and elevate this further if required as the law is very clear in this regard and we are working to the contents of that piece of legislation.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Buck
Director of Sales & Lettings
Boydens
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleBrian has been very helpful through out and very clear with his communication making moving very simple
Matt · 16 October 2023
Agent replied · 30 October 2023
Dear Matt,
Thank you so very much for your kind review - we are so grateful to you for taking the time to review us and we will ensure that your comments are passed on to Brian.
All the best,
Paul Howe
Boydens
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleWorking with Boydens is great experience as they have done my new home process very fast and smoothly. Thank you brian
Maulik · 26 August 2025
Agent replied · 2 September 2025
Thank you, Maulik! We’re delighted to hear that your new home process with Boydens was fast and smooth. Brian will be thrilled to hear your kind words, he always strives to make the experience as seamless as possible. We appreciate your feedback and wish you all the best in your new home!
Best regards,
The Boydens Team
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleAVOID BOYDENS they will rip you off!!!
I've been renting for years and this was my very first negative experience of unfair check out costs that I am absolutely appalled by.
I agree with the review below from Nicole Crockett 100%. I've had an average experience with Boydens throughout the stay in property for over two years: there's been some significant lack of action when objects in the flat were reported faulty (broken door handles from the moment we moved in, until moving out two years later, broken patio door was replaced only a year later whilst being broken upon moving in, the list goes on).
The Nil Deposit scheme implies that we will be charged if any damage to the property and costs related to maintenance. The property was left cleaned thoroughly, yet we were charged for every little made up detail, like cleaning dusty radiators? Or kitchen cabinets that were cleaned and disinfected, or "finger marks" on mirrored light switches (never mind someone went into the flat to check out using said switches), for spider web (which was removed 100% and can only assume appeared over the several days the flat was empty before it was checked - spiders in UK is a standard issue?), for floor cleaning that have been hoovered and mopped so you could eat of the floor if you wanted, for cleaning literally every object in the flat that has already been cleaned, as we clearly didn't want to be charged for failing to do so! Why did we bother in the first place, wasting our cleaning products and time to this result!?
We've even been charged for removal of an ugly TV stand that was there whilst VIEWING the flat and way before signing the contract or moving in. When the dated photograph proving said TV stand was in place way before we moved in was sent to Boydens, it was ignored and no response was received further until Nil Deposit Scheme processed the itemised quotation, letting us file a dispute, mentioning that there's also costs to dispute it.
We were not allowed to be present at checkout, so they've just assigned that everything was "amber" clean, which is just ludicrous. The flat was presented to us in a WAY dirtier state than it was handed over, and it was clear that no professional clean was done, likely ripped off someone else for cleaning charges before us and failed to clean. Lots of objects were also left in the flat when we moved in, which were stored in the cupboard there as we didn't want to be charged for losing objects belonging to the flat.
The fee is not huge and they would charge us the same have we paid the deposit and we likely wouldn't see that money back either way.
I am now in process of dealing with Nil Deposit scheme to dispute this although I am certain they will say there's no grounds for it - how can someone prove the flat was left very clean when the "report" says it was not? Very convenient!
I can only say that it is incredible shame if any landlords will let their property with Boydens as we usually look at the property, not the agency, to rent a place we enjoy living in. However, I will truly avoid using Boydens services in the future and strongly recommend to avoid to one and all. They're all smiles until there's an issue, then you'll just be ignored at all costs.
Lydia · 31 May 2022
Agent replied · 31 May 2023
Thank you for your review. For the sake of clarity Boydens are not party to the tenanchy agreement therefore any proposed deductions from your deposit are as instructed by your landlord.
The ingoing inventory and check out are completed by independent professionally qualified inventory clerks, not Boydens staff, to ensure that we have an unbiased account of the condition of the property.
The Nil Deposit Scheme that you refer to was a product that you chose to take with Let Alliance at the commencement of your tenancy. You have a contract with Let Alliance for this service not Boydens and therefore if you are not happy with how this works then I respectfully suggest speaking to Let Alliance direct. That said you would have been issued with a set of terms of business from Let Alliance when you took out the nil deposit product as a copy of the same was sent to our office too, in that document Let Alliance go into great detail as to how the scheme works. The also advised that in the event of a dispute that there would be a charge to you as the tenant to dispute any payment award that they felt was necessary. If Let Alliance have made the payment then they agree with the findings of the inventory clerk, so there are then two independent parties, outside Boydens, both the clerk and Let Alliance that agree that there should be a deduction against your deposit due to a breach of tenancy.
I fully appreciate that no one likes money deducted from their deposit, however it is clear, as stated above, that there were indeed issues at the end of your tenancy that you were liable for and as such the required action has taken place.
