Ellmans reviews

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

We had an unpleasant encounter with an agent. We were meant to have a mandatory fire safety check and had provided them access to the flat with ample time. Unfortunately, this mandatory safety check failed to mateiralise as the team apparently did not communicate with one another and during the conversation said they required additional consumer led input. Despite the latter not being requested for. Instead the agent blamed the tenant and failed to take any accountability. Her attitude and manner during the exchange were unbefitting of a consumer facing organisation. I do hope the agent can reflect on her actions and attitude. It was disappointing and reflects poorly on Ellmans.

Karthick · 2 April 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Good Afternoon I would like to pass on.my thanks to Olivia at Ellmans. I have recently notified Olivia of a few issues regarding both inside and outside areas of my block at The Mount . Olivia has passed on the issues to various departments and all have been addressed. Emails have been sent updating the progress on each occasion. Excellent service including the maintenance staff

Lynn · 13 October 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Yell

Landlord or tenant, stay away

As a former tenant, my experience with Ellmans Lettings was profoundly disappointing, and I strongly caution both tenants and landlords against engaging with this agency. Landlords may unknowingly entrust their properties to Ellmans, but their poor management reflects poorly on all parties involved.During my tenancy, I encountered numerous issues demonstrating their lack of professionalism. Upon moving in, I found mouldy blinds in irreparable condition. The carpets were poorly installed, and the overall condition of the property was substandard. Communication with the agency was appalling. Their representatives were patronising, rude. They are now attempting to withhold part of my deposit for cleaning, despite the property being left in a much cleaner state than when I moved in. This process has caused undue stress and inconvenience. I would never recommend Ellmans Lettings to tenants or landlords. The inefficiency, lack of care, and unprofessionalism simply aren’t worth it.

ThanosK · 13 March 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

I have been letting properties in Brighton for over ten years and never felt the need to leave a review of a letting agency (despite all manner of unpleasant experiences as its sort of what you get in Brighton unfortunately) but the service offered by Ellmans is truly abysmal leaning on criminal. The complete lack of professionalism and incompetence of the Ellams staff was blaringly obvious for the get go, endlessly harassing my mum for guarantor details which had already been sent and sending me blank templates they were meant to fill out for my tenancy documents; hilariously resulting in my tenancy agreement saying my rent is £0.00 per month. What was less hilarious was realising this complete lack of care had translated to making sure the property i was renting was in any way fit for habitation: One of the electric sockets in the flat gave me a shock when used, the shower in the property did not work, the hot tap in the bathroom spat out brown water when turned on. The waste removal from the toilet was leaking: rather than having this fixed the agents had left an old ice cream tub under the outlet (please see attached photo). As i did not notice, this eventually overfilled and spilled into my flat. When I informed letting agency of this rather than responding with empathy and urgency I received a stock email saying a plumber will 'hopefully' contact me within 24 hours. Only when i threatened to end my tenancy using 'Right to unwind' (if you have to rent with Ellmans take note here will be the only way you can get them to fix anything) were these issues dealt with promptly. During the tenancy I reported black mould growth in my flat, these concerns were completely ignored leading to a chesty cough I am still struggling to get over (more on this later). Despite being a six month tenancy I paid to have the flat professionally cleaned at the end of my tenancy despite this the landlord took £140 out of my deposit to have the flat repainted due to stains caused by the aforementioned mould; they blamed this on my furniture being kept to close to the walls (in a very small studio flat limited space to put things). Admittedly landlords decision but no support from letting agents here. The agents also denied my request to have contact information for the landlord - which they are legally obliged to provide under 1985 renters reform act. If it is possible for you to avoid using Ellmans letting agency I would urge you to do so. The staff are in equal parts incompetent and apathetic and the properties they let pose clear risks to health and safety.

Joseph · 15 April 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

My positive experience with Ellmans Block Management &lettings …

I had water leaking from the roof of the block of flats I live in making water damage in my kitchen . I phoned Ellmans Block management & lettings and asked to speak to Abbie Maker the Block property manager and was put through to her straight away by a friendly member of staff . Abbie got a contractor to come out to me very quickly to do a quote and after three quotes the work was carried out and fixed . After the leak in the roof was fixed Abbie sent out decorates to repair the damage to my ceiling . Which was done very well . So I am very satisfied the work has been completed .

