Northwood incorporating Bowes Mitchell reviews

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Avoid this agency. We paid a deposit on the 13th and submitted all required documents. After that, communication almost completely stopped. Emails were ignored and the agent responsible said she would confirm the possible move-in date (23rd) with the landlord, then disappeared. No calls, no emails. We only found out that the landlord had agreed to our tenancy when we called them ourselves. They clearly knew earlier but never informed us. Later we were told the flat had multiple issues (faulty window, damaged carpet, toilet problems). As of the 27th, they still couldn’t give us a clear move-in date. Two weeks of waiting and uncertainty, and in the end we were left with no flat. Completely unprofessional.

Alesia · 16 March 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I had a fantastic experience with Northwood Benton. The team was professional, friendly, and highly knowledgeable, making the entire process smooth and stress-free. They were always responsive and kept me well informed at every stage. What really impressed me was their attention to detail and commitment to delivering excellent service. Everything was handled efficiently, and I felt fully supported throughout. I would highly recommend Northwood Benton to anyone looking for reliable and trustworthy property professionals. A truly five-star experience!

Siam · 9 April 2026

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Absoloutely disgusting!!

Absoloutely disgusting!!! been in the property for a year. Waited a full year for simple repairs to be done! That were not fully repairs and has now resulted in no hot water or heating for days! Will not come and fix it!!! i have a 12 week old baby. I’m pretty sure this is illegal??

Abby · 1 September 2026

★★★★★ 2/5

Google

Not great at all. Had a let agreed for weeks in advance, paid deposit, agreed tenancy date and informed that the landlords are happy to go ahead with our application and we’ll receive a tenancy agreement soon. Did we hell, and now we see why we didn’t. Had a rushed viewing around a property to let (tenants sat awkwardly downstairs whilst we’re walking around), filled in the forms immediately after leaving as this property was ideal for us, heard back pretty quickly and made an offer. Our offer for the tenancy was agreed and landlords were happy to proceed with us as tenants. Current tenants lease ended mid April (so conveniently around/before today’s date, 14th). We were told 21st is our tenancy start date. Great. Moving on as the weeks go by, and the staff member who was assigned to us for any questions etc told us a tenancy agreement would be sent over soon, and everything was in order. All checks passed, everything. Great! That must’ve been late march/early april. Emailed about the black mould which was around the master bedroom window which conveniently wasn’t in any of the photos on the listing which we were told would be sorted. “I’ll mention to the landlord”. That’s fine, aslong as it’s fixed no problem. Apart from that, nothing. Nothing until a nicely timed phone call this morning. Bearing in mind we move in 7 days. “We’re sorry but the property now isn’t available as the current tenants aren’t leaving”. Sorry? Bearing in mind this is now weeks after the holding deposit was paid and also a while since this supposed tenancy agreement was ment to be coming to be signed on our behalf, so we atleast had a legal leg to stand on now and more security rather than “Your tenancy agreement is due to start on 21st”. The review is about the lack of communication and the fact that Northwood no doubt knew about this well in advance despite not saying a word. The lady who rang us this morning, which by the way isn’t the same person who was our point of call for any questions etc (letting agent), in all fairness was nice enough. So we’re now out of pocket hundreds for storage space for all our belongings and will be more out of pocket soon when the rest of our furniture/ basic appliances arrive in a few days with nowhere to store them. This was agreed and in place for weeks at this point, we’ve had our move in day (21st) for ages and we’d prepared accordingly. Maybe we shouldn’t and definitely won’t in future knowing what shyte they spurt out their mouths at the last stages of the process essentially. How they can just turn around and say nope, no longer happening is beyond me. All we know is that the “current tenants situation had changed”. ????? I couldn’t care less 😂 whether their “situation “ has changed. (whatever that means). If their tenancy has come to an end, the landlords + Northwood have advertised and taken on viewings, went through all these hoops to get the property some new tenants (us) and told us the house is yours on the 21st that’s how it should be. Not “ow well they can’t leave right now so you can’t have the property, there’s nothing else in the area we can offer you either”. Couldn’t care less. If you’ve agreed something, stick by it. Unless you want to refund us the £150 shipping container we’ve currently got furniture in aswell as a fridge freezer etc etc. Which they won’t no doubt. So we’ve now got X Y and Z costing us a fortune because we no longer have a property to move things into. Couldn’t care less what the current tenants situation is, they were leaving by this date so they should leave by said date simple as. We shouldn’t then have to no longer have a property to live in (which by the way we offered more than the listed price for! /month) because the current tenants have decided, you know what nahh, we’ll stay 😁. Couldn’t give a bllocks mate. Just unprofessional and rude on all counts. The final straw was being told “but it’s all legal!” when we went in to the office yesterday and got our deposit back and asked what’s happened. It’s legal but morally wrong and a joke.

