Spark and Sons Hove reviews

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Disgraceful company, rude arrogant staff that belittle their tenants and accuse them of the damage caused by their neglegence. My studio flat was £595 (was listed as £575 but they put it up after I showed interest) and was about 15m2 in size and a shower in a cupboard across the hall it was filthy when I moved in with dead flies in the fridge and old food mess in a drawer under the oven to which the response from my agent oliver was "i didn't know that drawer existed" but tried to assure me that he had "thoroughly checked the property" when I complained about a leak from the tap after moving in. The electricity was on a pre-pay meter which required top up cards that could only be purchased directly from the agency, so if you ran out over a weekend or bank Holiday you were left in the dark with no heating or electricity and there was no way of knowing what rates they were charging me but it cost cost me £60 a month in the winter months due to the rubbish storage heater. The sash window pane was warped and rotting and the gutters were full of moss which caused a terrible damp and mould problem which got into the wall behind the kitchen units where they had not been properly installed. My food was going mouldy within a couple of days after purchase and I had to throw away piles of personal belongings that got damaged from the damp, any time I tried to contact the agents it was always a week or more that they would take to respond and when they did they took no responsibility over the issue and tried to blame me for not heating and ventilating the property adequately. Thankfully I got out of my contract early after pointing out the negligence and unresponsiveness of the agency and now live in a lovely flat fit for habitation and have an amazing landlord who always responds the same day, tries to help make things more convenient for us where he can and has maintenance issues sorted within a matter of days. Dont let these slime balls steal your money, they will try and take advantage wherever possible.

Jasmine · 10 June 2022

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

If you want to pay a huge deposit for an unmaintaned house, only to then recieve very little of it back when they blame you for issues that were already at the property when you arrived, then this is the company for you! Untrustworthy, only communicate with you when they want money, if you have an issue good luck trying to get a reply. Very rude staff and didn't do any repair on our property, even after multiple complaints, avoid at all costs, there are much better companies in brighton you can go for.

Oliver · 10 June 2022

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

I’ve seen lots of current tenants leave positive reviews however I’m not sure they’ll have the same feelings when they have to leave. I rented with Spark & Sons for 3 years and always thought they were fine. However when I moved out it took emails to 3 staff members and 8 phone calls over a span of 4 weeks to get my deposit back. They still to this day haven’t replied to my emails, just transferred my money with no email confirmation. Now I’m in a new flat I also realise the flat rented with Spark & Sons was very badly maintained. Worrying considering it was newly ‘renovated’ when I moved in. Wouldn’t rent with them again.

Jodie · 10 June 2022

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

I have sent out 10 emails asking for my deposit back but I have been totally ghosted . I called in today and I have been told no one is available to speak to me . They took 12 months rent in advance and now ghosting me upon paying 1145£ deposit . I will be going to the agency with a lawyer and take this to court .

Maddalena · 15 July 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Worst and most unprofessional in sussex

Awful awful company full of horrible human beings. They have made me homeless please stay away from these soulless pieces of human garbage

Alexei · 11 July 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

As posted by others, avoid this agent at all costs! They're borderline running illegally, as you can tell just from visiting their website and office. They've attempted to steal our deposit by completely ghosting us from all avenues of contact, resulting in us having to spend money and time on legal action. Unfortunately 1 star is the minimum here, but in reality their service is 0 star.

Alexander · 10 June 2023

★★★★★ 4/5

Google

Chloe was very helpful.

Akpomena · 10 April 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Sparks is just on another level! Able to adapt to the Covid situation, finding creative solutions, using an outstanding network, they offer perfect service and financially fantastic deals! Bravo Sparks!!!PositiveResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism, Value

Michaël · 10 June 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Thankfully I only had to deal with them for a few months but the lack of communication from Sparks and Sons was astounding. I sent countless emails that’s went ignored, and eventually when I did get any response through spam calling, their word meant absolutely nothing. Missed appointments, empty promises, and zero communication. Very thankfully to be rid of them.

Sam · 13 September 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Outstanding service from a professional, knowledgeable business owner. Mr Peter Sparks went over and above and exceeded my expectations of getting a suitable tenant in record time. I thoroughly recommend this company.

Val · 10 June 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

If you want a good estate agent, then I highly recommend you look elsewhere. Once we left the property, it took 1 month to get our deposit back (even though the law states that it has to be paid back within 10 days). And we nearly had to stay in a property with no toilet!!! They told us to push the poo round the u bend of the toilet. What reputable estate agent askes their Tennant to do such a thing? I can not advise you strongly enough - DO NOT give your hard earned money to this company, as you may not get it back.

Oliver · 10 June 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

COMPLETE CON ARTISTS! We rented a using Spark and Sons, they charged us over a month's worth of rent in fees just to take the property. After our 6 month lease was up they charged us another month's rent just to renew the lease, then, less than a month later, they gave us papers saying that in our contract it says that they have the right to cick us out with only 2 weeks notice and as this was a 'break clause' and not an eviction they weren't covered by the laws regarding evictions so we had to leave. They put the property back on the rental market and would regularly let themselved into the flat without an invitation to show their new renters around during the two weeks of our noice despite being asked not to. Finally, they charged us our entire 1 month's rent worth of deposit and (and some extra) for minor wear and tear on the flat which we had had professionally cleaned before handing back the keys. Avoid these crooks like the plauge.NegativeQuality, Professionalism, Value

