Every review we hold for the Leeds office, from every platform, shown as written. First names only.
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleWe had an issue with our boiler which caused issues in our flat. The maintenance team were excellent and came incredibly quickly to sort it out for us. The team at smart investments were excellent and helped us to find temporary accomadation straight away as well and we are incredibly thankful for their honesty, transparency and due diligence. Francesca was amazing at sorting everything out for us as well. Overall they have been the most helpful landlords and agency we have had.
Lucas · 12 May 2026
Agent replied · 20 June 2024
Hi Lucas, thank you for your 5* review! We are glad to hear Francesca was great. Best, Team Smart IM
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleBilly has honestly been amazing. He helped me so much from the first viewing all the way through to after my references were done. Every time I had a question, he replied quickly and actually took the time to explain things properly. You can tell he really cares about the people he’s helping.
I’m genuinely grateful for everything he did for me. Billy is truly the best agent I’ve dealt with, just a really good person who made the whole process easier.
Almutairi · 16 December 2025
Agent replied · 16 April 2026
Hi Almutairi, thank you for your 5* review! Very kind of you to take to time to post about your experience with Billy. Best, Team Smart Group
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleI have had an excellent experience with Smart Investment & Management Ltd and would highly recommend their services to anyone in need.
From the very beginning, James and Billy were attentive, knowledgeable, and efficient. They guided me through the process with clear communication and consistently went above and beyond to ensure that my needs were met. I particularly appreciated their attention to detail and their ability to address any concerns promptly and effectively.
Their professionalism and proactive approach truly set them apart, making the entire experience seamless and stress-free.
Thank you again, James and Billy, for your exceptional service!
Can · 12 October 2025
Agent replied · 9 December 2024
Thanks for your 5* review, Can. All the best, Team Smart IM
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleIn response to the "smart" response:
It is clear by your response, there is no low point for you. You will stalk social media and comment on what reviews (most of which are positive by the way) I have left and use slander to make a moot point. Your response tells more about what business you run and the person you are James than any review could ever. Landlord showing "goodwill" due to being bullied is also the most funny nonsense ever.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: I hadn’t intended to leave a review, but after leaving one star, I noticed that James Smart viewed my LinkedIn profile, which I found unsettling, so I feel compelled to share my full experience.
Smart Investment and Management took over my tenancy at Fairway Court. Initially, they seemed more responsive and professional than the previous agents, Liv (now rebranded as Anthem Lettings for the third time). Unfortunately, this quickly changed.
Early on, there was confusion on their part about the rent amount I owed, even after I provided a signed tenancy agreement and parking addendum. Despite clear documentation, they couldn’t seem to get the figures right, which raised concerns about basic competence.
Then came the flat inspections. These were carried out by Bradley, who never introduced himself or even greeted me. He would enter the property in complete silence, creating an atmosphere that felt uncomfortable and intrusive. I had no objection to inspections themselves, but the way they were conducted, cold and expressionless, was unsettling.
Later, I received an email about a proposed rent increase. It read: “We believe we could achieve £800 per month on this property including 1 parking space.” The wording felt impersonal and transactional, as though my only value was in how much more they could charge for the property.
I accepted their offer of £750 including parking, but when it came to the new tenancy agreement, they insisted it be signed via a third-party platform I wasn’t comfortable using. I asked to sign a hard copy instead. When I asked Bradley during an inspection, why the increase was so large, he became argumentative, saying “the landlord can make the rent 2 grand if he wanted.” His tone was dismissive and aggressive, showing a total disregard for fair process or respectful communication.
I also requested that personal items, notably work ID, computer monitors, and sensitive data, be excluded from photographs taken during inspections. This was met with condescension. I was told, incorrectly, that “it’s the landlord’s property so it doesn’t apply” and that GDPR was irrelevant. Bradley was unable to clearly explain why the photos were necessary, other than to report to the landlord, leaving me with serious concerns about the handling of my personal information.
Soon after, I was issued a Section 21 no-fault eviction notice. I had not missed any rent payments and kept the property in excellent condition (reflected in the full return of my deposit). The only change was my questioning of their practices and not signing the new agreement via their chosen platform.
In summary, my experience with Smart Investment and Management was deeply upsetting. I was made to feel like an inconvenience rather than a valued tenant. There was a consistent tone of coldness, condescension, and disregard for my rights or dignity. I would strongly discourage anyone from renting through them or entrusting them with property management. My experience is not unique, similar concerns are echoed in other reviews.
