Martinco Reviews 16

My experience with Martin and Co Maidstone has been overwhelmingly negative, to the point where I genuinely regret ever dealing with this branch. The level of disorganisation is astonishing. Nothing gets done unless you chase them repeatedly, and even then the responses feel rushed, uninterested and completely lacking in effort. It is difficult to understand how a professional agency can operate with such little attention or care.
Communication is consistently poor. Messages go unanswered for long stretches, updates never arrive when promised, and basic issues seem to fall into some kind of void. Every interaction left me feeling like I was interrupting people who had no real intention of helping in the first place. You are left doing the agency’s job for them, while they contribute nothing of value.
What makes it worse is the complete absence of urgency or responsibility. Problems that should be straightforward are dragged out endlessly, and no one takes ownership of anything. It feels like a branch where customer service is an afterthought and where tenants and landlords are treated as inconveniences rather than clients.
In all my years dealing with property agents, this has easily been one of the most frustrating experiences. I would strongly advise anyone considering this branch to look elsewhere. The lack of communication, lack of organisation and lack of basic professionalism is beyond disappointing. There are far better agencies in Maidstone, and nearly any of them would provide a more competent and reliable service than this.

Just been given false information from their Lincoln office. It is still legal to offer six months rent up front until May 1st!

The lady on the phone was rude and very disrespectful and unhelpful! We will never rent through this incompetent company!!!

I’m extremely disappointed with the service from Martin & Co. Despite always paying our rent on time and providing proof of payment multiple times, we continue to receive repeated and unnecessary calls chasing rent. This has been both frustrating and embarrassing, especially when we’ve already sent several emails with payment confirmations.

What’s worse is the poor communication within the account management team. One day they say sorry, and the very next day they’re back to chasing us as if nothing was resolved. It feels like no one is actually reading the emails or updating the records properly.

It’s incredibly unprofessional and has made our experience with this company stressful and unpleasant. We expect better standards from a company managing something as important as housing.

And also they need to learn how to apologise properly… sorry is not an apology..

My personal experience with Martin &Co during the purchase of my first property has been courteous, prompt, professional and with excellent customer service from start to finish. My special thanks goes to Caro in the Yeovil branch. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for everyone else's review. I just got what seems like a boilerplate scam letter from the Pontefract branch. I'd like to upload a screen capture, but essentially it reads:

Good Morning [note, not address to the actual applicant]

Thank you for your completed application form.

The holding deposit of £126 is non-refundabe... if you fail to pass referencing or pull out from the property... (you will lose the deposit).

[Note, no details about what would cause "referencing" to fail or if there's a time limit. E.g. what if they take 3 weeks to process the application and you find another property in the meantime? You'll lose the deposit of course!]

(When you sign the tenancy agreement, you will pay a) security deposit of £634 and 1 month's rent up front. [The security deposit is substanially more than the monthly rent!]

Kind regards
[unsigned - no contact name]

Too many opportunities to be "legitimately" scammed and no easy way to get money back quickly or seek redress.

Avoid this letting agency (Canterbury branch)
We’ve been tenants with this agency for only a short time, and the experience has been appalling. Despite reporting several maintenance issues that were present from the start of the tenancy (and clearly not caused by us), the agency has failed to resolve them. Their lack of action has left us feeling ignored and unsupported in a home we’re paying to live in.

Adding insult to injury, they’ve now scheduled a “routine property visit” without proper consideration for our convenience. While property inspections are understandable, giving us an inconvenient time window of 6 hours is unreasonable, especially since we’re expected to be available or else have them let themselves in with their own set of keys. This feels like a total invasion of privacy, especially when they’re failing to address more pressing issues like the repairs we’ve repeatedly requested.

The mention of needing to “secure our property” and ensuring we have enough keys to re-enter is unnecessarily patronising, particularly when key management and security should be part of their professional service. The tone of their communication lacks any empathy for the disruption caused or acknowledgment of their failings as a management service.

If you’re looking for a letting agent that values tenants and takes maintenance and communication seriously, I’d strongly recommend looking elsewhere.

Dealt with their office in Birmingham, they charged the tenant 12 months up front without telling us. So if they went under we would have lost our money!
Really do not deal with any Martin and co!

