Trusted Agent profile · West Berkshire
★★★★★
116 reviews across 2 platforms
Kirkpatrick and Hopes Ltd Merlin House Brunel Road, Reading, RG7 4AB, West Berkshire, RG7 4AB
Pillar Properties LTD's office in West Berkshire, at Kirkpatrick and Hopes Ltd Merlin House Brunel Road, is rated 3.7 out of 5 across 116 reviews on two platforms, including 29 Google reviews rated 2.5.
Every review we hold for the West Berkshire office, from every platform, shown as written. First names only.
5/5
TrustpilotSaved the day!
I am staying in one of Pillars properties. I have only been living here for one week and I am super impressed. I mistaking left my keys elsewhere late on a Sunday night and had super speedy responses from Tom who made sure I got in. Thank you so much, you saved the day!
5/5
TrustpilotPillar Properties
Very pleased with Pillar Properties. When I moved into the rental property Pillar took my concerns seriously and agreed to deal with the issues I had with the room before moving in. They followed through and resolved it in good time. The rental property is well maintained. I would be happy to use them again in the future if I were looking to move into a shared accommodation.
5/5
TrustpilotGreat experience
Great experience, I had to move very quickly and Lyn was especially helpful getting all the paperwork done and telling me exactly what I had to do to speed it along! Sam and Ivan also both very lovely. Thank you!!!
1/5
TrustpilotFailure To Follow Up On Promised Actions
I have contacted this company by telephone and email for follow ups on 3 different properties. On each occasion the company promised that somebody would follow up on my enquiries. In spite of many follow ups the response from this company was ZERO. If I could give them 0 stars I would do so. The date I mention below is just 1 instance of their failings
1/5
GoogleHouse & maintenance are okay. BUT management literally micromanaged us! I eventually hated living there because of their attitude towards us, because, they wanted us to treat the house like a hotel and only own bare minimum items. They made us all feel depressed as we were not comfortable in our own house… dont rent unless you’re looking for something temporary.
1/5
GoogleRented from them awhile back worst agency, had room professionally cleaned before I moved out guy walked in and swiped dust from top of door frame and tried to charge me £250. The property manager was a bully and acts like a bloody bailiff. I’m not alone
5/5
GoogleLandlord Over the Moon I have multiple properties with Pillar and I'm extremely happy on how they operate and keep me updated. I'm a busy business owner and needed a letting agent that could run and let the properties for me with very little input from myself. Their tenant selection has been great and the properties are well maintained. I would highly recommend.
5/5
TrustpilotGreatest service
Great service, always present in case of an issue. All the agents are very helpful and very professional Sam is one of their best agent.The process for renting is easy.
5/5
TrustpilotVery friendly and helpful staff who…
Very friendly and helpful staff who work for Pillar Properties, especially Sam who was able to assist with my enquiries and a efficient check into the property. Thanks again, I am in love with my new home!
5/5
TrustpilotGreat service
Great service. Really friendly and helpful staff! Sam was very helpful in catering my needs to the type of house I was looking yo rent. Would highly recommended.
5/5
TrustpilotPerfect service in selling of property
Perfect, professional, and effective service from Prefect Pillars in the sale of my property.
5/5
TrustpilotSix year review
I had moved in August 2019 into one of their properties in Reading - overall a positive experience. Good bits:
5/5
TrustpilotA great agency to go with
Pillars is definitely a great agency to go with when looking for places to live. Staff are helpful and always look to sort any issues that may arise.
5/5
TrustpilotGreat service over 5 yrs with them…
Great service over 5 yrs with them always a prompt or pro-active response…Hence never any major issues thanks to Hayley, Sam and Ivan :) J.O
5/5
TrustpilotLandlord Over the Moon
I have multiple properties with Pillar and I'm extremely happy on how they operate and keep me updated. I'm a busy business owner and needed a letting agent that could run and let the properties for me with very little input from myself. Their tenant selection has been great and the properties are well maintained. I would highly recommend.
5/5
TrustpilotFantastic Team
I’m currently living in one of there properties and have been here for just 1 month. During this time I can not fault the team, they have all been so helpful. I first met Ivan who showed me around the property to which he was super patient with me as this was my first time moving out therefore had lots of questions, he explained everything to me and helped me out a lot. Lyn has also been fantastic with the moving process , paperwork and again helping me out with anything I was unsure with and replies to my emails within 48hrs. Justin who deals with maintenance issues resolved the problem within 24hrs, I sent an email late last night and he was here at lunchtime to fix it, he was chatty, friendly and once again very helpful. The whole team makes you feel reassured and they are all a great bunch of people who are always happy to help.
