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mixr
Joined: 06 Dec 2006
Posts: 13
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 Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 1:21 pm Post subject: WARNING!!!Ludlowthompson. |
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This agency have put on the market dangerous flat in Wondsworth.If you take this flat you will lose everything:
-any electronics
-your clothes
-most important:your health or even life!
This property should not be on the market.They do not give a shit!Obviously you are the one who will suffer.
Stay away!!!
There is more shit around this flat.What I am giving you is just a sample.  |
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jimjam
Joined: 12 May 2006
Posts: 82
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Have you told Ludlow Thompson about this? They are members of ARLA so report them if you feel that strongly. |
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Bluey
Community Moderator
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 4815
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Also, if a property is in breach of statutory health and safety requirements, speak to your local council - most have officers that deal with the condition of private properties - and they can inspect properties and enforce repairs. |
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mixr
Joined: 06 Dec 2006
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Ye...I will do that .I am out of there.There is to much shit around it! |
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unhappylandlord
Joined: 11 Jun 2008
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 4:25 am Post subject: |
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| mixr wrote: | | Ye...I will do that .I am out of there.There is to much shit around it! |
I have had one of the worst experiences in my life with LUDLOW THOMPSON and want to give people a 'heads up' so that they don't have to go through what my wife and I have been through.
Ludlow has been managing a property for me since March 2007. Problems:
(1) Pre-tenancy
The fiasco began with several 'negotiators' from the same office competing with each other - taking deposits etc even before I had a chance to agree anything with no obvious communication between them. Finally I agreed to a prospective tenant and a holding deposit was taken and his details were obtained for referencing. The tenant (from the Netherlands) was 'referenced' (in which - strangely - someone elses credit card details were taken instead of the actual tenants - so that rents could be charged if they later defaulted. I soon learned that the use of this card was unauthorised and my debtor amounts rose swiftly). The tenant was said to be of good credit yet a few weeks after moving in he asked me to sign DSS papers for him (which I declined).
(2) Tenancy
The tenancy was negotiated for 24 months and they took their management fees over 5 months up from for the whole period. Why this is done - I do not know - but the result of it is that once the benefit has been passed to them - there is no further incentive to actually manage the property efficiently. I later learned that the tenant had been accepted and 'tenanted' despite the fact that he had never viewed the property.The next part of the fiasco began when the tenant started to make demands and threats of legal action - apparently all sorts of furniture etc had been promised to him (without my knowledge) even though the tenancy was supposed to be UNFURNISHED. In the end I felt that in the interests of keeping the tenant (whom I beleived to be of good standing at the time) I shelled out a few hundred more to furnish the flat with some basic items.
(3) Management
I have two properties in this (new) block of flats. Both are managed by independent agents. One property - no issues ever other than the usual problem here and there. The property managed by Ludlow - seems to incur more repairs, call-outs and other costs than any other property I own. i.e. the property costs are disproportionate to other assets.It is clear that they get some benefit from contracting out 'repair jobs' - some examples: (a) tenant couldnt use the dishwasher. Solution: Send a qualified engineer to show the tenant how to use the appliance. Cost: over £100. (b) tenant reported a leak in the toilet. Solutiuon: Send a plumber to assess. Cost: £100. (c) tenant reported the same leak (water passing into bowl) Solution: Replace something in the cistern. Cost: approx £250. (d) Tenant reported a 'leak' in the shower. Solution: Quote for new shower (??). Cost: over £1000 (e) Other appliance issues and electrical 'problems' - cost - over £500.
When I gave then the homeserve warranties I was told that if they were managing the property then they would have to use their 'own' contractors or else I would have to make various arrangements like issue keys to contractors and be there for appointments (from 8000 miles away) on my own as they would not take any 'responsibility' for external contractors (like the appliance manufacturers who would repair products for free with their highly trained engineers using new branded spare parts)
(4) Credit Control
The worst I have ever experienced. I am a non resident overseas landlord. I am about 8000 miles and several time zones away from the UK. I rely on these 'managing agents' to look after my best interests. NOT SO. The tenant has been in arrears since he moved in!!! Their version of credit control is a letter to the tenant and a copy to me. I have had about 10 of these letters. Sometimes they take months to get to me - even though I have asked them to email me rather than send letters as I am always travelling.Now my tenant has decided to move on, 9 months early and I email the Client Manager daily and get no response. They have no 'head office' from a customer point of view and although the lettings team are more than happy to get me a new tenant (and charge me hundreds more in new finders fees) the management team are predictably silent and unreachable.If they would refund the balance of the management fees I have paid - i would gladly go elsewhere.
To all you landlords out there - I have learned - this has been a VERY expensive mistake for me. My tenant owes me £2450 and I can't even get hold of my 'client manager'.
Please, please AVOID Ludlow Thomspon - they are quick to get you a tenant but you will pay for this dearly. |
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