Bridgfords Lettings Darlington reviews

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Absolute nightmare experience

**Absolute nightmare experience. Avoid at all costs!** If I could give zero stars, I would. Moving cross-country from the Isle of Man to Manchester with a new job starting immediately should have been an exciting milestone, but Bridgfords turned it into an absolute disaster. Here is the full timeline of how terribly they handled our tenancy: * **Ghosted for 3 Weeks:** We paid our holding deposit on August 19th and never heard a word back for 3 weeks. Emails to Millie went completely unanswered. When we finally reached her by phone, she was very unhelpful with a "don't care" attitude, and we later found out from Daniel (a second staff member) that she had gone on leave without telling us. * **Ignored Screening Issues:** Daniel informed us that our screening had failed, meaning for **4 weeks** nobody said a single word to us about it. We managed to get it sorted ourselves, but following up with Daniel on next steps led to more radio silence. We were constantly told "sorry, we will only attend to you on 01 Oct" because they only deal with those moving in first, ignoring the looming deadline. * **Last-Minute Cancellation (2 Days Before Move-In):** We were ready to move into our apartment on October 3rd and I was starting my new job on October 5th. On October 1st, we called to get the lease sent through and pay our deposit. I spoke to Dan who said it would be sent in an hour. After 1.5 hours, I got a portal link to sign and pay, but it failed. I called Dan back, who said Jorgina (the lady in charge) was on lunch and would call back. An hour later (almost close of business on October 1st), still no call. * **Rude Management & Avoidance:** After calling 3 times, I finally got hold of Jorgina, who rudely asked why I needed to log into the portal and then nonchalantly dropped the bomb that **the apartment wouldn't be ready on October 3rd**, just 2 days before my move-in date. Jorgina dodged our calls and provided no solutions. We weren't even allowed to speak to the manager until we bypassed the lettings side and called the sales side. * **Forced Into Temporary Accommodation:** The manager was just as unhelpful, made excuses for his staff, and falsely claimed our October 3rd move-in date was "tentative" (which was never, ever mentioned). On Friday, October 2nd, he finally said the owner would put us in a short-term place until the apartment was ready on October 9th, a full **6 days late**. I had to make my way over to Manchester on October 4th and sit in a temporary room for most of the week. * **More Administrative Incompetence:** Bridgfords finally sent the lease on October 8th, but the payment instructions were incorrect. I had to make yet another call to get that sorted. Despite saying they would meet us with the keys on October 9th at 16:30, they changed their tune on the day and told me I just had to fetch the keys myself. * **Filthy, Damaged Apartment:** Overall, I had to phone them **over 30 to 40 times** just to get very vague answers, and emails were completely ignored. When I finally got the keys and entered the apartment on October 9th, it was left in a **disgusting, awful, dirty, and broken state**. How can you make someone wait 6 days extra and not even clean up? I have all the proof, emails, and videos. PLEASE GUYS, STAY AWAY FROM THESE PEOPLE. Do not use them, they are the most unprofessional people ever!

Kehleen · 9 October 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

My experience with Bridgfords/Countrywide

My experience with Bridgfords/Countrywide has been extremely disappointing. After relocating to London for work, I repeatedly tried to resolve my tenancy responsibly. I made multiple attempts to find a replacement tenant myself, maintained regular communication with the branch, and kept the company informed of my financial situation throughout. Despite this, I felt there was very little practical support or flexibility offered. The "change of sharer" process was frustrating and entirely dependent on the landlord's approval, while I was left to find replacements on my own. Several prospective replacements fell through for reasons outside my control, leaving me paying for accommodation in both Newcastle and London at the same time. Although the staff acknowledged my circumstances, the responses I received were largely limited to repeating company policy rather than working towards a practical solution. As a tenant who genuinely tried to communicate and cooperate throughout, I was left feeling unsupported during a period of significant financial hardship. If you are considering renting through this branch, be aware that if your circumstances change unexpectedly, you may find there is very little flexibility or practical assistance available. I hope the company reviews how it supports tenants facing genuine hardship, because my experience has been stressful and extremely disappointing.

