Maxine Lester Residential Lettings St Ives reviews

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I am so pleased that I chose Maxine Lester to manage my property. Ever since I have dealt with the company, everyone who I have met or spoken to has always been very helpful and professional. When there was a recent change of tenant in my property I have been speaking to Alithia and I must say she has been great to deal with and i would like to thank her for all her help. A definite 5 star company

Denise · 30 July 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I had contacted Maxine Lester a month ago, and I was incredibly surprised how good her service was. The House I started renting is lovely. It's close to school and the centre. Being a Ukrainian in England, it is hard to understand all the details about renting. Her staff supported me and responded to all my questions I had. Moreover, I found the process of renting easy and helpful. I highly recommend Maxine Lester Letting agency to other tenants who are looking for a place.

Olya · 30 July 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

My husband and I have dealt with quite a few members of the Maxine Lester team and have always found them to be helpful, knowledgeable and genuine. The person who sticks out by miles is Leanne. What a lovely young lady. Never lost her cool even though at times she surely wanted to pull her hair out. You are a credit to your professional Leanne and a genuinely lovely person. Thanks for everything you did for us and we wish you all the very best for the future. Trudy and Dave Tyler

Trudy · 30 July 2022

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

We have been a long standing tenant at the property (10-15 years). An ongoing fault with the flooring/tiling at the property has been continuously quick fixed for about 6-8 years (for example coming in, applying filler, filler disintegrates 2 days later). The problem was inheirted from the previous agent when Maxine Lester took over management of the property. Finally an agreement to actually fix the fault. Everything discussed with multiple trades people and members of Maxine Lester. Day of the work to be carried out. Maxine Lester has baited & switched us. Changed the previously agreed work to opt for the cheapest/quickest solution. They did this under the disguise of letting us "choose" what type of tiling would be used. The net result they will be laying flooring without first lifting the damaged tiles. 65% (at least) of these tiles have cracks, broken grout or loose adhesive. Tried to contact Maxine lester to resolve and they responded but basically disregarded any prior communications with ourselves and said it was happening regardless. Responded with paragraphs of how we should appreciate the expertise of their trades people. How we should appreciate the "choice" we had been given over the color/pattern of the flooring. We tried to explain that we would have preffered not to choose the style (over having the job done correctly) and that it was the face to face chats with these trades people, that had highlighted the importance of removing the tiles. We were totally disregarded on this point. We tried to suggest 2 compromises. One to do a partial up-lift. The other just to offer us assurances if the problems with the work should occur in the future. They flat out refused both.NegativeQuality

Jonathan · 20 June 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

My house move was kind of tricky as I decided to start a new adventure in a completely new area to me, far from where I used to live. Luckily, I came across Maxine Lester Lettings agents who were just superb ! First of all, and unlike other agencies, the photos they post online for properties they manage are accurate and match the reality. I loved how responsive, professional and accommodating they were during the process of viewing. Their documentation is crisp clear which made it super easy for me to complete the application, and they are always available for questions or help when needed. Highly recommend them !!PositiveResponsiveness

Rokia · 20 June 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I recommend this agency. I am happy with provided service.

Andriy · 13 December 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Recently became tenants through Maxine Lester, Alithia and team was a great support and everything was processed very quickly - would definitely recommend if you're looking to rent in the area!

Max · 30 July 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

When my previous tenants gave notice, Esmé Fryer of Maxine Lester handled all aspects of re marketing the property. Esmé provided sound, knowledgeable advice on all aspects of preparing the property for re marketing and handled the whole process from start to finish. The property had 3 viewing within days of being advertised and has now been let. Esmé kept me informed through the the process and is a very professional while remaining friendly and helpful.PositiveResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism

Martin · 25 August 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Maxine and her team have managed properties for me for 12 years, during which time I have always received efficient, proffessional and friendly service. Importantly my tenants are pleased with the service that they receive and as a result I have long tenancies and short fallow periods. Any problems are resolved swiftly and efficiently.

Cliff · 29 May 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Maxine Lester provide a great service. In particular Esme who I have been dealing with.I have been extremely impressed by her hard work,professionalism and patience during these challenging times.A credit to her employer and her industry.keep up the good work team.

Bradley · 2 July 2020

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Due to a change in circumstances I found myself looking to rent a house for the first time, having visited most of the agents in the High St I finally got to Maxine Lester. The staff were really friendly and all seem to get on with each other. They found me a super 3 bed that ticked all the boxes making sure that I understood each process. Special thanks to Lisa and Tania! I'd never go any where else!