Rokas · 11 July 2025
Agent replied · 9 September 2025
Dear Rokas,
We note your review and it is disappointing to read. We too are now compelled to comment. Your aggression and attitude towards our team left them feeling anxious and bullied. Various demands rather than requests that we change our company policies and processes to suit you, were not viable. It is worth noting that these policies and processes are in place to protect and look after both our tenants and landlords best interests.
Reading other negative reviews you have posted for small and large business echo’s your behaviour and attitude.
Out of goodwill, the landlord released your deposit in full, with no attempt to claim anything due to how the team were treated by you. The property was not left in excellent condition.
We would like to comment that we re-rented the property for £825 PCM.
Smart IM
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleI’d also like to say a big thank you to Ella for the viewing. She was incredibly helpful, and the whole process was smooth and seamless. It made a wonderful impression!!!
露露 · 12 August 2026
Agent replied · 12 October 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this review! We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Ella, she'll be delighted to hear it.
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleReally excellent letting group- very efficient in all my exchanges with them. Gave very professional advice particularly Francesca and Holly. I would certainly use SMART properties in the future
Katie · 12 August 2026
Agent replied · 12 October 2026
Thank you, Katie! Francesca and Holly will be delighted to read this. Professional, efficient advice is exactly what we aim to give every landlord, and it's great to know that came through. We'd be glad to help again whenever you need us.
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleThe team is really awesome, particularly Ella! Who was extraordinary and comprehensive. She helped us through the process and was really nice to have her showing us around the place!
Really recommend her to be contacted.
Christian · 12 June 2026
Agent replied · 12 October 2026
Thank you for such a lovely review! Ella will be really pleased to know her help made such a difference during your search.
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleWonderful experience with the team at Smart Investment and Management Ltd. Francesca has been particularly helpful throughout our tenancy and has been an absolute pleasure to deal with. Highly recommend : )
Theodore · 12 May 2026
Agent replied · 12 October 2026
Thank you, Theodore. Francesca will be so pleased to read this. She takes real pride in looking after our tenants properly throughout their tenancy, and it's great to hear that's come through. Thanks again for the recommendation.
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleMy experience with Smart Investment and Management Ltd has been nothing short of excellent. Their expertise in letting and managing my rental properties has been invaluable. They handle every aspect, from tenant acquisition to day-to-day management with professionalism and efficiency. They've turned what could have been a stressful process into a smooth operation, giving me peace of mind. I highly recommend their services to anyone needing help with rental properties. Truly a first-class property management company!
Craig · 12 October 2024
Agent replied · 20 June 2024
Hi Craig, thank you for your 5* review! Very kind. Best, Team Smart IM
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleThe letting process can often be a hassle, especially when moving from one part of the country to another, but the team here made the experience far smoother than I expected.
Billy played a key role from the very start. He was patient and kind, even when I had an unintended delay on the day of viewing, and he kept communication clear and straightforward, ensuring everything was easy to understand.
Ella made the actual letting process feel seamless. She demonstrated competence, which gave a sense of confidence and reassurance throughout.
Holly provided great support after check-in, making sure everything was in place for me to settle in comfortably and start off with a good experience.
Altogether, the team were professional, supportive, and reliable. I’m very grateful for their help and would happily recommend them. Unfortunately Google doesnt allow for a 10 star rating so I will stick to 5 star!
Anthony · 22 August 2025
★★★★★ 2/5
GoogleGlimmers, at times, of putting the tenant first, but majority of the relationship goes to supporting the landlord’s best interests.
If Francesca and the team had good properties to look after, I’m sure SMART would score higher from our experiences. However, the general state of the property upon move-in was unclean, wrong codes provided so we couldn’t even enter the building, and mould plus silverfish littered around the flat.
Failure to provide meter readings for 3+ months of the tenancy was not entirely SMART’s fault, but would advise against renting from this company if you want accurate meter readings to keep energy bills down during a cost of living crisis.
Landlord’s used by SMART, in our experience, only interested in profits and taking rent, rather than improving the property and keeping it in a liveable state for new tenants. Interesting where the deposits go because the property we moved into must not have had any work done for 5+ years, and resembled more of a prison cell after living in it for a year than anything to call ‘home’.