Lewis · 14 April 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

The viewings of dreams

We recently viewed a property and absolutely loved it, but what truly made the experience exceptional was the outstanding service provided by Courtney Burden. From the moment we arrived, Courtney was welcoming, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable. She took the time to answer all our questions, provided detailed information about the property, and made the entire process smooth and enjoyable. Her genuine enthusiasm and care for her clients really stood out, and we left feeling confident and excited about our next steps. We can’t thank her enough for such a positive experience and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a property! Many thanks to Courtney Burden for making this a viewing to remember.

Muho · 17 October 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Working with Northwood UK inc Bowes Mitchell (particularly Clare and her Benton team) has been a breath of fresh air in what can usually be a nerve-wracking process. From valuation to viewings, everything was handled with skill, speed, and a reassuring sense of professionalism. Their communication is first class, quick responses, clear updates, and excellent follow-up. We never once felt left in the dark, which in estate agency terms is about as rare as finding a unicorn with a clipboard. We felt the valuation was fair and realistic, reflecting not only our property’s true value but also its potential, no inflated promises, just sound advice backed by local knowledge. The marketing and viewings were superbly managed. Professional photos and online adverts gave our home the showcase it deserved, while Clare’s team took the stress of scheduling and managing viewings completely off our shoulders. Value for money? Absolutely. The service delivered more than justified the fees, particularly when you factor in their genuine local insight and buyer understanding. Finally, we’d say this: Clare and the Benton team truly know their patch, and it shows in every interaction. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and we always felt like valued clients rather than just another listing on the books. We wholeheartedly recommend Northwood UK inc Bowes Mitchell, if only all estate agents were this good, moving house might actually be enjoyable.

Danielle · 13 October 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Saying as you deleted my last one heres another... Terrible experience. The landlord would randomly turn up at the house without notice, had his own post and parcels delivered to our address, and even used the garden cameras to watch when we were outside. Huge invasion of privacy. I lost around £15,000 due to their mismanagement, and rent payments also went missing. Safety was treated as an afterthought, we were told to ignore a broken smoke alarm, there was no carbon monoxide detector, and the property itself was in a poor state. The estate agent was constantly calling, showing no respect for our private or family life. On top of that, it took them two months to fix a broken boiler, leaving us with no heating or hot water. Completely unprofessional and unsafe, I would not recommend them to anyone.

Dan · 2 September 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Really nice people to work with in sales. Clare is a big character, we got on from the offset! She is really knowledgeable of the local and surrounding areas, has strong integrity and is super supportive. Her young team that work with her are a credit to her leadership and they are fantastic stand up people. We were really impressed with our photos and overall set up of the home listing. We sold in a couple of weeks! Thanks Team. C&S

Connor · 19 August 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Wouldn’t even give it a star to be…

Wouldn’t even give it a star to be honest, shocking company, misleading and miss advised. Blagged into getting a rent guarantor to ensure referencing will be fine - transparent about everything still swayed to go ahead just for them to pull out. Advised keys should be available by end of the week because everything will be fine with a rent guarantor. Lied about what let alliance came back with and how they work. (Did ring let alliance and was advised correctly)

Katie · 27 August 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I recently purchased a property in Longbenton area through Northwood and am very pleased with the overall experience and quality of service provided throughout the process. One aspect I particularly appreciated was their consistent availability by phone and their willingness to assist promptly, a refreshing change from past experiences where reaching agents or receiving timely responses was often challenging. The staff at Northwood were friendly, professional, and always ready to address my queries, liaise with the seller, and coordinate with solicitors. It was a smooth and reassuring experience from start to finish. I would be delighted to work with Northwood again in the future. Wishing the team continued success. Thanks Amit Goel

Amit · 11 July 2025

★★★★★ 2/5

Google

No interest in the customer, I was just there to be a nuisance. The offer for the apartment was recently published, but apparently it is no longer valid. There is no willingness on the part of the staff to cooperate, to ask about expectations or to offer anything in return. Despite this, when I asked about the conditions that had to be met, the customer was quickly served. I certainly don't recommend it.