Anthony · 18 October 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Role of the Managing Agent at its best…

Amy Balnave is the Ellmans agent for Coombe Lea, Grand Avenue, Hove. I am a long-standing owner of a flat in this block but am not a permanent resident. In September 2023 water damage was caused by the uninsured occupant of the flat immediately above mine. The occupant is an unpleasant, difficult and uncooperative individual and has been very rude to our excellent caretaker. Amy Balnave came to inspect the damage, advised and provided me with a builder/ decorator. With the consent of the Committee she dealt with payment on my behalf and negotiated settlement in full with the person responsible for the damage. This was behaviour over and above expectation and reflects well on Ellmans as managing agents.The matter was concluded by February 2024

Daphne · 17 October 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I wrote this original review 8 years ago ... and to be honest it's not good enough. The team at Ellmans have simply excelled, every time for us. From getting good long term tenants, to quickly resolving and coordinating any issues... To so calmly and professionally dealing with an extremely difficult situation. Always friendly and professional... always taking away the pressure and worries from us. If you want to deal with decent, honest and professional people.. talk to Ellmans. "Helpful & Professional; Due to our parent's situation, we needed to rent out their house. Not knowing anything about this market we found everyone we dealt with at Ellmans really understanding, friendly & helpful. So in what were difficult circumastances they helped us confidently & quickly get great tenants. Thank you."

Rob · 16 March 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Friendly, professional & helpful

I wrote my original review below 8 years ago ... and to be honest it's not good enough. The team at Ellmans have simply excelled, every time for us. From getting good long term tenants, to quickly resolving and coordinating any issues... To so calmly and professionally dealing with an extremely difficult situation. Always friendly and professional... always taking away the pressure and worries from us. If you want to deal with decent, honest and professional people.. talk to Ellmans.

RL · 5 March 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

AN EXCELLENT MANAGEMENT AND LETTING AGENT

I have used Ellmans for many years to manage buildings containing several small flats which I own, and also to arrange tenants for the flats, in both respects they have been excellent. I would suggest the two most important elements of property management are knowledge of property law and proactively following it; the team at Ellmans, headed by the admirable Clive Perry, do this down to a tee, no obfuscation just this is what the law says and this is therefore what we must do. There is nothing they haven't come across and dealt with before and their calm efficiency will have mopped the sweat from many a concerned landlord or tenant’s brow. Their letting history has also been extemporary. My flat occupancy figures over the years have been impressively high with problem tenants being a rarity, due to the care Ellmans take in vetting potential renters. The whole team are always friendly and courteous and in my experience really do go the extra mile to look after their clients. There are many management and letting alternatives available, and I have tried several, but once with Ellmans I have never been tempted to leave as, over many, many years, they have proven to be the best.

Jeremy · 18 February 2020

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Highly recommended

As a leaseholder/owner in a property managed by Ellmans Property Management for over 25 years, I can fully attest to their excellent service and recommend them highly. Ellmans support on issues has been invaluable, always operating with professionalism and integrity. They have a solid team of well informed, educated staff who tend to stay with the company long term. This ensures there is a consistency in the service given that has made it the very best it can be. Accounts are always clarified, breakdowns available to be viewed immediately on request. The team communicates with each other and are current across departments. Crucially, I can be assured that my property’s care, reputation and therefore its re-saleable value is in the safe hands of staff members who know its history, care about it and keep on top of issues with a greater understanding.Ellmans fully understand that they, as a professional business, are dealing with home owners, they have always managed to straddle this divide with integrity and delicacy.Clive Perry as the CEO/Director is an undisputed expert on property law and has dealt directly with trickier issues in the past, handling the problem with impressive expediency turning him into an urban legend with leaseholders here. The member of staff I deal with for everything else is Manager Hattie Kershaw. Hattie is amazing; incredibly competent, 100% reliable and a pleasure to do business with. She deals with numerous issues -sometimes several on a daily basis, never misses an email, never confuses an issue and manages to resolve everything with grace and intelligence. I have found Hattie totally invaluable to me on recent issues and would cite Ellmans and in particular Clive Perry and Hattie Kershaw, as an argument for buying leasehold. Every company needs a Hattie Kershaw. LMR Leaseholder Hove

Lunna · 13 February 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

I wish I could give 0 stars. Ellmans are a truly awful company to work with who simply do not care in the slightest about their clients. As a leaseholder, we pay extremely high fees and have many essential services simply not carried out or neglected for months or years until we chase them to the point of exhaustion. I have to call and email them constantly and rarely get any issues resolved or any follow up. We wrote a severe complaint to them over a month ago which has been completely ignored. I am truly baffled as to how anyone can write a good review for this company. I would not recommend them for the life of me.