My husband and I had to chase on several occasions to view a property at Langham House. After finally getting a response we turned up at the time agreed and waited around for 45 minutes before leaving. During that time we called to chase up the appointment and as it was the weekend went through to head office who promised us a call-back, but no one did. I see the property is now on sale with another agent several months on. Not surprised at all! I feel bad for the sellers.

I would give 0 stars if I could. These agents have 0 decency.

I just came back from a supposed viewing. My partner and I agreed to view the property at 6.30 and confirmed with Luke M. via email to meet at the location.
We went at the said time and waited for a few minutes. Decided to call them via the phone number that Luke signed his email with. Some other agent answered and asked us for all our information again, then told us to wait while she checks and comes back to us.
10 minutes pass without any sign so we call the number again. A 3rd agent answers and asks for all our information AGAIN, then has the audacity to tell us to wait another 10 mins and if no one shows up we can leave. Luckily it was only _raining slightly_ in London this evening.

These agents clearly had no idea what was going on. 0 coordination. 0 decency. 0 skill. 0 professionalism.

P.S. they never got back to us to even apologise for their mistakes.

As per a lot of reviews - avoid this company if you can. I was helping my daughter to find a property to rent for 12 months, I run a company with 125 employees and cant believe that in this day and age business's still exist offering customer service so badly!

If i was a landlord wishing to use the services of this agent then I would be very concerned.The staff are inefficient.They do not keep in contact with prospective tenants and leave you chasing information all the time.USE THE PHONE OR REPLY TO E MAILS!?

(I am also a landlord of multiple properties and would be extremely unhappy if my agents achieved this very low level of customer service.)

STAFF ARE RUDE, UNHELPFUL AND MOST I HAVE SPOKE TO HAVE A BAD ATTITUDE! THE CHARGES ARE RIDICULOUS PLEASE ASK THEM FOR A LIST OF ALL THEIR CHARGES BEFORE THEY CHARGE YOU £300 JUST FOR A REFERENCE + £200 HOLDING FEE! THE OFFICE I DEAL WITH IS LIVERPOOL ROAD MANCHESTER AND THEY CHARGE YOU £90.00 JUST TO RENEW YOUR TENNANCY! I MAY ASWELL BURN THE MONEY I EARN

MORE REASONS NOT TO GO WITH MARTIN&CO

THEY WOULD CHARGE YOU FOR RINGING THEM IF THEY COULD.

THEY WANT MONEY FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

THE ATTITUDE ON SOME OF THE STAFF IS APPALING

EXTORTIONATE CHARGES.

THEY DON'T REPLY TO EMAILS

This is a list of the charges they charge: Some are absolutely laughable!

FAST TRACK FEE (WITHIN 5 WORKING DAYS) £36

GUARANTOR FEE £72

TENANCY RENEWAL
Joint £90
Single £66
Periodic £60

RENT ARREARS
5 - 10 days delay £15
11 - 14 days delay £40
Over 14 days £60
BOUNCED CHEQUE £30

MAINTENANCE
Failure to report a maintenance issue which subsequently necessitates contractor charges £72 call out plus cost of works

APPOINTMENT
Failure to attend pre-arranged appointment with Martin & Co or their contractors £60

REPLACEMENT DOCUMENTS
Copy of AST £24
Copy of Inventoty £20

Replacement Standing Order form` £18

SUBSTITUTION TENANT (AT END OF A FIXED TERM) £175
plus referencing costs

EARLY TERMINATION £360
FEE IS THE COST OF THE STANDARD LET FEE CHARGED TO THE LANDLORD + RENT/UTILITIES UNTIL A NEW TENANT IS FOUND
- Please request early termination letter from Martin & Co

LANDLORD REFERENCE FOR NEW TENANCY £36

CHECK OUT FEE £48

OVERPAID RENT RE-IMBURSEMENT CHARGE £18

KEYS
Failure to return ALL keys/fobs and permits ON tenancy end date £30 per day
If keys not returned after 3 days of tenancy end date additional costs will apply for lock changes and replacement fobs/permits.
An administration charge of £50 will be applied.
If urgent access is necessary before the 3 day period - charges for lock change may be necessary

The main bugbear is when you email them and they don't reply back especially when you mark as important and a read receipt notification.

