Nicholas Estates, Ipswich

Lived in a flat in Ipswich owned by Nicholas Estates and recently moved out. Spent a full day cleaning and tidying the flat prior to moving out until the place was absolutely immaculate. I was even told by the people showing new potential tenants that the flat was in excellent condition and it had been well looked after.

One I had moved out I had to wait ages for information on how to claim my deposit and this is all done through DPS (Deposit Protection Scheme). Once logging on to claim my deposit, it showed that I could only claim around 30% of my initial deposit value and that Nicholas Estates were owed 70%. No explanation or breakdown is given to identify why they are claiming this.

When I spoke to Nicholas Estates, they said that some repair work was needed doing and they received an expensive cleaning bill to clean the flat.

I strongly suggest to anyone thinking of renting a flat with Nicholas Estates to reconsider unless you are prepared to put in time and effort at the end to fight to claim back your deposit money.

Recently moved in; I've spent nearly two weeks with neither hot water nor a fridge. Every time I contact them they assure me it'll be sorted "within the next few days" (that's their favourite phrase) and they'll "call me back" (they never do, obviously). Which is a shame - as the properties themselves are actually quite nice, but their service and maintenance is absolutely abysmal. On the flip side, it does bring me hope - if my career ever fails, it's reassuring to know that literally anybody could make it as a property 'manager' (I use the term liberally).

If you're a prospective customer of theirs, heed my warning - do not go with them.

Hi Guys,

The reason I was here is to help others to not fall into these guys trap.

I have rented through the Nicholas estates and all the problems started from day 1.

They told me that the house is not cleaned and told they are going to arrange cleaners , upon pressurising they arranged cleaners and the job is done for name sake.

But the real proble started when I checked in. Actually these guys are not done any check out from the previous tenant and there are lot of issues here and there. walls paintings were gone, cupborads broken , kitchen utencils are not there but they claim it as a furnished home, sofa is broken. Few lights are not there.

Even though I used to call every week they say they are going to do start jobs but actually they are not .

Its been a month but still they are not done any of the single job.

I request any of you guys want to rent a property with them do not go , their customer service is teriible .

Srini--

They are absolute scum.The day we moved into the property it was uninhabital. lounge wall was soakin wet and covered in black mould. The cooker kept blowin and always has since day one. The bedroom has two leaks of water from roof. The roof has massive hole in it with a matteress underneath to soak up the water.And no insulation in attic. We had now heatin for three months. when we did it was done dodgy by unquilified person.Then we had two major gas leaks for six months. And to make matters worse we had kids in the house and i warned them that it was done wrong from the start.Same old strory ignore u frim start to finish. nothing to do with us its the landlord.Bullshit .The people who rented two years ago had the same problems. They are the lowest of the low

Please never use this letting agent, they are actually useless, they never ever get back to you if you have a problem, I was in a property for a year and six months and never received a parking permit or a second set of keys. I had so many problems with them ignoring me. The house was dirty when we moved in and we got it professionally cleaned before vacating the property only for them to charge us a 100 pound cleaning fee when we moved out. They also charge 60 pounds for just returning the deposit.trust me they seem really friendly at first but they take responsibility for nothing. After asking for an electrician for 3 months as we only had 3 sockets in the house working they sent a plumber!!! They deserve legal action to be taken against them its disgusting how they treat their tenants. Horribunprofessional

I rented property from Nicholas Estate.

They were very sweet in the start. After signing

The agreement, they start ignoring your calls.

At start I had issues with keys, they took three

Months to resolve the spare key set despite

It was agreed during the signature of contract.

Then there were few issues with the details of inventory

It took again three months to resolve .

Then there is no guidance on electric heater

And boiler. My monthly average bill went upro

200 pounds .

Then there was blockage in the kitchen ,

They took three months and now I am waiting

For specialist company for blockage since whole

Week. They are just money grabbers, even no

Manners to talk and even have any thinking

Of customer satisfication. There manager is the worst person I have

Ever seen since last 10 years of my tenancy

Experience....... Absolutely rubbish service

I bought and then let out a property through Nicholas Estates and I must say the service was fantastic start to finish. The buying process was easy, the staff kept me updated with properties coming onto the market then when the right one came along they held my hand through the process and took most of the stress away! They updated me regularly and also recommended a fantastic local solicitor and mortgage broker. The process couldnt have been much easier.

It then made sense to use Nicholas Estates again for the letting of my property and they found me a tenant within a week. They charged me a most reasonable fee and I couldnt be happier with the ongoing service.

I dont usually write reviews but felt compelled to after the service I have received. I have recommended Nicholas Estates to a couple of friends who are equally delighted with the service. I wouldnt use anyone else!

Hi All,

Please never ever go with Nicholas Estates if you are looking for a peaceful home/living. I had rented an apartment from them and believe me, I had only problems with them from day one. They never listen or respond to your requests at any time. They always try to put the blames on the landlord and try not to do anything for you at all. I had problems with my heaters and my energy bill has run into more than £900 for a quarter because the economy option do not working for the heaters. I have been requesting to look into it for the last 4 months and they are not doing anything at all.

I become a regular visitor to their office with complaints and they do

nothing at all. Please, I request everyone not to do business with them as you will loose your peace of mind.

They never respond to your emails which is totally unprofessional. I doubt whether they have any happy customers at all. I am thinking of raising a complaint against them to the Property Ombudsman as things are getting worse for me. Their charges and rates are too high as well.

I am totally disappointed and cursing the moment I decided to go with them as I was in a hurry to get into a property.

From start to finish Nicholas Estates Ipswich were hard to get on with, blatantly snatching at every penny they could with not a thought for customer satisfaction and seemingly devoted to creating and maintaining a terrible image for themselves. The manager we dealt with had zero people skills, was moody, wouldn't look you in the eye, was always dissapointed and stressed-out and constantly complaining, would turn up unannounced for inventory checks and have the nerve to judge if you happened to answer the door in your pants or whatever. Guy was a total no-hoper, he wouldn't get anything done when you requested it etc. And when it came time to give deposits back guess what? They took longer than is legally allowed to give it back and they tried to take money out that wasn't owed them. Surprise surprise.

I would never even consider doing business with any branch of Nicholas estates ever again as a result of this experience and I hope you don't either! I'm currently living in a vastly superior property for much the same money and dealing directly with the landlord who is helpful, friendly and never shows up unannounced in a grump looking to barge his way into your home and snoop around making complaints and generally sullying the atmosphere of the place before leaving off in a whirlwind huff.

These guys were all sugar and sweetness to the prospective new tenants outside the front of the building even moments after being moody and short with us inside because we were on our way out and no longer mattered. The entire experience beggared belief. Poor poor poor.

Initially they speak well. once you moved they wont mind anyting. they will totally forget anything that needs to be done. Haven't got the parking permits after many calls and mails. Even the initial water readings and electricity readings were not provided after repeated calls. They did't take responsibility of informing the council for the change. I dont know then why do they charge for us? just to show the flat? even they dont pay the bills for the previous period... i would not recommend it at all...

my colleagues who rented a flats through riverdale and Pennington dont face any problem and everything was cleared now and then...

Really not happy with their service...