Stirling Ackroyd Guildford reviews

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I cant begin to explain how amazing me service and support has been from a lovely women Ella, me and my friends are students and all the house stuff is new and fresh for us and the level she has gone to, to help us achieve and get a lovely safe home for us is endless. Thank you so much! Daisy Flower-Hobbis

Jess · 28 March 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

This is the worst letting service I have seen in 3 years time in UK. The Guildford branch is awful. Your agent was really unprofessional. He promised us things while viewing which were never provided. We moved in today and the house is in unacceptable condition. After contacting him, he has stated that he never said those things which were promised to us while viewing. While talking to him on call, he is always in hurry and cut the call on very first pause. I have never expected this kind of service from your company. Please provide relevant trainings to your agent and resolve our issue.

Amrit · 25 October 2022

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

WORST AGENCY IN GUILDFORD Admin fees for rental are ridiculously high. Staff are always confused, disorganised and extremely rude (specifically property management). There is a high turnover of staff. From the start to the end of our tenancy , it has been a nightmare. They are only focused on money, and customer service is poor. They are also notorious for trying to keep security deposits. Even landlord moved to another agency as was so dissatisfied. There are far better lettings agencies in Guildford, AVOID TOWNENDS.

Z · 26 October 2017

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I had a fantastic experience working with our agent Ella Davidge to find our new home. She was incredibly nice and kind throughout the entire process. The journey to finding our perfect home was smooth and easy, thanks to her expert guidance. Whenever we had a question or doubt, she was always there to assist us promptly. Highly recommended!

Lakshman · 27 February 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Chris has been fantastic! She managed to find a house in a very short time and we are delighted. She has been supportive, emailed quickly with available properties and phoned me when I needed to speak directly with her. Great job,Chris! Thank you Townend

Mihaela · 26 October 2019

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

After a stressful few weeks trying to find a place, Townsend estate agents were the most approachable and responsive. Shout out to Christine who always gets back to us quickly and is super helpful.PositiveResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism

Aimee · 25 October 2021

★★★★★ 4/5

Google

Thanks Tarkan for all your help in getting our student home! good service

Amina · 9 January 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Excellent service! I had a great experience with them, they were very quick to respond, nice and friendly, and made the process very stress free! They were very efficient! Communicated amazingly. Thank You!

Morrigan · 3 April 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Great customer service. Thanks to Simon for helping me with a property search.

Klaudia · 25 October 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Absolutely atrocious agents. From collapsed ceilings to failing electrics I have had a nightmare since moving into one of their student properties. The company are negligent and do not respond unless of course it’s for a house viewing that they wish to show around. Do NOT go with these agents they are abysmal and negligent.

HM29 · 27 February 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

I initially had high hopes for this agency and the beautiful property I’d began the process of renting with them. However I had some referencing issues and was misinformed on how to go about continuing the process, and there was a very clear disconnect about what actually needed to be done. No one actually took accountability for this and by the end of a very drawled out process, I was just pressured into a corner to either to withdraw from the application or fork out 6 months rent upfront. Call me crazy but that’s a rather absurd expectation to have in a climate with soaring unemployment. Had I been given accurate information in the first place, I probably would have withdrawn to begin with - but at least it would be by my own accord, something for which I’m accountable for as opposed to being pushed into an ultimatum. On top of that, they’re keeping my holding deposit. If you’re international with few reference options, save yourself from a huge hassle and just avoid agencies at all costs. I’m quite disappointed that I had to learn this, particularly with such little compassion.

Kayla · 25 October 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Worst estate agency, irresponsible, unprofessional, pathetic services! I would say it is horrible, shameful and terrifying for an agency to deal with their clients like this. We honestly doubt whether they had any plans to delude or defraud us knowing that we were internationals or was it because we were international students they provided such pitiful service! In either way I would sincerely request anyone reading this review, please do not approach Townends for any of your needs. As international students we approached Townends to rent a property during our stay in Guildford. The representative wasn’t flexible at all during the initial renting process, they couldn’t even spare us with some hours of delay occurring in international transfers. After moving in the property manager (Matt Clifford) didn’t turn up to any queries made regarding the property, no response to mails sent, was treated as though we were renting the property for free! During our tenancy we had to run behind them for nearly a month to get the reimbursement of the charge which the agency was supposed to deal with but we as the tenants were forced to pay. The pathetic experience was neither the property manager nor the agency representative (Richard Bicknell) replied to the mails we sent them regarding the issue. The worst part was after moving out, the agreement states to claim any deductions within 10days & disburse the deposit within another 10days, provided there isn’t any disagreement. They took exactly a month to reply us with the deductions (we got the reply after sending several mails to get an update) and after agreeing with the claims another 37days to reimburse the amount. We had to fire mails behind mails to at least get a reply and another loads of mails to get our deposit back. It is so frustrating that they are not even acknowledging the mails, despite the fact we expect a response or solution to our query. They are charging huge amounts as their fee but not ready to provide any service for what we pay for. The agency's staff especially the property manager who is meant to handle our case was so rude and arrogant that he acts like he has no responsibility, not even ready to acknowledge any mails. The agency couldn’t even bare the hours delay that occurred during the initial international payment we had to pay but they are “too good” to break the agreement and hold our deposit for two months with no specific reason! No response to mails, no picking up calls, no update on our issues! Finally we had to contact the customer support department of townends to at least get a reply. This is the worst service experience I ever had in this country. Their level of hypocrisy is astonishing considering the claims they make and the service they provide. My honest review, never ever approach this agency, please do not make any dealings with them!NegativeResponsiveness, Professionalism, Value