Diptarup · 31 July 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

AVOID AVOID AVOID

Paul Local Guide·52 reviews·18 photos just now New If I could give zero stars I would one of the worst letting agents I’ve ever come across the new manager Stacey is patronising, rude and obnoxious. As an experienced landlord of multiple properties who has decided to take a backseat and enjoy retirement, she did nothing to reassure me and was trying to educate someone with 32 years experience. Went completely against all my wishes with no compromise she not only tried to reduce the rent which her area manager had recommended within a week of advertising in a completely refurbished property at my expense but also tried to force me to put any old tenant in the property just to start earning her fee. Thankfully I’ve removed the property from them and will NEVER deal with them again. I’ve dealt with other brands under the countrywide banner and had all but praise for them, but this branch and in particular this manager is not a good representation of Bridgfords. I would say to anyone AVOID AVOID AVOID at all costs !

Paul · 23 July 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

One of the worst estate company i have…

One of the worst estate management company i have come across . The manager and one mr Mamood were disgusting and very wicked human being. The Took my £2000.00 from my account without seeing the property . They kept my money from 24 October 2024 to March 2025. My bank and my friends intervened in to the matter before my money was return to me . They manager and senior managers do not care and are not bothered.

Aiah · 29 July 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Can't recommend Bridgefords as a future…

Can't recommend Bridgefords as a future buyer. Staff are lovely, honestly, but the whole process of buying a flat as a first time buyer has been horrendous. Party due to the in House conveyancing team they Bridgefords reccomended. I've lost my dream flat after 10 months because of Bridgefords and their inability to reccomend a competent solicitor. Hopefully you have better luck. Personally I would avoid.

Ross · 29 September 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

We have had a great experience letting a property through Bridgfords, Darlington. The staff, especially Helen and Casey have provided very efficient, friendly and professional services. They were quick to respond to our messages and the the process from enquiry to key handover only took a week. Thank you Helen and Casey, it was a pleasure dealing with you.

Allison · 16 March 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Bridgfords Disley were fantastic!!!!!

We sold our home through Bridgfords in Disley. They were fantastic! After being on the market for over seven months with another agent, we asked Mike to come and value our property. They sold it in a day of it going on the market! Mike was professional and understanding to all of our needs from the very start. The whole team at the Disley branch was fantastic but I would like to give a special mention to Ben, who has been outstanding! He has always been quick to answer any questions we have had and was always at the other end of the phone if we needed him! Mike was also a pleasure to deal with, he advised us of the process and really put us at ease! We cannot fault this team, they have been brilliant! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Chloe and Reuben

Chloe · 5 May 2026

★★★★★ 4/5

Trustpilot

Brand New Listing on a New-built House

Excellent communication throughout, clear, responsive, and very approachable. The team kept me well informed, including regular updates for tenants. What really stood out was their professionalism and proactive approach. Any issues with the brand‑new house were escalated to the developer under the warranty without me even having to ask, which gave me real peace of mind. Special thanks to Sophie for efficiently organising the white goods, and Helen for proactively raising and managing warranty matters. A genuinely positive and supportive experience. The reason I gave 4 stars is that it has only just started, we will see once all is up and running, and tenancies are completed.

Sarah · 23 April 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Fraud risk

Refused to return deposit after tenancy ended, eventually complying four months later after we enacted formal action. Ignored all our calls and emails, and during the little communication I could get with them I was treated with more rudeness and dishonesty than I have ever experienced. In particular Deposits Manager Paddy and Leanne consistently treated us with the utmost contempt. Probably some sort of illegal operations behind the scenes. Avoid!

Roger · 17 June 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

I recently moved into Brigford property…

I recently moved into Brigford property and I can't express how grateful I am for the fantastic support from Lucy and Murray. From the moment I began the application process, they were incredibly helpful and attentive to my needs. Lucy guided me through all the paperwork with clarity and patience, ensuring I understood everything. On move-in day, Murray went above and beyond to assist me, he helped with any questions I had and made sure everything was in order. To top it all off, I received a delightful box of chocolates as a sweet welcome gift, which added such a nice touch! Their friendly demeanor and professionalism truly made my transition seamless. I highly recommend Brigford to anyone looking for a welcoming place home.

