[natitta]

With my hubby we'd like to move out of room to 1 or 2 bedroom flat, we've seen quite nice on the flatland site, but they ask the tenant to pay for a fee, we dont really mind paying a fee but i'd like to know if this estate agent is any good before paying it, thanks for your help.

[Bluey]

Have a thorough search on Google and the forum for any feedback on the agency.

http://forums.gumtree.com/about62947.html
http://forums.gumtree.com/about67603.html
http://forums.gumtree.com/about28787.html
http://forums.gumtree.com/about16533.html

Gumtree recommend that tenants do NOT pay upfront fees to agencies (such as an admin/registration/appointment fee) and do not part with any money before viewing a property on the strength of an advert. 99% of agencies do not charge upfront fees to tenants before they've shown them their accommodation.

What's the point in paying for an appointment making service (middleman) when you can view most properties for free and ring up and arrange viewings with landlords and letting agents directly? Remember that appointment making services are just listing services - they don't actually have properties on their books that they manage for landlords.

See our top tips to stay safe

http://www.gumtree.com/help/stay_safe#item73

[shahzada]

my expereience with flatlands is also very bad.
they had put up ads in their website and papers for studio flats below 100 punds per week. i visited their office. in the sitting room they had pasted lists of houses in all parts of the london whose rents were very affordable. when i met the salesgirl, she told me that all the properties in the list were already rented out. and then she told me that the rent i am wanting to pay is too less and this is not possible. she wanted me to rent out something expensive so their commission is good. in fact, all the properties on the list were fake.
they wasted my time and am sure are wasting other people's too.

[May C]

** PLEASE DO NOT PAY THE UPFRONT FEES **

I have recently fallen into their scam - I paid 69GBP of my hard-earned money - and receive total distress in return.

FLATLAND is disgusting for taking fees and promising nothing.

I called them everyday for THREE weeks, and all they said is to call back at some other time, because all the properties are taken up by the time I called. AND - the same limited property viewings that they gave me are REPEATED for a few weeks.

When I complained about their service, the woman said that other people couldn't get a place after 3 weeks as well, so I shouldn't be complaining!

It is an absolutely unethical business, cheating people's money, especially when finding a suitable property can get really stressful.

GUMTREE is, on the other hand, really wonderful - I found my new place through this site, and am thankful for it. I only wished I had found out about Flatland through this forum earlier.


Please beware of scams!!!

[Bluey]

Contact the Trading Standards department of the local council for advice. They may not be able to assist you directly but could recommend how you can seek redress in the small claims court if the company has not honoured its contract and refuses to give you a refund.

[Pebble.co.uk.ltd]

This is not a practice allowed by agents, they cannot charge you a fee to show flats etc. If they are members of NAEA, ARLA or any other proffesinonal body- you can report them who will take action against them. But just by reading the posts they may not be.

A point to note; that an agent can charge you an adminstration fee, once they have secured you accomodation. Most good agents, are completely 'transparent' about fees etc. Unfortunately, they are also agents who are out there for a quick buck!!

[Londonishesque]

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