Lisa · 1 November 2014

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Alithia is a wonderful agent. Always helpful and friendly, always accommodating and assisted me with all aspects of the rental. Really glad to have had her looking after things!PositiveResponsiveness, Professionalism

Brad · 20 June 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Maxine Lester have always been extremely helpful and swift with answers. We are currently moving out of one Maxine Lester property and into another. Staff are friendly and very helpful and easy to talk to over the phone or email. Thank you for guiding us through what is always an extremely stressful process 😀 …

Manda · 17 March 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I can't recommend Maxine Lester high enough. We started as newby landlords back in 2004, then with Homequest, who Maxine merged with awhile ago, I can honestly say we've never had any issues whatsoever. Superb team behind her, always responds quickly with any issues, and what I like the most, she they look after both the landlord and tenant equally and fairly. Well done to you all, especially during the last two difficult years.

Mike · 30 July 2022

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Military families traveling from abroad should avoid this agency altogether. The one star is for the roof we had over our heads for three years; although cracking and falling down on us, we were never displaced and having to look for a new place to live. After two years as tenants we were promised, in writing, the same rental agreement for our third and final year and when we agreed to stay, they raised the rent right before sending us our official contract as our contract was coming to an end. Instead of finding a new place to live last minute, we stayed for a higher rent than was promised. After our third year, the agency was not very accommodating for a military family. We gave them over a month’s notice that we would be leaving by a specific date and were waiting on military orders. We ended up being charged for an entire month after no longer being tenants. Look elsewhere so you won’t get ripped off.

MALI · 27 August 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Alithia was extremely professional during the process of renting a new property from Maxine and answered all my questions in a very kind and timely manner. Thank you, you have been great!

Rada · 27 August 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

When we first visited the property, we were promised that certain things will be replaced or fixed such as new carpet, the downstairs toilet/bathroom. They already replaced the hallway carpet and told us every carpet will be replaced upon move in. They also had electricity repairs at the time on our visit but assured us that all the replacements & repairs will be done by our agreed move in date which was supposed to be the 1st September. 1st September came and they told us we can't move in yet. We had everything planned for our move and told them that. They offered us an apartment for a week till we can move in. At first I thought it was nice but then they charged us around 420£ for this one week. We could have stayed in a nice hotel for that amount. We were finally able and allowed to move in and noticed that the carpets and the downstairs bathroom wasn't fixed. Furthermore the kitchen hood didn't work. They assured us on the phone that the carpets would be replaced and the other issues fixed. Fast forward a few months later, we had asked about why the carpets weren't replaced yet and they said it was because we had a dog, they knew we had a dog upon moving in but then hanged their mind once we had all the contracts signed. The second bathroom wasn't useable until roughly a year later and in 3.5 years of renting they never fixed the stove hood...thought this was a lot? Wait..there is more, My upstairs bathroom had a leak in the shower that leaked into our kitchen causing black mold and algae that was also leaking into our neighbors house that's attached. It took the agency roughly a year to get this rectified, it took the airforce housing agencies involvement/my neighbours and my time to get this resolved. I have a cupboard door that over time the wood that its screwed into has begun to deteriorate and fell off so when they finally sent a repairman after months of hounding them he screwed it back intro stripped holes and fell out the next day. This was more than a year ago and they still didn't rectify the situation and now they are trying to charge me on my move out for the problem they would not fix. Here's another good one, the boiler in my house failed so they needed to replace it. Once they put the new boiler in (next to my kitchen sink) they left a massive piece of my wall with exposed electrical wires sitting on top of my counter not 8 inches from my sink. This never got fixed after a year of asking for them to fix EXPOSED ELECTRICAL CABLES!!! I also had floorboards coming up under the carpet, asked for for 2+ years to fix that, never got fixed. The bathroom did not have proper ventilation and began growing black mold everywhere and no matter how much I bleached it to kill it, it would never go away. I told them about this numerous times and eventually I developed health issues from it. They also tried to charge me 100 pounds for an outlet blowing saying my washer had blown the outlet when it was in fact their faulty wiring. It took me nearly 6 months for them to drop this claim, thank god I work in an electrician field or I would have never won. It took a detailed paragraph explaining how electricity works written by my supervisor amongst other NCO's to get them to drop this BS charge. I got another one for ya, so the lady who would inspect my house knows I have two well behaved dogs that she had no problem with, visited multiple times with them outside of their cage with no issues. My contract said that she could not enter the property to inspect if the dogs were not in cages, she broke this rule many times because she liked my dogs, then one time out of the blue near the end of my tenancy makes a report that she could not enter my house due to my dogs being out of their cages where as before she has done it many times against her own contract. They tried to charge me an admin fee because of it, then when I brought up the fact that they broke their own contract numerous times....what do you think happened? They dropped the charge. This is hands down the most snake-y agency I've ever dealt with.NegativeResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism, Value