Credit to Francesca & Billy for their hard work, but SMART were short-handed by the quality of properties they are renting out. As the saying goes, ‘you can’t polish a …’!
Hopefully other people aren’t as disappointed as we were. Good luck SMART!
Tom · 12 October 2023
Agent replied · 20 June 2024
Dear Tom,
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. We value your honesty and would like to extend our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience you may have encountered during your time with us.
Regarding the condition of the property upon move-in, we understand your concerns about cleanliness. However, we would like to clarify that the property underwent professional cleaning prior to your arrival. Unfortunately, we did not receive any evidence from you to support the claim of an unclean property upon moving in. If we had been made aware, we would have promptly arranged for our cleaners to rectify the situation.
Furthermore, we would like to remind you that you viewed the property before proceeding with your application. Additionally, the landlord had undertaken several maintenance works both before and during your tenancy.
We fully acknowledge your frustrations regarding the lack of accurate meter readings throughout your tenancy. We made consistent efforts to assist you in resolving this issue. As you mentioned in your review, our company does not have access to the meter room. Only the building management company has access. We made multiple attempts to obtain the readings and agree that it is unacceptable that the building management company failed to provide them. We also apologise for any inconvenience caused by the incorrect access codes given to us by the building management company, without notifying us of the deactivated entry fobs. We promptly provided you with the correct codes as soon as we were made aware of the situation.
Lastly, we would like to express our gratitude for acknowledging the hard work of our team members, Francesca and Billy. They are dedicated individuals who consistently go above and beyond to provide exceptional assistance to our tenants.
Once again, we apologise for any inconvenience you experienced during your tenancy. If there is anything else we can do to address your concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Best regards,
Smart IM
★★★★★ 4/5
GoogleNow this was nothing againt the person who showed us the flat but this a very poor viewing. I finished work early so me and my fianceé could view a flat, we drove from one side of town to the other to be very quickly shown around. After asking any questions they then confirmed the house had already accepted an offer so it was a complete waste of time. The main issue was the poor communication, I would have preffered a quick ring to confirm it had accepted an offer and we would have just stayed home.
Edit: After a quick call from one of them team I will be updating my review to a 4 star. There are still changes that could help with the issues above however I do respect that in such a competitive market it is hard to get it right.
Matthew · 12 June 2026
★★★★★ 2/5
GoogleInitial communication was slightly lacking but when calling up the office the team were useful and friendly, however unfortunately this quickly went down hill. I’d like the preface this by saying the team were always professional and never rude (although never responding to emails could be considered rude..)
However, the utter lack of communication with regards to receiving keys and moving in as well as no customer service (in the sense of helping provide solutions) was ridiculous. There were certain regulation requirements which I completely understand but it took around 4 conversations to realise that the requirement was legal and not just a stupid rule made up by the company. If that had been communicated in the first place my whole experience would have been ten timers better.
Suggestion - set out expectations and requirements early on in the process, not the day before when your client lives 70+ miles away and has a full time job.
To top it off, we were repeatedly told that both sets of keys could not be given until both tenants were seen in person, only to arrive at the office (middle of the work day and a 2+hr drive..) to find out there was only ever one set of keys. Incorrect codes given out and no replies to emails.
Unfortunately the entire experience has left an incredibly sour taste in my mouth and I would now likely avoid the company, which is a shame as originally I found the staff helpful and attentive (albeit still not great at initiating communication)
Madeleine · 26 July 2023
Agent replied · 20 June 2024
Dear Madeline,
First and foremost, we appreciate your detailed feedback and we are genuinely sorry to hear about your experience. We aim to uphold a high standard of communication and service for our clients, and it seems we fell short in your instance.
It's encouraging to hear that, initially, you found our team to be helpful and friendly. However, we understand your frustration regarding the subsequent lack of clear communication, particularly in relation to the keys, the move-in process, and the legal requirements.
We agree with your suggestion about setting out expectations and requirements at the outset. This is certainly an area where we need to improve, and your feedback will be instrumental in helping us do that. We certainly don't want any of our clients to feel inconvenienced, let alone when they live a considerable distance away and have other significant commitments.
We are also very sorry to hear about the confusion surrounding the keys and the incorrect codes. As we discussed on the telephone, we as a business do not manage your property and I believe from our conversations the lack of communication was necessarily not from Smart Investment & Management.
