Normally, I do not leave reviews if I am unhappy with a service; I simply choose not to use it again. However, I believe sharing this experience might be helpful for potential new tenants considering this branch of Martin & Co. Our experience began very positively. Five years ago, we rented a house through this agency, and overall, we had no issues during the tenancy period. However, as we encountered a few disputes with the landlord, we decided to terminate our contract. We sought advice and support from the agency during the notice period, but unfortunately, this was not provided. We were told that we needed to speak directly with the landlord, as the agency could not assist. To maintain a professional relationship with the landlord, we requested the agency to act as a mediator and facilitate communication to prevent conflicts. Unfortunately, this request was ignored. Given the circumstances, we also inquired about the process for inspecting the property at the end of the notice period and who would make the final decision regarding the return of the deposit. The agency informed us that the landlord would inspect the property and decide on the deposit's return. It is unclear to me why the agency documented the property's condition with photographs before the tenancy but was not involved in assessing it afterward, leaving such decisions entirely to the landlord. Once the contract was finished and we moved out, we called the agency regarding the deposit holding. The first time we called, we were told that the property manager would call us back—but no surprise, that never happened. So, the next day, we called again and were informed that it was too early to request the deposit back, as the inventory had been processed the day before. Just one question: what inventory, if we were told the landlord would be making the decision? If you expect this agency to provide tenant support, it is better not to. Another significant issue arose during the notice period when the agency conducted viewings for potential new tenants. As we were working during the agency's operating hours, we were unable to schedule viewings from Monday to Friday. Our landlord asked if viewings could be conducted in our absence. Hoping to maintain professionalism and assist the landlord in finding new tenants, we agreed. However, this situation quickly deteriorated during one of the last viewings where we were present. The agency scheduled six viewings at the same time with only one agent present. People entered the house unsupervised while the agent was upstairs with another person. Given that our belongings and valuables were still in the house, we revoked permission for viewings in our absence. This lack of supervision was unprofessional, even from the perspective of the potential tenants viewing the property. In addition to these issues, we experienced numerous unreturned phone calls from the agency and unfulfilled promises from the property manager. This left us feeling unsafe and unprotected as tenants, as the agency appeared uninterested in providing adequate support. In summary, our experience with Martin & Co was highly disappointing, and we will be avoiding this agency in the future. I hope others have a better experience than we did and avoid the stress caused by such unprofessional behavior.

Very bad for tenants. The property managers claim to be impartial but clearly they are doing the landlord’s bidding. When we moved out of our flat they tried to take over £400 from our deposit. Our property manager listed numerous ridiculous charges - mostly things we could not be held responsible for. When I contested these charges, I was met with belligerent, obnoxious replies. Our property manager was the epitome of incompetent and refused to see sense. Essentially, what they were trying to do was extort us. After weeks of back and forth, despite the fact I’d said in the early stages that I was happy to take this to dispute, they finally raised it with the DPS. When the DPS took a look at it, they decided to award most of our deposit back to us (unsurprising, as any reasonable person with a working brain would realise the charges were completely unjustified.) If you are in the unfortunate position of being a tenant with Martin&Co, keep a record of all communication, and take photos when you leave. When they try to swindle you out of your money, insist that it is taken to dispute.

Those guys are really unprofessional and they will make everything they can to rip you off. They are holding our deposit for 2 months already as they put a list of unfair expenses to dry out the whole deposit. An example of this is charging around £750 as an end of tenancy cleaning charge (distributed on every item you can think about ,as you see in the attached picture), let alone the other unfair charges which takes the total amount of deductions they claim to £1048. We left the flat clean but they wanted it to be professionally cleaned although it was not professionally cleaned when we moved in. Carpets were fall of spots and stains when we moved in and we reported that. But they want to charge us for steam cleaning of carpets as we reached the end of tenancy. Thier check out report is listing many lost items (such as forks , plates, knifes, hammers ... Etc) while those items are just placed in a different place where they are not even bothered to look at. Don't overlook any silly fault or issue in the flat as we did because we didn't want to be a demanding and fussy tenants, because you will be paying for it at the end as you will get the blame. Some issues we reported at the beginning of the tenancy, they sent Thier handyman who told us they are not fixable as they might need a complete replacement. We let it go but guess what? All of those issues are now listed in Thier check out report as faults we are responsible for. And their charge for each one of them is hefty and inflated. My son has a small paper taped on the door to remind him of something. We forgot to remove that before we leave. Guess how much they charged for removing that tape? £10. This is how they managed to accumulate a whole list of unfair crazy charges to reach to £1048. Now we are heading to DPS Dispute centre as they didn't accept our generous offer of paying £300 just to end up all of this long and bad attempt to get our deposit back which took a great part of our time and effort for the last 52 days. Avoid them if you can. If not , be careful alarmed and cautious with every small detail. Keep evidence and good records of everything and anything, don't trust them and don't try to be nice and not demanding, not nagging tenant. Do Not overlook any issues or fault even if they tell you to as you are going to be penalized for it at the end.