We manage a considerable amount of properties and a small percentage of check outs require funds to be retained.
Yours Sincerely
Paul Buck
Boydens
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleWhat can I say……other than do not sign up to a nil deposit scheme with boydens….they will fleece you for everything when you move out. Numerous attempts to receive some itinerary on checkout only to be given nothing, not allowed to be at checkout due to covid. 50 poor quality photos taken on check in….no cleaning done prior to moving in. Then 150+ photos on checkout, marking things that are of the same if not better standard as lower.
House left in a clean and tidy state, carpets professionally cleaned prior to checkout.
Issues raised during tenancy not rectified then handed the bill on checkout.
Charged for items to be removed (lampshades) and other items that were there on check in, for them to only still be in the property on marketing photos when the house was then to be sold, this is actually fraud…yet when raising this issue given the response that it’s nothing to do with me anymore…..it is when it’s my money you are taking.
Poor customer service, no one actually wants to talk to you or discuss anything unless money is involved. Absolutely no ownership of things that they could have improved.
They even tried to charge me for flooring that the landlord was going out to replace during the tenancy…..thankfully I had the email evidence to support this.
They will tell you you can dispute how much they are charging with an “independent adjudicator”….. however they seem to send different information to said company…resulting in me then being charged for something I was never asked to in the first place.
Boydens massively over inflate how much they are charging you so that in then end when you partially win your dispute as we did they still end up with more than what they are entitled too.
I have effectively footed the bill for the landlord to then refurbish and sell the house…..shame the landlord didn’t see fit to make these improvements when I was a tenant.
Thank goodness I am finally on the property ladder.
Nicole · 31 May 2022
Agent replied · 31 May 2023
Good morning Nicola.
I was sorry to hear of your frustrations, however I think it important that I explain the process. The Nil Deposit that you refer to is not provided by Boydens, you will recall that when you completed your reference for the property you signed a contract with Let Alliance for this product. They issued you with a set of terms of contract when they did so, as we were also sent a copy of the same. The contract explains clearly that you will be liable for any costs at the end of the tenancy as per your contract, and that if you wished you could dispute any claim but that you would be charged by them for this service.
Both the ingoing inventory and the outgoing check out were completed by professional third party inventory clerks to ensure that there was an unbiased report on the condition of the property.
A copy of the check out was provided to you and the landlord, and the landlord was asked for their instructions regarding anything that they felt needed to be charged for. Once costs were secured they would have been passed to you for your agreement and payment. If at this point you did not agree you could have contacted Let Alliance and requested that the matter be referred to dispute. As no agreement was received from you regarding the landlords proposed deductions, the landlord secured costs and presented the same to Let Alliance. Let Alliance then review the ingoing inventory, the check out and the tenancy agreement. If they feel that the claim is valid and inline with the tenancy agreement they then make the award to the landlord for the claimed items, if they don’t then they will refuse the claim. They felt the claim was valid and therefore made the award to the landlord.
I appreciate that you are not happy with the decision made by Let Alliance, however you can see from the above that Boydens did not provide the Nil Deposit product and did not make the decision to award the landlord’s claim to the landlord. Boydens are not party to your tenancy agreement and we work on the instructions from our clients, the landlord, however if this claim was considered betterment, Let Alliance would not have paid out on the same.
Paul Buck MARLA, MNAEA
Director of Sales & Lettings
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleMany thanks to Boydens again. A brilliant management company. Nina especially is always efficient and proactive. Great communications. Thank you.
Natalie · 12 August 2025
Agent replied · 2 September 2025
Hi Natalie and thank you for your review. I am so pleased we were able to assist you finding your new home.
Kind regards
Paul Buck
Director
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleWe chose Boydens as they are a well-known local established family firm. The staff are professional, polite and responsive - we were always kept informed of progress in our chain. These are extraordinary and difficult times but we were delighted with their service and very pleased we chose them to sell our house. They were tenacious in moving to exchange of contracts which was a huge relief. A very friendly estate agent with that personal touch. We have no hesitation in recommending them to others. Thank you Boydens.PositiveResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism, Value
Steve · 11 January 2022
Agent replied · 6 June 2023
Dear Steve,
We are delighted to read your review, and even more delighted that your move has been successfully concluded!
Thank you once again!
Best Regards,
Paul Howe
Boydens
★★★★★ 5/5
Googlebrilliant service, fast and speedy would definitely recommend, especially Brian and the lovely lady who showed me around the property!
Chloe · 1 May 2023
Agent replied · 31 May 2023
Thank you so very much Chloe for your review, we are immensely grateful to you.