Tom · 10 June 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

I recently moved out of a property that was managed by S&S and would not recommend for Lettings at all. Other than moving to share to save money, the other main reason was the building manager. During the viewings the building manager was very vague and lied about details of the flat, after moving in I found to be incorrect or not accurate. They are very responsive for the sales process and after which are not helpful at all, it seems to me that they have three or 4 sales people and genuinely no one to manage the properties. I chased my building manager for 5 months for pretty standard things and receive none or not helpful responses. I still had a number of matters that were not finalised at the end of my 6 month tenancy. After lock down had lifted, I went in to the shop and was told the building manager had left a couple of months ago. The new building manager was equally unresponsive or unhelpful. You will only get a response if you ring them several times a day or go into the office each time to complain. A friend who was looking into getting them to manage their freehold has also expressed very similar stories and complaints.NegativeResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism

Jack · 10 June 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I have been a tenant through this agency and cannot recommend them highly enough. Especially Oliver who is so professional, prompt and dedicated in the work that he does. Thanks again for everything!PositiveResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism, Value

Tora · 10 June 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

leaving a 1 star review after a fire caused by negligence in one of their properties. there were no fire alarms meaning Deb and her housemate were lucky to get out alive. after Deb tried to stand up for fire safety they are now unfairly trying to evict Deb. they are refusing to meet with Deb and her union to discuss the issue

Nora · 10 June 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Oliver at Sparks has been great to deal with. He is v helpful and friendly. He responds quickly to emails and gets things sorted speedily in a straightforward way.PositiveResponsiveness, Professionalism

Caroline · 14 June 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I don’t know what folk are moaning about! I guess it’s just very easy to blame the letting agent! Nothing but a hassle free experience dealing with Chloe, Dan and Adam in renting my new home. Couldn’t be happier. People really need to calm down! Cheers!

Neil · 10 May 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

This company possesses deep inside criminal energy. Stay away!!!!I've rented an apartment from Germany without any inspection . Of course, I assumed that I would work with real estate agents like in Germany because I am in the UK and not in Mosambik . Unfortunately the flat is a mess . The boiler is in this room which nobody even tells me .sometimes I am thinking I live in a production hall. The bathroom is under all health criteria which is a dangerous situation ! You have to think 2 times before renting. Without signing a contract I have paid about 3 months rent and the deposit. I was guaranteed during the signing that I have a notice period of one month .Now they tell that my contract is fixed and I can’t move out . I consist and show much afford to find a solution but how unprofessional they are they even don’t take me serious.

Burak · 10 June 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

The agency is so unprofessional they bring a person in our flat as the landlord. I say this person is not my landlord on my contract is written a female name . He gets aggressive and say that is the new landlord and that is the right of him to go in.Without respecting any rules of social distancing and privacy he brought a person in our flat an start to explain „this is the kitchen there are 5 bedrooms down and 2 up“ Nice landlord don’t know his own house..... Unfortunately I don’t feel safe anymore in my apartment . It's a criminal policy to present someone I didn't sign a contract with as the owner of an apartment in order to enter illegally.NegativeQuality, Professionalism, Value

Burak · 10 June 2020

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Oliver was very easy to deal with and very straight forward. Out of all the agencies I have dealt with in the last month, these were the most helpful and pleasant.

Simon · 10 June 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Awful agents won’t do any work on the flats they are given mould all in my daughters room which they haven’t sorted got emails proving this and my daughter coughs everytime she’s in the room, speak to you rudely on the phone when your trying to get your point across avoid this agency and their properties!!!

Chantelle · 15 July 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

AVOID THIS BUSINESS I'd go as far as to say these people are scammers. They treat students appallingly and will take most of your deposit when you leave. Expect hidden charges and fees. AVOID Not just because they will try to take as much deposit as possible, but they charge you for just about anything, check out fee plus deposit check out fee etc. It's just not on. They are unhelpful and unprofessional. they charged for a check out fee which entailed giving OLIVER ISTED the keys. They charge you over £50 per person for this displeasure with OLIVER arriving 25 mins late and caused me to get a parking ticket. I kept in contact with them and informed them of the rot and damp and other such things inside the property. But they rarely bothered to do anything. God forbid in a timely fashion too. Also, just saying... The good reviews on this are actually so fake it's criminal. Unless they only treat the highest paying customers nicely... The ones that can afford to be ripped off and don't mind. All the bad reviews seem to be written by real people with real reasons to be disgruntled... The good reviews are so good that they give an example of an estate agent that should actually be allowed to practice their business. Rip-off merchants. Shysters. The kind of people that are not good people at all. I'd be happy to see them out of business. PS. "Analene hursthouse" the reviewer below me has an interesting name don't you think. I seroserio cannot see that being a real review, real person and for some reason, the name also seems unlikely.

L · 11 June 2019

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

They are rude, unhelpful and don’t care about the up keep of their properties. We had a broken window for 3 weeks last December and they refused to lift a finger to help. Any students looking to rent properties in Brighton would be best to avoid Spark and Sons as best they can because they will try and take advantage of you. STAY AWAY!!!!NegativeResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism, Value

Chris · 10 June 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Our experience renting with Oliver, from Spark and Sons, was very good! He exceeded our expectations for an agent. He was very helpful during the process, replied to all of our questions, and made sure everything that we noticed that wasn't working properly got fixed. The process was very quick and easy, and Oliver's warmth and sense of humour was very refreshing, making us feel very comfortable.

Ana · 10 June 2022