OpenRent London reviews

★★★★★ 2/5

Trustpilot

Terrible referencing

From a very experienced landlord - Great for advertising and vetting tenants and works when everything is straightforward but anything that deviates from the norm eg their referencing - it is diabolical. Won't be using their referencing service again. Terrible customer service and when you message you just get an automated response that is unhelpful and inadequate.Joseph - following on from your on-line response, you have my mobile number, please give me a call and I will explain the issues that I faced getting the references through to completion, then I'll be happy to amend my review. Also, look at all the dialogue that took place between myself and the tenants (through Openrent messaging) and that should give you an idea as to the system challenges from a users standpoint.

Gill · 7 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Terrible customer service

Terrible customer service. Refuse to call you and will only write emails. Not a problem in theory, however slow responses which then don't address the questions or solve the problem. Waiting for a tenant to move in and a mistake that openrent won't fix (not that they've said this or engaged in dialogue, just passive non answers) has delayed move in date.I've written emails as a reply to direct communications which are then ignored.Still no resolution....Just beware that if you deviate from the simplest workflow at all, there is no useful support to get you through it.

Luke · 26 August 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

OpenRent lets landlords toy with tenants.

I was abroad visiting family when I found a listing for 1 Bed Maisonette. The landlord insisted on an in-person viewing, which I arranged despite being overseas. I cut my holiday short and incurred £900 in flight costs, using all my accumulated air miles to make this viewing happen.Just an hour ago, I received a message from the landlord stating that they are now processing another tenant’s reference, despite my agreeing to the earliest available viewing date and making significant efforts to comply with their demands. This sudden change has caused me considerable inconvenience and frustration.The landlord's handling of this situation has been highly unprofessional and disrespectful. Additionally, OpenRent’s response was simply an apology and a promise to monitor the landlord’s account. Given that this landlord is not a professional property manager but may have only rented a few properties in their lifetime, this response seems utterly inadequate and meaningless.I advise others to be cautious and verify all details thoroughly to avoid similar issues.

Rana · 22 August 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Openrent referred me to a third-party company for an ECIR service, which turned out to be a scam.

Extremely disappointed with OpenRent. They referred me to a third-party company for an ECIR service, which turned out to be a scam. After doing some research, I found that many others have fallen victim to the same fraud, and it seems OpenRent is either unaware or turning a blind eye to this unethical behavior. Openrents lack of due diligence has cost me both time and money. I expected much better from a platform that claims to simplify renting.I would not recommend using OpenRent if they continue to work with such disreputable companies.

MARK · 16 August 2024

★★★★★ 2/5

Trustpilot

Well, well

Well,I had a go at renting a property via Openrent and can't believe the way are dealing with the tenancy report.I'm in UK from 2010 but never had to deal with this problem before.They called me liar almost and extremely funny they request that other people should be available for them instantly even that told them my tenancy report can take up to 3 days.And someone mentioned below that they are almost abusive and they can take your situation as their advantage.It is that bad.

Valentin · 9 August 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Poor, very very poor.

oor, Very very poor.1/ Open rent say they confirm the viewing, only the tenants don't get the message, no wonder less than half the viewing's take place!2/ They approved a tenant before all referencing was complete, even though she could not meet the financial requirements. Additionally the company guarantor was a director of her mothers company, and her mother was a director of an accommodation / real estate company.This looks much like a renting scam and likely to get the landlord in to legal issues.Well done for a poor reference open rent.

Richard · 31 July 2024

★★★★★ 2/5

Trustpilot

Openrent have given up on serving landlords

I've used OpenRent several times in the past but am now looking elsewhere. They no longer advertise on Rightmove. They insist that every advert states whether benefits tenants are accepted or not - there is no option to remain silent about this which is what I would prefer. They also tell tenants to use their "Rent Now" system to reserve the property without asking landlords whether they require this service or not. They no longer seem to be looking out for landlords best interests.

Will · 31 July 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Terrible Landlord Services

Terrible Landlord Services. I tried several times to get a gas safety certificate for my managed flat but they just could not deliver and I had to get someone else to do it. They have no way to enter your agents details so unless you want constant hassle avoid these like the plague. Even when they get your agent's details they fail to show up. They also delete your message history so you can't see what has been agreed or not and it's really difficult to contact them. I found a way to call them and they said they would store my agents details but did not. Every time I put in a request I clearly entered all the agent's details manually but still no luck. They send text messaged that you can't reply to saying when they will turn up rather then contacting the agent. I also got billed call out fees because they didn't go to the agents to pick up the keys.

