Over the years Castle Homes has developed a reputation for offering Quality Properties to Quality Tenants whilst providing a Quality Service to both Landlords and Tenants at competitive prices. Castle Homes are currently one of the few remaining independent residential letting agents in Derby who specialise entirely in residential lettings and property management.
Reviews (5)
Kane Lambert
Nov 30, 2017
2* in 2013: In my experience the staff are rude, bitchy and incompetent. Any issues you have are promptly ignored even if it's their fault you end up paying the price. Do yourself a favor and pay that bit more for a decent lettings agency 4* in 2016: Staff have changed and it's being ran a lot better. Has now changed name/been overtaken and is now trading under Phoenix Lettings. 1* in 2017/start of 2018: Beware, staff may not consider being locked out with a fire risk in the property enough of an emergency to drop a meeting.
The only staff member working in this instance was 40 mins late for work after repeated calls to the office (meant to be open 9am-5pm) and then told me to wait over half an hour extra due to a meeting with a new client. Luckily the lady saw sense eventually and managed to get to me, awful service nonetheless as I shouldn't have to argue for five minutes over the phone as to why a fire risk in the flat is more important than a new client meeting.
The only staff member working in this instance was 40 mins late for work after repeated calls to the office (meant to be open 9am-5pm) and then told me to wait over half an hour extra due to a meeting with a new client. Luckily the lady saw sense eventually and managed to get to me, awful service nonetheless as I shouldn't have to argue for five minutes over the phone as to why a fire risk in the flat is more important than a new client meeting.
Stacey Langford
Jun 10, 2013
I have rented from Castle Homes twice, after been made to believe that my previous Landlord was the reason as to why nothing was done that needed to be, and that Castle Homes had done nothing wrong. I therefore gave Castle Homes a second chance, and I have most defiantly regretted it ever since. My first property was a studio flat, and whilst signing the papers and handing over the money Castle Homes seem helpful and the perfect letting agents to deal with, but once they have got your money and you tied into a contract they become the most ignorant, unhelpful and unprofessional people you will ever meet.
They ignore every issue you have, and assure you they have noted it down and will contact the appropriate people, but they do not. It is all talk and is never followed through. In my first property I had a front door with a dodgy lock, and it took them almost a month to even contact my Landlord and let him know. I called at least twice a week about it and just got the usual excuse of "we have left it with your Landlord." The same with a second issue I had, my extractor fan did not work in my bathroom, and because it wasn't dealt with promptly I ended up living with damp and mushrooms growing because the bathroom couldnt not dry out without an extractor fan.
I ended up having to report it to the local council and threaten Castle Homes in order to push them to do anything, yet it still took them four months to sort it. Even emergancies do not get dealt with quickly, they just want your money. If your rent doesn't get paid in time they will chase you for it, but if you need them to do anything then its another story.
Currently I am renting from them and I am doing all I can to find somewhere else to move, and most defiantly with a different letting agent. I am currently living with no heating and damp because they cannot be bothered to sort out somebody to fix it. Even making a phonecall to the Landlord or somebody to repair the things is too hard for them. They also give other professionals permission to enter your property without giving you any notice, not even the 24hours notice that is mentioned in your legally binding contract!
At one point I had to call the police because I got up one morning to find three men claiming to be BT (without uniform) helping themself to my internet box to split my internet with the new tenants next door. I called Castle Homes and they told me that they had given BT permission, but I knew nothing about this. Therefore they also do not keep to what is mentioned in your contract with them, and they let anybody into your home.
Do yourself a huge favour and pay the extra money to go with somebody who has staff who are trained in customer service, have a professional manner and want to help you. Castle Homes is the worst decision I ever made, I just wish I had learnt the first time round.
They ignore every issue you have, and assure you they have noted it down and will contact the appropriate people, but they do not. It is all talk and is never followed through. In my first property I had a front door with a dodgy lock, and it took them almost a month to even contact my Landlord and let him know. I called at least twice a week about it and just got the usual excuse of "we have left it with your Landlord." The same with a second issue I had, my extractor fan did not work in my bathroom, and because it wasn't dealt with promptly I ended up living with damp and mushrooms growing because the bathroom couldnt not dry out without an extractor fan.
