Bennetts

We recently bought a house through Bennett's. The team were fantastic and very accomodating regarding viewings. Helen was completely transparent about some issues with the house which is an older property. We found this to be refreshingly honest. There was excellent communication throughout the process.

I recently sold a house with the help and guidance of Bennett estate agents. Everyone on the team were helpful and courteous. I was kept up to date at each step of the process. I had never sold a house and was a bit daunted by the process, but Helen and her team were able to explain what to expect at each step in a clear and professional way. I was ale to relax knowing I could trust their 5 star service.

Girls here were all lovely throughout the tenancy. Full deposit returned fast in a timely matter. Couldn't say a wrong word apart from the paying an admin fee but as this was also returned so overall don't have any complaints and am happy with how everything was handled. Thanks again especially to Helen, Lucy, Leah, Grace, Kayleigh, Rachael and Ingrid who I dealt with primarily

Exceptional service. We have been renting via Bennett Estate Agents for almost 2 years and they have been great. Really friendly and helpful team who respond and deal with all questions and issues promptly and to a good standard. For example, our heating was not working the other day and they had someone out to fix it within 2 hours. Would strongly recommend.

I didn't have a very good experience with this agent if I be honest. I'm also not going to slate the company too much because they were very polite and checked up on viewing arrangement time etc. However, that being said, I organised a viewing. Prior to preparing the viewing I downloaded the application form so that when I was at the viewing I could make their job easier by having most of the form filled in. Upon reading the first page it mentions an admin fee which is illegal to charge or at very least should be refunded in full. I can appreciate that they may interpret the legislation around fees differently but even when I laid out my concerns, trying to get answers as to if I would be charged or get a refund or why this was allowed, under what conditions etc was like trying to get blood out of a stone. Every answer I received to queries was like they were trying to conceal the truth. I called up to cancel the viewing because I had had enough and all was falling on deaf ears. The member of staff who answered my cancellation call appeared to cut over me and tried to conclude the call as soon as possible not giving me enough time to try and resolve the issue or come to an understanding why we disagreed on the issue. I was no longer interested in a viewing, so they were no longer interested in me. I wanted to discuss with them my query but it seemed like they didn't care. I have had no problems with any other estate or letting agents, certainly would never sign up to a contract with people like this if they can't be transparent. I just felt like I was being ignored. I don't see why a good number of estate agents in the area don't charge admin fees and some others think they can squeeze extra money out of doing what is already part of their job description. If they don't agree with the legislation there should at least be the courtesy to let you discuss the concerns you have esp. someone who is a potential tenant / homeowner, not someone trying to get you off the phone. From other reviews here I'm clearly not the first to experience this.

Helen and her team conduct this business with the utmost professionalism, compassion and integrity. They are available, reasonable and fair in their dealings. I found them ready to listen, able to provide informed and timely advice and able to ensure proper and effective communication between landlord and tenant in very difficult circumstances. They are an estate agent who understand the importance of the home to all stakeholders in the process.

Good communication.. very prompt to get back to applicants..which is a very good policy ..rather than let them wait and wonder if successful...my daughter viewed a house today..stranmillis ..really hope they are successful ..very impressed with the service

I have debated on whither on not to leave this review. However the more I read up on things e.g the holding deposit fee and the Application fees. The more I am displeased and annoyed with the process that was not followed by the agency, in alignment with the law. We need out of our current house because we have no storage and we have a almost 6month old son and the street i currently live in is dangerous for my son as the police are never away from it. Our neighbours go through our rubbish and steal from us all the time. So we made the decision that we needed to move ASAP! So i hunted for a house and found one that would be perfect for us and that was being managed by Bennett Estate Agents. I rung and got us the first viewing possible which was Friday! So we viewed that house on the Friday, in which was under a lot of work which was fine we didnt mind. We were in a group of people who viewed the property at the same time. My partner and myself both fell in love with the property and already had the Application half filled out. Prior to the viewing I also arranged a folder that was filled with all the things that were required and more to ensure that i had more than enough information. So we went up and spoke to my guarantor and got her to sign the application forms and hand over her ID. I called a head to ensure the few questions I had would be answered..e.g that the work that needs done be completed even if we signed the application agreement which states an application fee of £45.00 each which meant two applications of £90.00 fee which is non refundable also illegal to do it. But what can you do if you really liked the property and they hold the power so we handed over the Application fees and the full holding fee of £550.00 which after checks are carried out it then becomes your deposit on house. We got written confirmation via email that everything would still be finished in the house even if we signed on. Which we were more than happy for, I asked for the agent if we were the first Application and she said yes so we rushed up and got everything in and receipts handed back. So heres where it went all wrong.. a holding fee means that they are meant to hold the property for you until all checks are carried out on you and there was to be no futher viewings of said property until you are either cleared for the Application or denied by themselves or landlord. They cannot take multiple holding fees at once. They went a head the next day and continued with the viewings and took multiple applications fees and multiple holding fees. I waited patiently praying that we would get a phone call and we waited all weekend and I then emailed Ingrid asking when would we hear back to which she told me there was multiple applications so it was up to the landlord to decide as she put them all forward to him. She told me it would probably be the next day i would hear from her before the end of the business day. In which it was, she rung me about 3pm to tell me that the landlord still hasnt got back to them but she will let me know once she knows. Then about an hour later i got the bad news that we didn't get the house for my wee family although we passed every check she told me and i had a glowing reference from my current landlord and my partner and me had the affordability and good income for it and that i passed all the checks but the landlord for some reason went with someone else. I was disappointed and confused so thats why I read up on all the meanings of a holding fees. But its not in my power to do anything about it. I dont think ill be going through Bennett Estate agents again after that experience! I got my folder and my holding fee of £550.00 back. The two starts that i've given is because of Ingrid the estate agent that I went through. She was really nice and always kept me up to date and i would give her more but its not her that I am writing this about.