Alex · 29 October 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Yell

No empathy. No shame.

It's December 4th and I've had a hole in the bedroom where my chimney fell in two weeks ago. No one has contacted me to repair the hole in two weeks. It's freezing cold. The 2ft x 1ft hole goes straight outside. There is a constant draft. I'm running the heating on high constantly. There was absolutely no empathy or urgency when I called their office last week to see why no one has gotten in touch with me to deal with this. It's inhuman.Letting agents are notoriously callous but this is simply inhumane.

KevanS-20 · 4 December 2023

★★★★★ 4/5

Trustpilot

Ellmans are a very straightforward…

Ellmans are a very straightforward company. They say what they do and do what they say. Grace Riach was a pleasure to work with: straightforward, concise, responsive, polite and competent. All with a smile. Recommend highly. I worked closely with them as the point of contact for a multi flat property on Hove seafront. From January 2023 to October 2024.

Fred · 17 October 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

A valuable resource

We went through a bidding process, and Ellmans submission was very competitive. That was well over a year ago, and since then we have found them to be a valuable resource in helping the management team run our building. Grace, our main point of contact, is always helpful, friendly and polite, and responds quickly to any queries or requests.

Rowan · 17 October 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

They are INEXPERIENCED & PARANOID

They are INEXPERIENCED & PARANOID -- AVOID!! They wanted the amount of the six- or 12-month Lease PAID IN FULL IN ADVANCE, PLUS a UK Guarantor who makes 36x the monthly rent of the flat! It's EITHER, OR, not BOTH! There were also several other Red Flags -- I am SO glad I read these Trustpilot Reviews!

Carole · 16 October 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Incompetent and apathetic staff letting properties barely fit for habitation - avoid

I have been letting properties in Brighton for over ten years and never felt the need to leave a review of a letting agency (despite all manner of unpleasant experiences as its sort of what you get in Brighton unfortunately) but the service offered by Ellmans is truly abysmal leaning on criminal.

Joseph · 15 April 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I rented through Ellmans for the past 2 years and always found them to be professional, polite and responsive. I'd had some very poor experiences with other landlords/agents so this was reassuring. When not hampered by Covid restrictions, all reported issues were addressed and resolved in good time. Recently, Jessica was very helpful in promptly processing my end of tenancy and the full return of my deposit. I'd definitely recommend Ellmans as a letting agent you can rely on.PositiveResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism

Rona · 24 August 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

A breath of fresh air

After suffering for many years with our previous disappointing and disinterested firm of managing agents switching to Ellmans has been like a breath of fresh air. They inherited a difficult situation with minimal assistance provided by their predecessors during the handover. Despite this they have made a huge difference in less than a year including addressing and dealing with several long outstanding issues. The ability to speak directly to our property manager Grace Riach confident that she will address any concerns quickly and efficiently is particularly appreciated as is our satisfaction with the service received from all Ellmans personnel.

John · 30 April 2025

★★★★★ 2/5

Trustpilot

Some of the worst agents I’ve dealt with

One of the bones I want to pick is that, at least in my experience, they’ve given the property no TLC. It stinks of the last tenant’s pet, they didn’t get it professionally cleaned, not all the lights / extractor work, and there are no white goods (although I did know that beforehand to be fair). I would’ve rated them as average to poor, but moving out with them was a terrible experience. They bleed you for any money they can at every turn, even if they’ve provided a leaky flat with electric heaters that sometimes start small (localised) fires. They charged for not returning keys on a Saturday (when, for some reason, they’re always closed). Also very difficult to reach on the phone. Steer well clear