Mr · 2 July 2024

★★★★★ 3/5

Trustpilot

Withholding rent payment for 20 days is nuts…

The service has generally been smooth and very efficient apart from one major issue: They are keeping first month’s rent paid by my tenant for **20 days**. It’s insane. That’s almost a month. The tenant paid their rent and deposit about ten days before moving in and I assumed I’d get the payment to my account ten days later but now it appears they are holding on to it for another 10 days because they say they policy says they hold it *after the move in date* NOT, apparently after the tenant has made the payment. They’re also not being clear in their responses to me. It’s unacceptable and inexcusable, please, please use this service with caution and make sure you coordinate payment dates carefully with your tenant.

Anar · 2 July 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Simple and effective

Very intuitive workflow making it very easy to track progress, good messaging facility. Transferring money was easy. Good to be able see safety certificates etc all in one place.

Steven · 9 October 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Simple procedure

I have used OpenRent several times and it is quite easy once you get the hang of things. It should also be noted that it is significantly cheaper than a traditional agent.

Adrian · 20 September 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Really bad landlord.

I was renting a house in bewdley with Mathew w, he asked me to leave and did not give me 2 months, I only had 6 weeks, he hassled me to leave and then withheld my whole deposit by lying about carpets he is going to change anyway. Ive never trusted him and im glad im out of there, parts of the house fell on my car and damaged it. he didnt care. The house is damp and with really bad workmanship, skirting mitres didnt meet. He didnt put my deposit into the tennant deposit scheme and lied about carpets as his ex wants new ones and he is using my deposit to pay for them.He has broken the law with the time I had to get out and hassling me, ringing me and asking if I can go yet. really stressful. He has no proof of any damage to carpets as he didnt have an inventory.Very unprofessional.He said his ex is going to live in the house and ive got to go. the house was just as it was after I lived there for 3 years.The worst landlord I have ever known. really greedy and abrupt. Rekons he is a bit gansta. He aint.The quality of the house was awful, bad skirting, leaking boiler, terrible plastering and doors and windows didnt work properly.One of my cats was there after I left, he was there for a day, Matthew w set a dog on him and he has a cut on his neck now ive got him back.The absolute worst landlord. Doesnt know how to treat tenants.I will never go with Open rent again.Too many rogue landlords. Charlatans and thieves. Its the lying I cant stand.

Martin · 27 June 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Rent Guarantee Insurance

Do not take out their Rent Guarantee Insurance as this is a reseller for Legal for Landlords and they provide false information on how the policy works. OpenRent deceived me to believe that I can change tenants names on the policy during the year I paid premiums for by paying a £20 charge. When I tried to do that I was told my policy was cancelled, when the first tenant had moved out, they can’t do anything and NO REFUND is due as I’m outside 14 days cooling off period. So effectively, they charged me six months worth of premium for the insurance they are not providing.

Alex · 22 June 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Living abroad and working remotely

I live abroad and only have my mobile phone to do all my "business" on. I found Open Rent to be very easy to use. I found organising all the inspections for updating the certificates, placing the rental ad, organising the viewings and then selecting the tenants very straightforward. The whole process was a joy. The certificates only took a matter of days to be completed. I placed the ad on Monday and I'd found my dream tenants by Friday; they then moved in the following Tuesday. The entire process was significantly cheaper, faster and more personable than had I used an online or high street estate agent. Open Rent is the only way forward for me. In my opinion, they are the future of the lettings industry.

Anuka · 27 June 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Bunch of cowboys just came across rude…

Bunch of cowboys just came across rude letting agent in Dartford area. Had the brief talk with her about next day viewing all agreed. Same day at night i found the room to move in thus i text her that i need to cancel the viewing. And she replied that the viewing was cancelled 4hrs. ago and why she cancelled it that i already know. I wasnt impressed with her rude reply. Then i found in junk mail yes in junk that the viewing was cancelled. Please give her proper training that's disgraceful behaviour. I've got her phone number if the manager is interested . Thank you

Derek · 18 June 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

As a landlord

As a landlord, I have been very pleased with the service from Open Rent for a number of years now. Their online system works brilliantly and it has always been a smooth process when I have a change in tenants. My tenants have never experienced any problems with the service either. I always very carefully check my tenants in person before selecting them as the preferred option which is vital in getting the right tenants for your property. I wouldn't go back to an agent now. Thank you Open Rent.

Mrs · 25 June 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

FRAUDSTERS WATCH OUT!!