Alpha · 21 February 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Good service nick is so helpfull very nice lad working at your Darlington branch can I also say that Helen has been very patient and excellent help me re paper work filling online forms and very nice lady thankyou

Elaine · 16 March 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Service above and beyond

What can I say about Bridgfords in Bamber Bridge, what an absolutely fabulous team of professionals to deal with especially Jane Catterall! This amazing lady has gone above and beyond for us firstly regarding the sale of my mum's house after she passed away, and now ourselves. Without Jane with her knowledge and wealth of experience our house move would have collapsed, she did everything in her power to get the job done, she went above and beyond, and is also a very understanding and caring individual remaining professional throughout. Couldn't have done this without you! Wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

Nicky · 8 November 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Great experience with Bridgfords Darlington from start to finish. The team were professional, helpful, and made the whole letting process smooth and stress-free. Special thanks to Nick for all his support!

Akande · 19 March 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

They lied in the contract and blamed it on a new staffer misunderstanding things

We viewed a property which had been vacant for months. The property was dirty, wallpaper falling off the walls, an outdated kitchen, carpets soo dirty and dump they stank, mould on walls, overgrown back garden, a lot rubbish in the back garden left by previous tenants that we had to hire a skip to get rid of it. Half of the light sockets in the house were not working (and the electricals failed the Electrical Installation Certificate), the showers in the house didn’t work, neither did the boiler. The windows all round the house are single glazed, even the front door had was missing the letter box and so just had a huge hole in it. After we had moved in we also discovered holes in the roof which birds use as nests, and a leaking ceiling in the living room of all places. The letting agent emailed us that the landlord was going to fix everything, listing down all the issues, this forming part of the contract. Some things were to be fixed before we moved in and others within the first month. They rushed us to move in, however, when we moved in Bridgfords refused to complete the list of works around the property, stating that it was a MISTAKE on their part by a new employee who confirmed the list of work to be completed when the landlord only said he’d think about it. When we decided we would move and they’d pay for moving costs for misleading us into a contract they were never going to honour, and after reporting them to our MP and the Council, the landlord decided to fix a few things around the house. After that, it was all to hell. We have written and called countless times and they still maintain they are not in the wrong, and the landlord refuses to bring the property to standards. By the way, everything in the property is from when the house was initially built, that should tell you the condition of the house. Currently, we’ve been without heating or hot water for nearly a month, and with the change in weather, we are all nursing colds. The Stove and sink also don’t work and the landlord has refused to fix either. I only wish we had looked at the reviews before going with this letting agent. They are incompetent, terrible customer service (one staff even swore at my mum), and just all around awful to deal with. Please don’t use them at all, there’s a reason they only have a 2 rating.

Iz · 6 October 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

3 hours before the appointment I received a call from Polly canceling said appointment due to the valuer not being in. The agent explained that "the admin team must not have realised that the valuer was off". This is a blatant lie as Rhea spoke to the valuer Rebecca during the phone call on Tuesday to confirm she was available. The appointment was booked 4 days in advance. This is very disappointing and unprofessional. Business has been lost and a sour taste left behind.

Scott · 18 July 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Very terrible people. Very quick to take your money, will avoid doing any repairs at all cost and once you move out of their property, they will start avoiding your calls and will refuse to return your deposit. You guys have been avoiding me for like a month now and still holding my deposit, I will sue you guys soon because it’s obvious your actions are deliberate. Avoid this people at all cost.

Chukwunwike · 16 March 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Some things never change - still shoddy

Some things never change. We bought our house through Bridgfords 5 years ago- not a good experience. They don’t answer the phone or answer emails. Today, as we’ve decided to sell the house, I thought to myself "maybe they’ve changed." I’ve called them 4 X, each time being redirected to an answering machine.I’ve emailed them and no reply. A continuation of a shoddy service continues. The 2 other estate agents I’ve contacted have replied more or less straight away and visits have been arranged. I honestly don’t know how Bridgfords survives in the current economic climate.