I ended up having to report it to the local council and threaten Castle Homes in order to push them to do anything, yet it still took them four months to sort it. Even emergancies do not get dealt with quickly, they just want your money. If your rent doesn't get paid in time they will chase you for it, but if you need them to do anything then its another story.
Currently I am renting from them and I am doing all I can to find somewhere else to move, and most defiantly with a different letting agent. I am currently living with no heating and damp because they cannot be bothered to sort out somebody to fix it. Even making a phonecall to the Landlord or somebody to repair the things is too hard for them. They also give other professionals permission to enter your property without giving you any notice, not even the 24hours notice that is mentioned in your legally binding contract!
At one point I had to call the police because I got up one morning to find three men claiming to be BT (without uniform) helping themself to my internet box to split my internet with the new tenants next door. I called Castle Homes and they told me that they had given BT permission, but I knew nothing about this. Therefore they also do not keep to what is mentioned in your contract with them, and they let anybody into your home.
Do yourself a huge favour and pay the extra money to go with somebody who has staff who are trained in customer service, have a professional manner and want to help you. Castle Homes is the worst decision I ever made, I just wish I had learnt the first time round.
Andy Notisce
Feb 07, 2013
AVOID AT ALL COSTS -Never Ever Ever use I rented a property from Castle Homes for a period of 18 months and rent was paid on time each month without fuss. As soon as we needed Castle Homes to carry out any of their obligations it became a different story. It took around one month for someone to come in and replace the shower and a similar time-frame for all other tasks such as replacing extractor fans and filling holes.
When tasks were chased emails miraculously "went missing" and no apologies were forthcoming. Although this was one of the worst we had experienced most of the staff were friendly and at least trained to act helpful over the phone. When it came to moving the house was cleared and cleaned from top to bottom and once I had requested the deposits to be released Castle Homes came back to us with a check-list of points which needed carrying out before the deposit would be repaid.
This included Dusting Radiators, Dusting Skirting Boards, Clean all carpets throughout (not just hoover) and launder curtains (which were in the same state as we received the property). On top of this when asking Andy Varney (Branch Manager) for a quote about how much this would cost his workmen to do, he stated it would cost us 50 to get a quote!
The manner and tone of his emails were extremely rude and unprofessional, also veiled threats were made when I asked about the company complaints procedure. I am currently working with the DPS to ensure Castle Homes aren't able to unfairly reclaim any of my deposit, but anyone thinking if using them in the meantime my simple advice will be "DON'T". There are a lot of bad Property Management companies out there but Castle Homes are by far the worst that my friends, family or I have experienced. AVOID! AVOID! AVOID!
When tasks were chased emails miraculously "went missing" and no apologies were forthcoming. Although this was one of the worst we had experienced most of the staff were friendly and at least trained to act helpful over the phone. When it came to moving the house was cleared and cleaned from top to bottom and once I had requested the deposits to be released Castle Homes came back to us with a check-list of points which needed carrying out before the deposit would be repaid.
This included Dusting Radiators, Dusting Skirting Boards, Clean all carpets throughout (not just hoover) and launder curtains (which were in the same state as we received the property). On top of this when asking Andy Varney (Branch Manager) for a quote about how much this would cost his workmen to do, he stated it would cost us 50 to get a quote!
The manner and tone of his emails were extremely rude and unprofessional, also veiled threats were made when I asked about the company complaints procedure. I am currently working with the DPS to ensure Castle Homes aren't able to unfairly reclaim any of my deposit, but anyone thinking if using them in the meantime my simple advice will be "DON'T". There are a lot of bad Property Management companies out there but Castle Homes are by far the worst that my friends, family or I have experienced. AVOID! AVOID! AVOID!
Miss No Deposit
May 24, 2010
David Roach
Jan 12, 2010
As a tennant all of my rent was paid on time and the house will in 2 weeks be left exactly how i found it. However we have received letters of complaint and threatened us with legal action over something as pety as the house not being up to show room conditions. i am not sure how they expect people to live, but i would advise people not to use them