I give them 5 stars one year ago as the letting department offered us good service to finalise the deal smoothly. But I have to downgrade this to one star after a very disappointing service from property management department. The flat was not professionally cleaned at the time we received it with stains everywhere on the carpets and walls. Moreover, we had some issues we reported as soon as we moved in such as reluctant curtains that are stuck and not moving smoothly, a broken shower panel, scratches on cooking hub, toilets flusher that keep leaking some water and needs to be tightened from time to time. The handyman (Raj) that they sent told us that most of those faults are wear and tear and can't be fixed as the only way is just to replace the whole system. We didn't make a big fuss out of it. But the problem that all of those faults are now shown in the-end-of-tenancy report or inventory as faults that we are responsible for and we have to pay for to be fixed. When I contacted Simran (the property manager) , she mentioned that Thier data base shows that all of those faults have been fixed and they have the invoice showing the cost of fixing. I told her that it can't be a pure coincidence that those faults are exactly the same ones I reported at the beginning of tenancy. Second, It was obvious that the guy who has done the end of tenancy inventory is not bothered to check as he reported a lot of the flat contents as MISSING ITEMS only because they are in a different place (e.g. in kitchen cupboards instead of being on the kitchen table... Etc) Finally they wanted to charge us a hefty amount of money to professionally clean the flat while the flat was not professionally cleaned before we moved. Thier quotes for everything is twice or 3 times more expensive than average prices. (For example they charge £10 for removing a tape from the back of the door, a tape we forgot to remove and it can just removed in second) Unfortunately, we are heading to a dispute on DPS deposit service. For those who are renting through Martin and Co. Harbourne, please be fully aware and show attention to every detail at the time you move in , keep evidence, don't try to be nice tenant who doesn't make a big fuss of every detail as you might end up being penalized and taking the responsibility for it. Otherwise, your deposit will vanish by Thier unfair and hefty charges.

We’ve been renting a property through Martin & Co Birmingham Harborne for some time now, but unfortunately, the experience has been very frustrating. From the beginning, there were multiple issues with the flat that needed to be fixed. Despite reaching out to them numerous times, no action was taken. In the end, we had to involve the Birmingham City Council just to get basic repairs addressed. Whenever a new issue arises, we have to chase them repeatedly, only to hear the same response—“the landlord is not responding.” This has been an ongoing issue not just for us, but for several other tenants in the building as well. The communal areas are in poor condition, and the outside of the building is not cleaned or maintained. As tenants, we expect a level of service and responsiveness, especially when renting through an agency. Unfortunately, Martin & Co has failed to deliver that. It’s disappointing to have to deal with these issues repeatedly, and it really makes us question the value of renting through this agency. I hope they improve their services for future tenants, but based on our experience, I cannot recommend them.

Despite my initial positive assessment of Tobias Ogunmesa as a competent service provider, he turned out to be unprofessional by neglecting my email correspondence regarding my viewing/application. It appears that his priority was seeking favorable reviews rather than delivering quality service.

Two members of staff in sales Harborne have exercised complete indiscretion! I will never use this franchise again.

Didn't have a good experience with Martin & Co. I arranged a viewing with Ben for a property and 25 minutes before we were due to meet they texted me to say they had to cancel because they couldn't access the property. Another viewing was arranged with the same agent for today, and I've looked at the Rightmove listing and it says let agreed. Nothing was sent to me to let me know the viewing was cancelled so I called them. Ben is actually now on annual leave, and he never actually arranged the appointment within their system. I understand that this doesn't necessarily represent everyone at Martin & Co but at the end of the day he is a representative for them and he hasn't been impressive in his professionalism at all. In fairness, the manager did call me back after I enquired to ask me to call and discuss the situation but I'm jaded by the lack of customer service now, so I don't see much point. Be wary if working with this agency and which agent you work with.