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleBrian was very friendly and very helpful, under our circumstances was very understanding and good judge of character. Highly Recommend.
Thomas · 1 April 2023
Agent replied · 31 May 2023
Thank you so much for your kind review Thomas!
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleIt’s a good Agency and Brian Purvis is a good man
Jesus · 5 November 2023
Agent replied · 26 November 2023
Thank you so very much for your kind review! Your comments have been passed on to Brian.
All the best,
Paul Howe
Boydens
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleHaving previously looked at properties on Boydens books and seen their professionalism, and having studied the quality of their marketing on Rightmove, which compared very favourably with others, it was an easy choice to sell our property with them. A difficult time for buying and selling was made so much easier with their top notch communication and support. We have been so impressed from start to finish with Natalie, Sophie and Gemma, a caring, experienced and friendly team who are conscientious and go the extra mile. We had total trust in them. We cannot recommend them highly enough.PositiveResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism, Value
Clare · 27 August 2021
Agent replied · 6 June 2023
Clare - thank you so much for your fabulous review. We work hard to please and are delighted that you appreciate that.
We will ensure that Natalie, Sophie and Gemma are told of your kind comments, along with our Managing Director.
Thank you once again.
Best Regards,
Paul Howe
Boydens
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleDebbie and Brian have been brilliant throughout my process. I had spoke to other agents in my hunt for a property and most were brash and rude as everyone is so busy. Debbie and Brian have been amazing from start to finish, so helpful, gets questions answered quickly and the move in box was a lovely touch too! Cannot recommend enough, moving is always stressful so to have an agency who make it less so is brilliant.PositiveResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism, Value
Emily · 27 August 2021
Agent replied · 6 June 2023
Dear Emily,
Thank you so much for your fantastic review. We work hard to please and so we are delighted to read that we were able to help you. As you say, moving is a stressful time and so the fact that we were able to ease some of the stress for you is pleasing (and what we are here for).
Best wishes in your new home.
Regards,
Paul Howe
Boydens
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleWe have been using Boydens estate agents for over 20 years and are very pleased with their service.
They are a professional team who have extensive knowledge of the tenancy rules and regulations, as well as local housing market. They are very fair to both the tenant and the landlord.
We are regularly informed about changes in regulations and reminded of any actions that we need to take. This makes us feel that we can totally rely on our agent for advice to be compliant with all regulatory requirements.
They are always available for consultation and advice.
Thank you BoydensPositiveResponsiveness, Professionalism
Tbsm · 27 August 2021
Agent replied · 6 June 2023
Hello,
Your wonderful feedback and rating mean a lot to us.
Thank you so much for your review of our Colchester Branch. We work hard to please and so we are delighted to read that we are achieving this.
Thank you for taking the time to review us - we will pass this feedback on to the team.
All the best.
Paul Howe
Boydens
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleAbsolutely disgusted with this company, how they treat a vulnerable person, who had gone without and saved for money for a holding fee, so he can get his own flat, for his independence. And they turned around and said that they are with drawing his application and NOT returning his holding fee money. How can they sleep at night. Effectively stealing from him. Do not use this company! They pray on the vulnerable.
Michelle · 10 August 2022
Agent replied · 6 June 2023
Thank you for your feedback, please see below a copy of the reply issued to your son in relation to his feedback.
Good afternoon and thank you for your feedback. The comments in your review are not true as I personally have been replying to the many threatening emails that you have sent into the office. In those emails I have on more than one occasion explained why the holding payment has been retained under the Tenant Fees Regulations. For the purpose of this review I will explain once again.
Your application form provided information that was misleading which meant that the final reference report was not fitting the requirement. I sent you the contents of the regulations and highlighted the area under which we have retained the holding payment.
In my last email to you I advised that if you of our complaints procedure should you wish to progress this via a complaint. The fact is your application was misleading and as a result your holding payment has been retained. I am not able to reply to your continued threatening emails demanding payment. You are welcome to follow our complaints procedure and elevate this further if required as the law is very clear in this regard and we are working to the contents of that piece of legislation.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Buck
Director of Sales & Lettings
Boydens
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleI would recommend boydens for letting and buying
Pat in maintenance was great sorted out all my maintenance issues with ease very happy all the staff at Colchester branch are very helpful and friendly nothing is too much troubleNegativeResponsiveness, Professionalism
Lina · 17 October 2024
Agent replied · 30 October 2023
Dear Lina,
Thank you so much for your kind review which means the world to us. Please do recommend us to family and friends.
Best Wishes,
Paul Howe
Boydens
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotDo not rent from this company
I can only describe the rental side of this company as a total scam , please rent from elsewhere.