4/5
TrustpilotVery helpful
Very helpful, professional. Apartments were immaculate and done to very good standard. Sam was very patient with all my indecision in choosing the right place! I would highly recommend Pillar Agency
1/5
TrustpilotIf I could give 0 stars I would
If I could give 0 stars I wouldSaw a property yesterday which I was very interested in, asked to see the contract before handing over a deposit, I asked for a day to look over the contracts. I phoned the guy that showed me round called Sam Giza, I wanted to ask a few questions about the contract including asking if the property has a licence to be a HMO, What is the definition of "the Property" it should be just the room that I am responsible for and a lot of other things were a bit strange with the contract that I wanted to clear up. I was then rudely interrupted while asking these questions with “do you even want to rent this property” I really liked the property and wanted to put a deposit down that day after all the questions were cleared up but after that rude comment I wouldn’t want to live in a house managed by a company like this.
5/5
TrustpilotGreat service throughout the tenancy…
Great service throughout the tenancy duration. With transparent and smooth renting process. Sam and Hayley have been great to deal with and made my renting experience very easy until last day. All enquiries were dealt with in a professional and timely manner. I highly recommend Pillar Properties based on personal experience with multiple renting agencies, Pillar Properties are one of the best I experienced in the UK.
1/5
TrustpilotAvoid this agency!!
Avoid this agency!!During my tennancy:-Painter provided access to my room without informing me and unsupervised. They caused damage to my room and did not clean up the mess they made-Over Charged rent- dont trust the figures they give you- Nasty/ bullying property manager-poorly renovated property which continuously required maintenance -misleading contracts (my legal advice also said the same)-don't believe any pressure they put on you to sign lease- they tell everyone they have other perspective tennants yet most rooms are empty for months-hidden fees-general rudeness from very young inexperienced staff-Pillar regularly visited without informing tennants and often left without locking house
5/5
TrustpilotHighly Recommended
I found no issues with Pillar Properties in over 2 and a half years of experience with them. Did not feel the need to move once and would still be living at the same property had I not jumped on the property ladder.They were responsive to any issues with the property and adaptive to changes in circumstances. Seemingly small team, but they cover a lot of ground!Very happy with the service & would recommend to all.
5/5
TrustpilotAmazing agency! Responsive and reliable
Amazing agency. I stayed in two different rooms and houses in the past two years. They are responsive and they alwas reply promptly to requests and issues. The houses are very well maintained and the rooms are elegant, just like in the pictures they have on their website.I would definitely recommend to everyone who's looking for a room in Reading!
1/5
TrustpilotDo NOT go with this agency, they are horrible!!
The reasons why it was an awful experience are1.Huge number of hidden fees which they didn't tell me when viewing the room and/or signing off the contract but they revelead them after some days I was in and then I couldn't step back2. Check out fees not disclosed before I moved in and they stole that from my deposit at the end of tenancy(£40). This is NOT due.I raised a dispute with Deposit Authority and it was successful and the pillar properties returned to me £40.3. After leaving they ordered me to forward my details in one day time to get deposit back. Failed to do so they would have released my deposit to “charity”4. Their intrusion in my room without notice and not an emergency. I would expect them to pay to me for breaching this rule but they said just "sorry". I raised a complain with PRS(Authority they are member of) and they said "sorry" is enough. Unbelievable!5. Theft of 50 pounds following that intrusion(it appears evident that they stole it). I made report at Police station (43170069955) but unfortunately it didn't go nowhere as no CCTV in the room or bank statement.Police anyway investigated pillar properties as they were appointed suspect criminals6. They kept me under pressure to realize if I was in the room(to make a new intrusion) by sending email and calling me7. Full range of proofs provided to early terminate the contract but they refused to let me go8. Multiple wrong monthly rental calculations and I had to stop it with waste of time and resource9. Fridge and freezer plenty of food belonging to tenants who had already left and then no room for my stuff and asked me £100 to free up space10. They failed to display the presence of fire extinguisher in the house and house itself was not built in a proper way11. They left me three days without heating in winter12. The house and my room was not safety and calm(in the very dangerous area of Oxford road)13. The agency is running business without an office so it is no possible to meet them and then claim/complain14 No fire extinguisher and moreover fume evacuation was towards my room window15 pillar properties does not have office address and its manager writes from an hidden email address16 pillar properties refused to issue a correct invoice for the month May2017Following my complaint, Reading Council forced pillar properties to stick their fees onto their websites as they had hidden these fees and they complied.Please read below the fees which they did not reveal to me initiallyTENANCY FEES (TARIFF OF CHARGES)Cost Description Information£350.00 Holding fee Per property which is then deducted from the balance of money payable (e.g. Rent) 48 hours prior to the tenancy commencing6 Weeks Security Deposit In most cases this is equal to one and a half months’ rent.