Once again, thank you for your valuable feedback. We hope that after our conversation you feel we have taken your comments on board as we will work to improve our service.
Best,
Smart IM
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleWe had a great experience with Smart Group for renting and special thanks to Ms Millie who has been so supportive throughout the journey, I wish her all the success and best wishes.
ANDY · 12 September 2026
Agent replied · 12 October 2026
Thanks Andy! We're delighted to hear you had a great experience renting with us - Millie will be thrilled with the mention, and we'll make sure she sees it. Wishing you all the best in your new home, from the whole team at Smart Group Leeds.
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleUpdate: whilst this review was originally positive SMART have shown that they are purely for the landlords profit. They refused to start the deposit return process without seeing the final bills, they will argue this is so the landlord wont get charges - the DPS have said they can't do this, so beware.
We had our apartment deep cleaned, and they have said that a deep clean wouldn't clean it and are trying to get us to pay for their cleaning service at an astronomical price. This is highly laughable considering the level of cleanliness at Victoria Riverside is dire, the hallways are filthy, there are constant parcel thefts, fire doors and signs that don't work, vomit in the lifts regular, and the external windows are no longer cleaned. I'm sure they will argue this has nothing to do with them, unfortunately it does as the money from rent will also contribute to the maintenance and ground fee of the building.
They are arguing that sweat marks on a mattress that was slept on for two years does not constitute fair wear and tear, and are doing their best to avoid using the DPS, one would imagine it is because they know they are being utterly unreasonable and cannot pass their profit onto themselves and their landlord.
Its a shame, because if this didn't happen this review would have been positive. I have rented for 8 years, and have never once had this issue.
Cameron · 21 June 2023
Agent replied · 20 June 2024
Dear Cameron,
We are sorry you feel disappointed with our check out procedure, especially given the positive review that you had previously taken the time to leave us.
Providing copies of your final bills is a requirement of our check out procedure as a company, to mitigate the risk that there are no unexpected costs to either party after the deposit has been returned, this was outlined in our checkout guide which was sent to you. While we cannot prevent your deposit return, generally speaking tenants co-operate with us on this and doesn’t cause any issues, if anything it helps all involved which is why the process is in place.
Unfortunately, there were several areas throughout the apartment which were not clean and did need resolving after you vacated the property. Each property is expected to be left in the condition it was moved into, which was not the case when we conducted the check out.
When you moved into the property the mattresses were brand new and as such, we did advise that you should use a mattress protector. Due to this advice not being taken, there were multiple stains left to each mattress. In order to remove these stains a professional clean was required, as the stains were much worse than what would be classed as wear and tear.
As you know, we were aware of some of the ongoing issues within your building at Victoria Riverside. Being Managing Agent for your apartment, there is only so much that we can do to try to help resolve these as we do not manage the building itself and/or have the legal authority to take any action.
We did advise, several times, for you to report these directly to the building management company, to which we did everything we could to assist you, and any of our other tenants in the building at that given time.
We use the DPS for all tenancy deposits and we always strive to negotiate a fair solution to both our tenants and landlords ahead of any disputes being escalate through the DPS. You had the opportunity to raise a dispute and submit any evidence to the DPS, however you chose not to do. As you were a good tenant during your tenancy the landlord did agree a gesture of goodwill and agreed to substantially reduce the proposed deposit deductions for you as a goodwill gesture.
As you did agree to the landlord’s deductions and did not take your case to dispute with the DPS when given the option to, we were very surprised to read this updated review, down from your previous 5* rating of us.
Best
Smart IM
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleI recently sold my apartment in Leeds and wish to thank James and his team who handled the transaction so professionally. As I do not live locally, I left the viewings to Smart Investment and they informed me of the feedback after every viewing. I certainly recommend Smart Investment to anyone who wants a reliable agent
Irene · 12 October 2024
Agent replied · 24 August 2024
Hi Irene, thank you for your 5* review! We are pleased to hear that you found our service helpful and team reliable! Best, Team Smart IM
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleThe team at Smart Investment and Management Limited are helpful and professional at all times and it is always a pleasure to work with them. We've had some issues finding a tenant for one of my properties but they persisted with their efforts and kept me up-to-date with progress at all times. Highly recommended.
Louise · 16 November 2025
Agent replied · 20 June 2024
Hi Louise, thank you for your 5* review! Very kind of you to take to time to post it. Best, Team Smart IM
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleVery happy with the flat rental process. The flat was handed over in a very good state and every little detail taken care of.