Never use Martin & Co as a letting agent here are quick ten reasons:
1. They Charge £290/ referencing application to potential tenants but actually it only costs them £10- £30
2. They Look you up and down in their high street branch like you've shot their dog, despite being dressed in a suit
3. Their properties are not clean before you move in
4. Their Inventory list is a lie and doesn't pick up any of the damages made by previous tenants.
5. They give you no information about where your electricity box is to top up your electric key
6. Washing machine ruined my clothes but they lied about it working, and now admitted to knowing about it before I moved in
7. They don't actually do anything as the landlord lives next door so their fee's are a waste of money
8. They didn't even know which property i wanted to view when I turned up.
9. their lettings viewing person (Stefan) didn't want to show me a property on a Saturday because his office was closing in 15 minutes and he didn't want to drive back to return the keys
10. THEY ARE AN OUT DATED IGNORANT ORGANISATION. THE ATTITUDE OF A STOCK BROKER AND THE WAGES OF A SHOP ASSISTANT.

They were very rude to us when renting the place, quite unhelpful. The contract had lots of issues and when I pointed them out, they said they can't change them. When I refused to sign it, they finally amended some parts of it. Our landlady was also mentioning they had a bad service from them.

When there was time for renewal, they called me 4 months before the end of the contract, when I mentioned I can't give decide now, they said they will call in two months. I talked to the landlady and agreed on new terms. A day or so later, even though the landlady had told them she will keep me, they called and arranged for a viewing. With lots of fuss the landlady managed to cancel it. We got another call a week later for another viewing. This place has no management and no communication. A week after that there was a sign in front of our house mentioning "to let". The landlady and I were furious.

At the checkout, even though we had cleaned like crazy, they gave us a checkout report mentioning that NOTHING was clean. I have never seen a checkout report while renting for almost 10 years. They made lots of fuss and turned the landlady against us. I gave up the fight when I was sick for couple of days from their constant phone and text messages. The charges us £100. I've never ever had a deposit deducted. They were unfair and sadly the system does not work for the tenants.

I say if it value your sanity and your life go with all the other agents that are nice and helpful.

We were coming to the end of our property and had allowed multiple viewings to allow them to show new tenants the property prior to our leaving. However this was taken advantage of as we arrived "home" to find their agent showing prospective tenants round our property. Martin & Co admitted that they did not have permission from us but claimed they acted within the law (trespass is a civil offence) Martin & Co is a franchise so we wrote to the Bedford branch (pointless) and the franchise owner - which was ignored. So currently starting a County Court Claim. For information the other companies in this group are Whitegates estate agents ›
CJ Hole estate agents ›
Ellis and Co estate agents ›
Parkers estate agents ›

Engage with them at your own risk!

DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE LET A PROPERTY FROM THIS AGENT! WHAT AN ABSOLUTE SHAMBLES OF A COMPANY, IT TAKES AN ABSOLUTE LIFETIME TO GET YOUR BOND BACK WHICH I STILL HAVENT HAD BACK YET AND I AM CONSTANTLY CHASING THEM FOR INFORMATION, INVOICES FOR THE CLEANING THAT APPARENTLY NEEDS DOING AND THEY CANNOT PROVIDE ME WITH THIS INFORMATION! I HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH ONE OF THE TWO INVOICES, ONE OF WHICH IS FOR SOMEONE TO SCREW IN 4 LIGHT BULBS AT £72.25. WHEN PROVIDED WITH AN INVOICE, IT IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS INVOICE I HAVE EVER SEEN WHICH I WILL BE POSTING ON HERE TOO! THE OTHER INVOICE, I HAVE CONTACTED THE COMPANY DIRECT AND HAVE STILL NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING!! EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE ON THE CHEAP AND USED SHOCKING COMPANIES TO CARRY OUT ANY WORK BUT STILL CHARGE YOU A LUMP SUM OUT OF YOUR BOND TO GET A LITTLE EXTRA FOR THEMSELVES! DISGUSTING SERVICE FROM MARTIN & CO IN LEICESTER!