Kamil · 26 July 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Don't rent from this company

Don't rent from this company. The Ashford branch are awful! If I could give 0 stars, I would. Moved into a property that was not cleaned or repaired ready to rent. Was assured all fixes would be done. However, nothing was done. It's taken 5 months to get a working shower! We have given them a list of issues which should've been seen before it was let, and 6 months on, they've done nothing. Now they've asked for the list again, for the 8th time! Tried to move out and found a great new property (sadly still with them) and they deliberately refused to let me view it. Once we do move out, I would never take another property with Northwood Ashford.

A · 10 August 2026

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

We recently bought a house through Northwood and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. During this process we dealt with Clare, who was so approachable and helpful throughout. Being new to house buying she was always happy and willing to answer queries and guide us when needed! Her experience was invaluable. It was a pleasure to buy a house through Clare who went above and beyond. Many thanks!

Jane · 25 July 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

So, after living in my house for 27 years I decided to downsize and chose Clare at Bowes Mitchell as they were local. Clare is a diamond, she knows her stuff, she doesn’t flannel and she is very competent. She came round with photographer Caitlin, very quickly took details & photos, we discussed a price. The house was on the market that day, the first viewing made an offer for 10% under asking price, the second was 5% under and the 3rd was spot on, 2 more viewings as they were pre-booked and that was it! Sold within a week and clare handled it and it went through like a dream. This is a small but friendly and extremely competent estate agents that I would recomended, Clares local knowledge is outstanding 😊

Spa · 19 September 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I’m so glad I picked Northwood to sell my property and would highly recommend them to other sellers. I was very lucky to have the incredibly friendly and experienced Clare as my agent. I’d never sold a property before, but Clare was enthusiastic about my house and its value. She made me feel like the sale was in good hands and gave great advice. My house secured lots of viewings as soon as it went on the market and sold straightaway. Caitlin in the office was super friendly and helpful too!

Hannah · 21 July 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Got off to the wrong foot with this letting agents. Some miscommunication in the beginning. Essentially had their wrong email address and it wasn't cleared up. Things hadn't been followed up as fast as I'd like. Claire was really understanding and gracefully took ownership of this. She managed to send plumber out within next day of me calling and got us in contact with cleaners. Convinced land lord into letting us have a pet too which is super meaningful to me. Thanks so much Claire, I broke down in tears when I saw. Absolutely would recommend.

Jessica · 16 June 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I have bought sold and let multi occupancies hotel and properties for over thirty years this is the best company i have dealt with in that time and i am going to tell you why . This year 2022 on sales side i dealt with Lindsay Chipchase very professional { later learned she has been in the game over 20years} It was exceptionally easy the solicitor she recommended i thought he was being fussy but his checking of the lease has saved me problems later on which the seller sorted out. Normally I use a different rental agent but since the service was good i let Claire Wakeling have a shot at getting a tenant .The rent was above what the other agent suggested she advertised she discounted a few unsuitable prospects and has found a lovely tenant for us .The paperwork is outstanding ,the support is outstanding the knowledge is outstanding. They had a seminar which they invited us to it was great, hospitality was great, we met the whole team the owners of Northwood ,their tax planners their solicitors, their mortgage advisors ,we met their builders and plumbers. We had our eyes opened, the seminar was comprehensive. Just the tax planning particularly inheritance/capital gains tax for your children probably will save tens of thousands further down the line. Personally I am keeping in touch with these people and hoping to buy sell and reorganise parts of my portfolio at least once again in the next year. If you give Northwood a chance then more than likely you will be suprised how really good they are. I don't normally write reviews because usually the service i get is mediocre. In my humble opinion this company and its wider associations is headed for bigger things because the set up and service is so good. Best regards and good luck Michael Ridley