Ms · 14 July 2025
Agent replied · 27 August 2025
I was sorry to read your review. You are entirely welcome to use our complaints procedure if you feel you have been wronged. There was a proposed retention to your deposit due to a breach of your tenancy, which we were instructed to withhold by the landlord. Your statement that the landlord demanded we return the same is untrue. Whilst we acknowledge you may not be happy it was proposed some funds should be deducted from your deposit, you were advised on more than one occasion of the options available to you to dispute this claim. We would ask you to contact us if you continue to have a concern rather than make up lies on a review site.
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleHad a perfect experience from start to end, very quick with responses !! Shout out to debbie who has been wonderful from the start thanks for all your help !! Shout out to derry who was so polite showing me around a property and helpful when needed and lastly brian for such quick responses on the phones one of the fastest responses ive ever had, you three are great assetts to the company and i wish u all the very best in your careers
Luke
Luke · 6 June 2021
Agent replied · 6 June 2023
Dear Luke,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a great review. Out Lettings Team work exceptionally hard, so it is lovely to have that hard work recognised. I will ensure they are made aware of your comments.
Regards,
Paul Howe (Boydens)
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleWe have worked with Boydens as a contractor now for the best part of a year and it has been an absolute pleasure! Their dedication to providing an excellent service to not just their landlords and tenants but also any contractor working with them is admirable.
Nicola · 27 June 2024
Agent replied · 26 August 2024
Thank you so very much for your review Nicola - this means the world to us!
All the best,
Paul Howe
Boydens
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleAt first case they rent out property in not clean condition ,not painted walls ,not changed the flooring at turn tenant. Slow reaction to help in any maintenance issues. Rapidly increasing rental prices. At the end they lies ,sayes we are not giving back keys (but we did), also every way to pull out money from tenat pocket ,after almost 7 years rental.
I have had a few agency but Boydens is far the worst .NegativeResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism
Joseph · 27 August 2021
Agent replied · 6 June 2023
We would like the opportunity to find out how we can better assist you in the future. If you are willing, please contact us 01206 762244.
★★★★★ 5/5
TrustpilotOutstanding customer care at Boydens
Lea · 19 November 2025
Agent replied · 26 December 2025
Thank you so much, Lea, for your wonderful review. We’re delighted to hear that you had such a positive experience with our Colchester team. Natalie and Gemma will be thrilled to know their dedication and support made your home-buying journey a smooth and memorable one.
Helping you secure your dream home is exactly why we love what we do. Thank you again for choosing Boydens, and we wish you every happiness in your new home.
Warm regards,
The Boydens Colchester Team
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleI have been a tenant with Boydens for 7 years in the same house and have just signed a new agreement for a new house with them and I wanted to write a review to tell everyone what an amazing Estate and Letting Agency this company is!!! They are friendly and approachable and most importantly they are honest and open! I would highly recommend, you will be made to feel safe and secure with this company.PositiveResponsiveness, Professionalism
Sharon · 27 August 2021
Agent replied · 6 June 2023
Dear Sharon,
Thank you so much for your fantastic review which will be passed on to the Lettings Team. We try hard to please, so it is always satisfying when we can see that we have been successful.
Many thanks once again.
Paul Howe
Boydens
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleI have worked alongside the Boydens Colchester team for a number of years now. They are all very professional and consistently exceed expectations. I would happily recommend the team to any of my friends/family and clients. Thank you all
Chris · 26 September 2024
Agent replied · 24 October 2024
Thank you so much for your kind review Chris!
Best Wishes,
Boydens Colchester Team
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleI have been a Boydens customer since 1994, renting, buying, and now letting. Boydens make it possible for us to rent our house out with no worries and insecurity. I am particularly admirative of the maintenance department, which has always managed to sort out those inevitable house disasters quickly, efficiently, at a competitive price, and even with a friendly word.
Le · 21 July 2023
Agent replied · 26 July 2023
Firstly, thank you for being a customer of ours for so long. Thank you too for your kind review of our service, which we are delighted with. Your kind words will be passed on to the Property Management Team who I know will take great pleasure in reading them.
All the best,
Paul Howe
Boydens
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotSeems everyone saying the same - stay away
Very much same as all the others on here. And notice they reply to all the reviews making out it’s not there fault/problem.
Izak · 30 April 2025
Agent replied · 26 December 2025
Thank you for your review. Your deposit has been raised as a dispute by your landlord as dispute your comments there were issues in the property that require rectification, therefore the landlord has requested this be reviewed by the TDS. We note you have been made aware of this by email.
Where the same review appears twice we show it once. We leave out reviews that name another agent or another of the brand's offices.