Joe · 19 November 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Ellmans have been absolutely amazing! From when I first moved to Brighton they have been so welcoming,patient and professional with me. Whenever there was a situation they responded immediately and things where fixed. Everyone who works there are really friendly, and made me feel like a welcomed Tennant and friend. From guiding me through my move in, to overall customer service, I cannot rate them high enough. I am going to miss the people at Ellmans and I can’t wait to hopefully be with them again in the future. Eleanor and the team will make you feel at home and you will be in great hands with Ellmans.PositiveResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism, Value

Sweeney · 14 June 2022

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Terrible experience too with Ellmans

I am a leaseholder going through a deeply frustrating experience with Ellmans following a water leak into my flat from the flat above. The necessary remedial work is a small job, simple, not very costly, and straightforward, yet the process has turned into a prolonged and stressful ordeal. It has significantly affected my quality of life, emotional wellbeing, and living conditions, which continue to deteriorate due to the delay.

Poppies · 23 August 2025

★★★★★ 2/5

Google

Poorly managed and bad service. They’re quite hard to get hold of given that they’re closed on Saturdays, finish before 5 during the week, aren’t available around lunch time, and often don’t answer the phone during business hours. Based on my experience, they don’t properly maintain properties or deep clean between tenancies, and they’re very harsh when it comes to deposit return. They didn’t protect my deposit for almost a year, and I was charged a couple days rent for returning keys on a Monday when the tenancy ended on a Saturday. Having said this, the staff aren’t unpleasant to deal with, and they did once replace a broken heater which was a fire hazard with an equally inefficient electric heater, so credit where minimal credit is due. 2 stars

Joe · 18 August 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Yell

WHERE ARE ELLMANS ???? 10K MISSING ILLEGAL MANAGING AGENTS

Ellmans Where are you ????No Roof Repairs being done, no block redecoration, Moment Frame Rotted, Fireman came out, where is Survey, Filthy Communal Ways I am cleaning now, Never been cleaned to anything but a sub human standard, AND IN COVID SO DANGEROUS. WHERE IS OUR just under 10K plus 29 other residents 10K - which = £30,000We know you did a runner on a block and ''streamlined'' and cleaned out their maintenance fund, and a poor tenant did a review on 2nd June 2021 this weekend that he gave up like this other guy see ALLGENTS REVIEWS ELLMANS and let you keep his holding deposit. We have been screamed at, abused, lied to, silenced by saying all we can do is contact you by post now. Mimi is always working remotely or on vacation or on sick leave, Clive Perry told us to move out and go away. Mags shouted at me and said Go For It re 1st Tier Tribunal and Property Chamber. You get away with it as the majority of the block are inhabited by tenants.

CatherineL-216 · 7 June 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Where are Ellmans Managing Agents have they done a runner with our 10K

Hello, We have been told by Ellmans to only contact them now via post, no works are being done at all for the Roof and Redecoration repairs 20201 each flat paid just under 10K for, and we were and are sent admin threats of late payment charges if we do not comply to their invoices. No cleaning has been done since 24th April 2021 when cleaning was done it was still left filthy, I have to clean the commonways myself now espcially in COVID. There is a structure a Moment Frame rotted at its base, a Building Contactor from Brighton & Hove Council and a Surveryor paid for by Ellmans told us that Ellmans said it was due for repairs within the report of the Roof & Redecoration sent last year (it was not in this report). The Surveyor hasn't got back to us, no report sent from Ellmans via him, and he was so nonchalant until I put my hand through the hole of the base of the Moment Frame. There was a review last year made on an online forum by a man who said Ellmans drained their Maintenance Fund and then streamlined their business leaving them high and dry - Ellmans did a runner. We are scared for our saftey re Moment Frame, Fireman have had to come round, we are scared where has our just under 10K gone and everyone elses? Leashold Advisory Service said we have to by law keep paying our service charges and ground rent until we get to the First Tier Tribunal and Property Chamber. We have been lied to by Ellmans, they have deceived and now it is quiet as the grave here. The communal lawns have never been left this long re gardeners, its like a meadow, trashed Pampas Grasses, overrun filthy flowerbeds, we haven't seen the main letting Agent for many of the ASB tenants here for years, but their offices are open taking calls for issues that are never followed up. The corrugated iron is flaking off each fire escape landing and stairs. One day soon we feel that the whole structure in our block is going to crumble one night. WHERE ARE ELLMANS???

Catherine · 7 June 2021