Don’t use these people unless you are prepared to go through the hassle of trying to get a refund. Hidden in their advanced settings if you order a gas safety certificate is an automatic renewal preferences option set to “yes” I’ve jut been charged £100 for a gas certificate at a property I no longer live at and I don’t need. I’m unwell as it is and don’t need this extra stress. Within minutes an engineer has picked up the job as well. This shouldn’t be allowed. Con artists!

Jason · 15 June 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Lazy sloppy service with no human brain function obvious.

My previous experience of Openrent was very good. This time it was shambolic. They titled my ad without using the word "Unfurnished" so several people turned up to view having not noticed that it was unfurnished. I asked to change the title and they refused. They sent an autoreply supposedly from me which was totally inappropriate for some applicants. Reference collecting was very sloppy. Two applicants gave no landlord references because there was only a space for current landlord so I had to personally chase them for previous landlord references. A guarantor was offered and his reference included no evidence of employment or income and Openrent didn't query this. Another applicant complained that he couldn't give a landline number as this wasn't permitted on the form. This agency has really deteriorated and is a lazy careless service with comments like Proceed with Caution when they should be demanding more information from applicants.

JanT · 14 June 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Fraudulent Listings

I decided to try openrent and the majority of properties are fraudulent or taken. I fell in love with a studio room in a property, talked to the landlord about it for days. Booked a viewing and was really excited to go see it. The day before the viewing I asked the landlord to send me pictures and videos of the room. He sent me pictures and videos of a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ROOM. I asked him why he didn't send pictures of the studio room we've been talking about for the last few days. He said it wasn't available. And yet the listing said it was. I wonder if it ever was?These landlords on openrent use pictures of their best properties/rooms as bait to rent out their other properties/rooms that aren't as attractive or are way more expensive. He KNEW I booked a viewing to see the studio room in the pictures, and was just going to let me make the 3+ hour journey to see a room that looked nothing like it. It's disgusting. I've spoken to 6 other landlords who are doing the same.I've reported every instance to openrent with evidence and they have done absolutely nothing about it. He still has his properties and rooms listed as avaliable to rent that aren't. Openrent haven't taken the listings down, even though I sent them proof they either aren't available or don't exist, nor have they stopped allowing him and the other landlords from posting. They're an enabler to fraud, because they get to profit from it.I recommend to everyone they stop using openrent and use other providers that have integrity.Edit - It profits them to have fraudulent listings because it drums up engagement and they can charge the landlords, whether they're genuine or not. They didn't investigate, and I did find a suitable property, once I stopped using openrent.

Helena · 28 May 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Wouldn't use as a landlord

Wouldn't use as a landlord. Screening tools not helpful and then number of enquiries capped. Eg. Small flat only suitable for a couple but people contact you anyway requesting to view and then counted in your quota. Advert was stopped, no tenant found

Helen · 2 October 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Dishonest attitude.

Dishonest attitude. The strategy is to take your money and then try and find an engineer to suit your requested date. Having failed they sent me to numerous links, none of which worked and l was told to arrange my own refund via said link!. A sharp email and the operator arranged the refund in seconds. This one star is for failure to provide services offered and then lazy customer service.

E · 21 October 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Avoid like the plague people

Avoid like the plague people. They don't vet landlords and check they own the property. We got a knock on the door 4 months into our tenancy. It turned out we were renting someone else's property and paying a guy who had no claim to the house.When confronted they acted like this was normal and advised us to get a solicitor if we weren't happy. Disgusting Vile Company. I now have to find accommodation for myself partner, kids and elderly disabled mum

Jono · 22 May 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Rubbish agents

Why would you rent a property with a nuisance landlord, he is a nuisance to his neighbours and has been warned by the police. He moved a trailer for the viewing but after it was put back to annoy his neighbours. The garden is included in the rent but he hasn’t cut the hedges for a year. You can surely see this because you are the agent and you obviously advised him regarding the trailer.

Tracey · 16 August 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Do it properly and use a local agent

It's alright on the face of it but with it's cheap background checks and awful insurance policies it's better to go mainstream. Ring the insurance up and see what I mean. The main issue is that most applicants 99% are ones that would not be able to rent from proper estate agents so if you want to rent your house legitimately use a local agent. Another thing is that any prospective tenants have to email using a convoluted system via rightmove / open rent platform and messages end up in spam ir otherwise. As you will understand most people want to speak to someone local and not ring an answerphone in London ...........

Jon · 20 May 2024