Kris · 12 June 2026
Agent replied · 12 October 2026
Thank you, Kris! We're really pleased the flat was handed over to the standard it should be.
★★★★★ 1/5
GoogleWell, what can I say about this company? Just a bit of context SMART Invetment took over as property managers halfway through my tenancy at Fairway Court and they assumed I received my apartment in 'like-new' condition, which led them to try nearly keep most of my deposit. Therefore, I had to involve TDS to mediate the dispute, and thankfully, they sided with me.
I do believe Brandley, who did my check-out, took personal offence when he tried to visit my flat while I was working from home without prior notice of the time. I had to make him wait a bit, which clearly annoyed him based on his body language and facial expression. When he finally entered the property, he walked in with his shoes on, and when I asked him to remove them, he responded with an eye roll. Very unprofessional.
Overall, SMART was a good property managers but I hope this serves a lesson to their employees to treat outgoing tenants with respect as this was not an easy process to get my money back.
Jez · 12 October 2024
Agent replied · 20 June 2024
Dear Jez,
We are sorry that you feel the way you do about our service, we always try to find a solution between our tenants and landlords, but sometimes, this does not work out in any one parties favour.
We would like to highlight that the TDS did not solely side with you, but rather made a decision to award both you and the landlord after carefully reviewing all the submitted documentation and evidence from both sides.
Regarding your interaction with one of our team, we take your comments seriously and will address them internally. All our inspections, viewings and check-out’s are pre- arranged and tenants do receive email confirmation of the proposed visit times.
We are committed to providing a professional and respectful service to all our tenants and will use your feedback to improve our practices. We are glad that overall you felt we were good property managers.
We wish you all the best moving forward.
Best regards,
Smart IM
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleMy experience with them has been very pleasant. They are fast, straightforward and efficient. I had a bit of a challenge getting an apartment at one of the buildings they manage, but at the very last minute, I was given a video of another apartment by Francesca, and that helped me make an immediate decision to go for it. I haven’t regretted that and I’ve got an answer each time I had a question about my apartment. They’re also very patient when providing explanations and I’ve found that very helpful.
Kika · 12 October 2024
Agent replied · 24 October 2024
Thanks for your review Kika - it’s great to hear that Francesca was helpful! Best, team Smart IM
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleSmart managed my BTL and helped sell it when the time came.
I highly recommend this friendly, communicative and efficient company
Thank you
Paul · 12 May 2026
Agent replied · 12 October 2026
Thank you, Paul. We appreciate you trusting us with both the management and sale of your buy-to-let, and thanks for the recommendation.
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleProfessional and friendly service. The team handled all aspects of the new tenancy process smoothly. Special mention to Billy and Bradley, great communication and customer service. Highly recommended.
Gihan · 12 October 2024
Agent replied · 20 June 2024
Hi Gihan, thank you for your 5* review! We are pleased to hear Bradley and Billy were great. Best, Team Smart IM
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleSold my home in less than a week with Smart Investment and Management.
Fantastic service from start to finish and I would highly recommend Smart Investment and Management. James Smart was extremely thorough and professional. I was apprehensive of a long painful sales process, but he proved to me that selling a house can be a smooth and painless process!
Great valuation on the house price, he is clearly knowledgeable having studied the market of my area, he arranged the photography and marketing, advertised on a Saturday and we had viewers on the following week and the house was sold to the first viewer at a price that I am very pleased with.
During the sale there were some back and forth with the buyer, James resolved this with minimal stress on me as we had frequent communications.
I would highly recommend James and Smart Investment and Management, so much so I am now looking at a Buy to Let investment opportunity through them given their knowledge and credibility.
Hamdah · 21 June 2023
★★★★★ 5/5
GoogleHighly recommend Smart Investment & Management
We can highly recommend Smart Investment & Management services., They are Good Estate Agent in Leeds. I have stayed in Leeds almost for 15 months. Francesca is an amazing person. Honest, straightforward, and professional. Francesca and Billy are everything you wish for in an estate agent. On the face of it our move in seemed hassle free. Francesca was patient, quick to reply and communicate with us, and played a key part in ensuring that each and every issue was resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. We have no hesitation in recommending Smart Investment & Management to others to rent a property in Leeds.
Payel · 21 June 2023
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.