Gaynor · 10 August 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

2 month+ deposit return delay

I rented a property managed by Bridgfords and moved out two months ago. I still have not received my deposit back. Since moving out, I have called and emailed the branch multiple times to follow up. My calls have been hung up on, and my emails have gone unanswered. For an agency that expects tenants to meet strict deadlines and requirements throughout the tenancy, this level of service at the end of the process has been disappointing. I would think carefully before renting through Bridgfords based on this experience.

Wayne · 31 July 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Disrespectful and Desperate, Data Breach

We viewed a property and after loving it in person offered a cash offer of asking price their and then. Within the same hour, I got a call from the agent who shown us round to be told it was going to Auction. I checked the listing, and it didn't mention auction, but this was updated the next morning. The estate agent had every opportunity to call us to inform us it was an auction property. It seems we had a lucky escape since we have found out the property has had two collapsing sales, for such a desirable area and its price point, these are huge red flags. I called the agency first thing during the morning after our viewing at 9am, to say we aren't interested, we viewed a property to buy not to be told until after viewing it that it was auction, oh and it get's better they tried to make out it was a good deal, yeah a deal that would cost us 4.5% of a minimum of 6.600 in auction fees that we never knew of until afterwards and would never have considered had we of known this information before the viewing. I said, please don't get anyone to call me, but the auction company called me anyway, I tell them we are not interested. I have since had two more calls from the auction company ( which i understand is a sister style company to this agency ). I've had to block the number and inform my solicitor of a data protection breach, as I said I did not want to speak to anyone from auction. Also had a call in desperation from the agency saying oh the price has dropped. " Firstly, no it hasn't because of the fees; secondly, we said we were not interested, why was this not respected. I have never heard of this agency before we did the viewing and I wouldn't be surprised by the many low reviews; they will be able to continue in business much longer. Hoping this review grabs their attention because this is what happens when you harass someone. Don't follow correct and legal protocol and respect people's privacy.

Clayton · 2 July 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

would not recommend this company to any…

would not recommend this company to any landlord. The fees are extremely high, with additional charges that are not always made clear from the outset. Communication is poor, and it is often very difficult to get hold of staff when you need support or answers. The contractors they use are also significantly overpriced, leaving landlords with unnecessarily expensive maintenance bills. For the amount charged, the level of service provided is disappointing. Overall, my experience has been frustrating, costly, and poor value for money. I would strongly advise others to look elsewhere.

Andrew · 24 June 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

The Agancy refused to give references as I di not live there since 2025. Management unavailable to take a call. Response from agent : "I am unaware if you currently live at the property or not. We have no involvement with the property and have not since July 2025. In this circumstance we are unable to provide a reference"

MrD · 2 April 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

STAY AWAY - BRIDGFORDS DARLINGTON

I purchased a property from Bridgfords in December 2025. They have been holding the keys. I arranged my own contractors to start renovating the property. Bridgfords decided to change the locks without my consent and knowledge, I have been chasing them for almost a month now to get the money refunded back to me but it has been a struggle and a battle. Do not use this agency as they cannot be trusted and are horrible and difficult to work with. STAY AWAY FROM THESE INCOMPETANT, GREEDY MONEY GRABBERS

Keith · 22 June 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Thank you so much Holly at Stockton Heath's Bridgefords

I had a wonderful tour with Holly from Bridgeford's Stockton Heath. I didn't feel rushed and she was very attentive, patient with all my questions and built a quick rapport with me. She always answered the phone and emails professionally and gave thorough and informative replies, always keeping me in the loop as my application for my new rental progressed through all the stages. I highly recommend her. Steph xxx

Stephanie · 24 August 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

The worst out there

The worst out there, put us through so much drama, very stressful and mentally draining, their mortgage broker is absolutely useless, 4 months later we were declined, absolute waste of time, waste of energy, they just didn't want us to buy it for some reason, maybe because we are a different skin colour to them! Stay away from the burnley branch, good lord, how do they get away with this bs.

Ify · 13 August 2026