renters beware - property descriptions online didn't match the actual property, inaccurate property descriptions in my experience , was absolutely waste of time

One of my worst experiences with Benjamin Stevens. Highly unprofessional. I signed a tenancy contract with them 2 months ago. I did it and paid early since I was going on a vacation and my previous tenancy was ending so when I would have come back I wanted a house where I could move in. For this reason I paid 10 days extra as well because they would not start on my agreed date but understandable since it was mutually agreed. My contract started on 15aug and my move in date was 26aug the day i was landing and moving. I paid all my dues by 1 aug. 26 days before moving. The agent Laquan asked me to remind him a day or two before when i am coming to arrange the keys. I did so and to my surprise a day earlier they changed my contract without asking me. They called me and said the contract is now changed since the rent amount is more than what we paid for couples. I have the agreement but they deleted it from the website so according to them the contract I have is null and void. I said we can come and talk about the rent once i am back in the country since right now i am midway travel and have nowhere to go since i am really sick. They said they will not hand over the keys untill i sign the new contract. Mind you i also paid 6 months upfront previously for the previous agreed amount. My fault. They were adamant on not giving the keys till i sign the contract. In the end i had to because i have already paid the deposit and rent in advance and i would’ve lost the money. They said you dont have to pay for the current month just the 5 months remaining and now to my surprise they have added the remaining extra amount in 5 months rent too. Please make sure you do not waste your hard earned money with them. The agents were extremely rude. I felt blackmailed since i couldn’t do much as i was not in the country and i have already paid the money. How can you change the contract 2 months after the finalized contract just because you wanted to increase the money since you made an error in the contract? I still have the ad that stated the previous agreement monthly rent. I am stuck for the next 6 months. But please i want to aware whoever is reading, have double checks with your solicitors before signing the contract with them.

Interacted with Benjamin Stevens while they were managing a building where I was a leaseholder, and the experience was deeply disappointing. They blindly followed illegal instructions from the building's freeholder, issuing bills and demands in clear violation of the Building Safety Act (and other acts). Their actions were dishonest, and they acted like the right hand of the freeholder, carrying out unlawful directives. Their accounting was absolutely shoddy, creating a chaotic financial situation. Things were so bad that even a housing association had to take the freeholder to a Tribunal – and Benjamin Stevens was part and parcel of this mess. This company is deeply embedded in an industry rife with dishonesty, and they seem to practice that dishonesty with expertise. I would not recommend them to anyone.

I began the process in May 2023 by viewing a flat in London listed by 'Benjamin Stevens Estate Agents.' Although the flat wasn't in the best condition, I saw its potential and unfortunately made an offer that was accepted. However, the conveyancing process unnecessarily prolonged for months, largely due to the seller's solicitor. They were slow in obtaining the Management Pack and responding to inquiries. Despite my repeated requests for confirmation regarding the tenants vacating the flat on time, my requests were ignored for months. It later became clear that the tenants were council tenants with no intention of moving out. After enduring months of waiting, a court eviction letter finally arrived six months into the process, revealing that the tenants wouldn't vacate until mid-January 2024, if at all. Concurrently selling a flat myself, I opted to withdraw my application to avoid losing my buyers. Consequently, I made an offer for a different flat. Regrettably, I suffered substantial financial losses amounting to several thousand pounds. Had I known beforehand about the flat being occupied by council tenants, I wouldn't have made an offer. Following my formal withdrawal, I noticed that the flat's advertisement was re-published without updates, despite a £1,000 increase in the annual service charge since its initial publication in early 2023, an error not corrected in the advertisement. Considering the real estate agent's poor communication and transparency issues from the start and throughout the process regarding the tenant situation, I cannot envision utilising their services again.

More interested in getting details on their system than selling houses for the best price.

Wouldn't use this Estate Agent again. Once we got the house keys, the alarm kept going off, called the Agent Michael few times no response or call back, once they get their commission they won't respond back to you!

Awful experience. We had a viewing for a property to buy at 3pm . The agent was not there . My Husband and I left our job 2 hours earlier to get in time to the place and see the property in day light. I called the agent at 3:09 why nobody is here and he said sorry we call you earlier because many people do not show up for viewing , I would like to think they call me earlier for any reason to confirm or reschedule the appointment but I couldn’t answer, but My question was why you didn’t left a Voicemail or text message or an email??? And he said well he can not do anything now and any way they have 5 offer right now . I called back to office the other colleague answer the phone and Accuse me that I am lying. And I was late . I was not late at at all even I was 10min early , and waiting for my husband.otherwise I could not see your agent with black Mercedes left early !!!! So unprofessional and irresponsible.

Clueless, lack professionalism