Krishnakumar · 25 October 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

The lettings team at Townends have managed my rental properties for a few years now and I have always received first rate service. Richard, Christine and all the team are solely focussed on getting the right result in the quickest time possible. I have been particularly impressed with their speed to market to get available properties viewed and tenants signed up way before their competitors get a look in. I would happily recommend them to anyone in my network....and have done so.PositiveResponsiveness, Professionalism

Jason · 25 October 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Thanks to Richard and other helpful people at Sterling and Ackroyd, Guildford, we found tenants almost immediately and the letting process was easy. We are grateful for the service especially because we live abroad and we could not have done it without their help.

Olga · 25 October 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

We have been searching a flat in guilford for the last couple of weeks but there was no luck. Richard from stirling achroyd helped us to find a great deal of a 2 bed flat. He was very helpful for us with the process and gave us a lot of valuable information. Highly recommended.

Nisal · 27 February 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I have known Richard (Bicknell) for a few years and have let my property through him several times. He is friendly, competence and keeps his words. To date, I have received excellent service from Richard and his team at Stirling Ackroyd.

Sam · 25 October 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Only the first meeting is good Throughout the service. I didn't feel professional service. Contracts come and go. Two years after the first deal. Send me a one-year contract. And for a ridiculous reason. Tell me to let me sign for a year first. Their professionalism makes me question it. The correct contract was sent the second time. It was changed to 24 months. When I'm done signing. They want to change it again. I don't know what the point of me signing a contract and paying a deposit is. Another one. He's been calling me every week for the last few weeks. I can't do a better job. I question their professionalism. Questioning their service to foreigners and people of color is different. I felt like I was being racially abused. About this thing. I'll keep reporting to their company and the authorities. These are their problems. I proposed a solution. They didn't. They told me the deposit wasn't refundable

Mo · 27 April 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Made my experience of renting for the first time as a student really easy and stress free. Ellie was so lovely and helpful. A great service in general!

Esme · 25 October 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Brilliant from start to finish. My partner and I recently rented a property through Townends and I must say, the whole process was stress-free and smooth sailing thanks to Ellie! I usually dread moving but Ellie demonstrated amazing communication, everything was done quickly and efficiently and was just a lovely lady to work with. A true asset to your company.PositiveProfessionalism

Rachael · 25 October 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Found a flat with Christine at Townends, the service we received was brilliant I would highly recommend using these guys when looking for a rental in Guildford! Thank you Christine, awesome job

Ramon · 25 October 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Terrible service. Ignores emails, they were late to our flat viewing, missed our very first one (booked us in on a day she was on holiday). When we moved into the flat they were most unhelpful about things around the flat that needed fixing. We got hold of the actual landlord who was very helpful, only to be told by townends that we aren't allowed or supposed to contact our landlord directly. They have made every single step of this whole process extremely difficult for myself and my flat mates. 0/10 would NOT recommendNegativeResponsiveness, Quality

Jae · 25 October 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Rented from them for a year, may as well have lived in a tent. Hidden costs everywhere, unhelpful and unprofessional staff, did not feel safe in my home because apparently the legal requirment for 24 hours notice for viewings is just a suggestion to Townends. They were extremely against putting anything in writings and wanted to discuss house issues over the phone, which they didn't fix anyway and we had to do it ourselves. When we were moving out, they moved the check-out time without telling this even though we stated we want to be there to avoid losing our deposit. We left the property CLEANER than it was when we moved in (a 2K pre-tenancy clean they claimed to happened absolutely did not as I found hair, dust, dead flies, rust rings on cupboards), which we had photographic evidence of. They ended up wanting to take half our deposit for 'damages' we reported to them throughout the year and conveniently their system seemed to have lost our reports. We ended up agreeing to give up 200 quid off the deposit just to get them to give us our money back because it was taking ALMOST A YEAR. Whatever you do, if it can be avoided - DO NOT RENT WITH THEM.NegativeResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism, Value

Ksenia · 25 October 2020

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I recently purchased a property in Guildford through Townends and could not be happier with how we were treated by the agency. Kevin and Lee kept us informed all the way. There is no doubt that we would sell through this agency in the future if required as not only are they professional but they also provide that personal touch that makes you feel important. Thank you both!!

Samantha · 26 October 2018

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Great service overall from Guildford branch of Townends - certainly the most helpful of all the agents we tried in town. Special thanks to Christine - v. friendly and professional. :)

Pete · 25 October 2020