Michael · 16 June 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

As executors of a late relative's estate, we had a great deal to sort out, including the sale of his home. We chose Bowes Mitchell for the latter because of the immediate proximity of their Benton office to the property and, straightaway, we felt confident that we had made the right choice. Our personal contact was with Michael, Clare and Lindsay. Selling someone else's flat had its challenges, particularly as it was leased by a property management company and we had rather limited knowledge of our relative's dealings with them. We initially spoke to Michael, who was well acquainted with the company as well as the building and, during the selling process, his professional and local knowledge proved very useful to us. A property requires only one buyer and we met ours within an hour of it going on-line. Timing was perfect. Clare had obviously got the valuation spot on and the paint was still wet when the 'Sold Subject to Contract' sign was displayed. Clare also put us in touch with a very good firm of conveyancers to progress the legal side of the sale. The team were a genuine pleasure to deal with and, should the situation ever arise, we would certainly use their services again.

Irene · 16 June 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Clare was fantastic in helping us both sell our existing property and in providing advice when purchasing our new home. She really went the extra mile to ensure we sold our property not only the first day it was listed but at over the asking price. Clare was always available to provide advice and guidance about the local market when we were searching for a new home and her knowledge and contacts were instrumental in us having an offer accepted on our dream home. Michael and Lindsay were also both on hand to help with any queries that arose during the process and quickly resolved any issues that came to light. If you are looking to sell your home, I would highly recommend Bowes Mitchell.

Tom · 16 June 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Thanks Northwood in Bowes Mitchell for giving excellent service. Claire and her colleague has kept excellent communication with both side and has been very informative. After contacting with so many other estate agent and I found this agent has very reasonable price and no catch in contract also they were very open. They were very proactive, transparent and professional. Claire and her team hard work has kept me very comfortable and stress free in throughout my sale journey. I would certainly recommend this agent in future. Thanks AK

Akhilesh · 16 June 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone at Northwood Estate Agents as I collected the keys and completed the purchase of my first home today. The service from first to finish was excellent. Special thanks to Lindsay for guiding me through the whole process. Everything was straightforward, they were proactive and I was updated throughout. They even recommended a mortgage broker to me to obtain a better deal. Overall, I can't speak highly enough of them and I would have no hesitation recommending them to any prospective buyers.

Jack · 16 June 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I rang Bowes Mitchell to ask them to sell my fathers home. Lindsey and Claire went out there way to help in what was a very difficult time for our family. The house sold within a week. Following the death of my father, they guided me through the most stressful time of my life. Nothing was a bother and they were also happy to help. The sale of the property went through very smoothly and they done all the hard work for us. They were both very empathetic. I cannot thank them enough. If you want a personal and very professional service, then ring Bowes Mitchell first and I can sincerely say you will receive a first class service and they really care about their clients and the homes they are selling. Thank you so much Lindsey and Claire for all you have done for me and taking me under your wings. I could not have got through this time without you both.

Callum · 16 June 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

What can I say, other than if I could give 6 stars I would! My property has just sold today after what has been quite a journey. It was a case of third time lucky in terms of who bought my house. Two previous interested parties pulled out last minute and I was beginning to doubt ever selling. That said the one thing I had no doubt in was Clare’s ability to sell my property. From our very first meeting I knew she had the skill and enthusiasm to secure a sale. So much so that I decided not to get valuations from other estate agents on my list.. Clare is very knowledgeable and personable and knows the market well. Her valuation was spot on so much so that I got more than the asking price. Nothing was ever a bother and when I rang the office which was often she was always friendly and reassuring. In fact all of the girls in the office are lovely to deal with. I thoroughly recommend this estate agents….and ask for Clare Messner 😊

Sarah · 16 June 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Absolutely brilliant service from Northwood and Prime Mortgages with Claire and Chloe. Claire was very helpful and informative in the initial process of securing a property and Chloe has gone above and beyond for me and my partner to secure us the best mortgage deal possible, given some of our tricky circumstances. She has continuously updated us during each step of the process and has exceeded my expectations. Both have been very pleasant to work with! I highly recommend.

Jack · 16 June 2023