Gabe · 25 August 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Very efficient, professional team. Over the last 5 years they’ve always gone over and beyond to keep my rented house running properly. Much appreciated

Charlie · 27 May 2025

★★★★★ 4/5

Google

I would just like to note the great service myself and my partner have received through Esmé Fryer, Lettings Negotiator of Maxine Lester Lettings & Property Management. Moving house is a stressful enough experience nevermind during a global pandemic and national lockdown, after contacting multiple properties and agencies, Maxine Lettings were one of very few to promptly get back to us with a reply, and the only one to contact us via phonecall that very same day. Esmé has been a breath of fresh air to talk to; incredibly lovely, understanding, willing and beyond helpful. Not once have we felt like a burden or a hassle, with no amount of questions too big or too small. She has been flexible and accomodating, and although unfortunately the availability of suitable properties for ourselves has meant we are yet to have been successful in moving, Esmé has kindly offered to keep us up to date with any new availability on the market that she knows will suit our wants and needs. Couldn't ask for a better service so far, Esmé you are a credit to the company. Thank you so much for your help. Fingers crossed we can move using Maxine Lettings in the future, as Esmé has installed the up most hope and trust in moving with this management! Great first impression.

Amy · 30 July 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Belle was able to sort the dishwasher replacement quickly, using a local supplier and also getting us a small discount. Thank you Belle.

Mel · 3 November 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Bad experience with poor communication and no support Edit: Thank you for your response. Under no circumstances I am suggesting that the issue with the house was your fault. Neither you or the landlord could possibly know about the leaking issues when I moved in. My disappointment has to do only with how the situation was handled, the miss-communication and the lack of support during the challenging time of having to search for alternative accommodation during the lockdown of November. I have already expressed all these to you in my previous emails so thank you for trying to reach me but I wouldn't want to put any more energy to this. BestNegativeResponsiveness

Georgios · 20 June 2021

★★★★★ 4/5

Google

Very quick to respond to most questions, some questions raised during regular inspections do not get anwsered untill asked in wrighting via email but are always anwsered within hours/days of this. During the pandemic the service was not disrupted and the agent still acted promptly to all issues. During normal times the amount of inspections, 1 every 3 months or so is very intrusive particually as we have been tennents since 2016 and have had no to minimal issues. We would have expected the number to reduce to once or twice a year as we are long term tennets with no issues. However, the friendlyness of the staff and prompt way they handel issues and questions means we would recommend them and would choose them over other angents in the future as we know they can be trusted and relied upon.PositiveResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism, Value

Molly · 20 June 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

They refuse to give me my deposit. Tried to charge me £90 because there was no water in the property which I will NEVER pay. She told me that I agree to pay and I have the conversation recorded. She never mentioned any price and I never said that I was going to pay for this. When u rent a property u expect to have water. Then she made up in the email that I called them cos I had a leak. If u rent a property with this agency please install the app CALL RECORDER in your phone cos anything they tell u is a LIE. They're not trustworthy especially this woman called Bev. They give u the property dirty and when u leave the property, they expect u to leave it spotless. Avoid them, they are thieves. Make sure when you leave u take pictures of the property as proof and have a witness with u. My friends rented a property with them as well and it was a nightmare. They are racist too.NegativeResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism, Value

Yolanda · 20 June 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Maxine Lester were very efficient when we first applied to rent the property. Almost everything was dealt with via email, which made things very convenient for us. We felt very welcomed at our meeting where we received keys, and all of our questions were answered. When lockdown began, we were contacted and asked if we needed any assistance regarding rent which made us feel very secure in our tenancy. It has always been easy to get in touch with them when needed. I would definitely recommend Maxine Lester - it's nice to have a lettings agent who are friendly, communicative and better than the others!!PositiveResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism

Rachael · 20 June 2021