£350.00 Sole Admin FeeInclusive of VAT (per property) which includes one tenant reference. (These fees include immigration and visa confirmation,financial credit checks, obtaining reference from current or previous employer, previous or existing landlord. Contributiontowards the setting up of the tenancy and the compilation and exchanging of the tenancy agreement)£100.00 Additional personInclusive of VAT (per property) for an additional tenant. (These fees include immigration and visa confirmation, financial creditchecks, obtaining reference from current or previous employer, previous or existing landlord. Contribution towards the settingup of the tenancy and the compilation and exchanging of the tenancy agreement)£100.00 Deposit & Check-in Inclusive of VAT. Single tenant deposit registration fee payable within the balance owed before move-in. Check-in after 5 daysof initial reservation made and to meet at the property on the day of move-in.£120.00 Deposit & Check-in Inclusive of VAT. Single tenant deposit registration fee payable within the balance owed before move-in. Check-in within 5 daysof initial reservation made and to meet at the property on the day of move-in.£150.00 Deposit & Check-in Inclusive of VAT. Single tenant deposit registration fee payable within the balance owed before move-in. Check-in on aSaturday and to meet at the property on the day of move-in.£99.00 Guarantor FeeInclusive of VAT (per property) which includes one UK based Guarantor reference. (These fees include immigration and visaconfirmation, financial credit checks, obtaining reference from current or previous employer, previous or existing landlord.Contribution towards the setting up of the tenancy and the compilation and exchanging of the tenancy agreement)£36.00 3 Month Renewal Inclusive of VAT. Renewal of the Fixed Term Assured Shorthand Tenancy Agreement for 3 months’£60.00 6 Month Renewal Inclusive of VAT. Renewal of the Fixed Term Assured Shorthand Tenancy Agreement for 6 months’£120.00 12 Month Renewal Inclusive of VAT. Renewal of the Fixed Term Assured Shorthand Tenancy Agreement for 12 months’£15.00 Late Rent/ArrearsLetterInclusive of VAT. If you fail to pay your rent on time or you fall into arrears with your rental payments then we are obliged tosend reminder letter and or emails to you.£210.00 Early TerminationFeeInclusive of VAT. Leaving the property before the end of the fixed term Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement regardless ofthe 2 months’ notice period being given.£100.00 Misuse of Property Inclusive of VAT. If maintenance has to be carried out die to the misuse or neglect by the tenant or there is a misuse of theemergency call out service.£60.00 Locked out(In Office hours) Inclusive of VAT. For us to attend the property and let you in (Only during office hours 09:00 - 17:30)£120.00 Locked out(Out of hours) Inclusive of VAT. For us to attend the property and let you in (After 17:30 and before 09:00)£60.00 Lost Keys Inclusive of VAT. If you lose any keys, then the locks will have to be replaced. The above charge is payable plus the cost of thenew locks & keys. Please note: If you lose your keys and we have to let you in then the ‘Locked out’ Charges will also apply.£120.00 Moving ofFurnitureInclusive of VAT. Moving of furniture not located as per the inventory. Cost may vary depending on the number of itemsneeding to be moved.£160.00 Removal / Disposal Inclusive of VAT. Removal and or disposal of tenants’ personal belongings after the tenancy has ended. Costs may varydepending on the number of items needing to be removed.£36.00 AdditionalPaperworkInclusive of VAT. Additional Inventory or Contract required because of lost paperwork. This charge may apply to otherpaperwork needing to be provided.£60.00 Failure to provideaccess Inclusive of VAT. Failure to provide access (24 hours notice agreed) to the property for a routine visit.£40.00 Check-out Fee Inclusive of VAT. This fee is payable for checking the inventory on expiry of the tenancy. This fee will be deducted from thetenancy deposit.£36.00 Post reference Inclusive of VAT. This fee is payable by bank transfer before the ‘Post Tenancy Reference’ is sent.£140.00 Failure tocheck-outInclusive of VAT. Failure to check-out of the property on the confirmed time and date (Unless notice is given 48 hoursbeforehand)£120.00 Retracting Notice Inclusive of VAT. Application to retract your tenancy notice.I can supply full range of proof in regards of what stated here
5/5
TrustpilotAll good
The whole process was smooth and straight forward.
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.
Pillar Properties LTD's West Berkshire office has 116 reviews across two platforms: 29 on Google, 87 on Trustpilot.
Pillar Properties LTD West Berkshire is rated 3.7 out of 5 across all 116 reviews, and 2.5 out of 5 on Google from 29 reviews.
Pillar Properties LTD West Berkshire, Kirkpatrick and Hopes Ltd Merlin House Brunel Road, Reading, RG7 4AB, West Berkshire, RG7 4AB.
