James Laurence Estate Agents

DO NOT rent through James Laurence – especially at New Hampton Lofts. Our tenancy was plagued by undisclosed property defects, poor management, and an exhausting deposit dispute. The flat had serious issues from day one that were never disclosed: failed window seals and broken vents across large windows, making the apartment freezing (around 10°C in winter) and causing constant condensation and mould. James Laurence dismissed this entirely, advising us to keep windows open and heating on 24/7. Heating is electric and the building forces residents onto commercial electricity rates, resulting in £200+ monthly bills without using heating. Mould caused by condensation was never properly treated, only covered up, despite being repeatedly reported. Communal areas were also problematic. The “secure” car park and post room were repeatedly accessed by non-residents, resulting in car damage and widespread parcel theft. James Laurence consistently redirected responsibility to building management and offered no support. The deposit dispute was the final straw. We paid a £1,125 deposit and, despite leaving the flat clean (with overlapping tenancies and two deep cleans), James Laurence attempted to deduct £640 with no explanation initially. When challenged, they claimed: £270 for cleaning £200 for mould cleaning (despite us reporting it multiple times) £80 for broken bed drawers (also previously reported) £80 for mattress cleaning (we used a protector and topper) Several of these charges are prohibited under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. We disputed the claims, which went to DPS adjudication. After 4 months, the adjudicator dismissed most charges and awarded James Laurence only £243, proving how inflated and unjustified their claims were. Our property manager, Lindsay, was consistently unreachable and dismissive. Ironically, when contacting the landlord directly, he was responsive and helpful, contradicting James Laurence’s repeated excuses. The apartment looks great on paper, but the management is stressful, dismissive, and financially aggressive. Based on our experience, I strongly advise avoiding James Laurence.

Great experience with James Lawrence. Staff are friendly, helpful and professional and very knowledgeable. Karan, Tom and the team worked hard to get my property sale over the line working closely with myself, the buyer and solicitors and their hard work is much appreciated. Thank you.

Really impressed with the whole team throughout the recent sale of my property. Everyone involved was very friendly, understanding, and also very knowledgeable which helped massively in progressing the whole sale as efficiently and quickly as possible. I had multiple questions throughout and every time they explained patiently and always went the extra mile to help wherever they could.

I have been with James Laurence now for the past couple of years and I cannot recommend them enough. In particular Anita Chow has been incredible - her attention to detail and communication is exceptional. They have made letting my property as hassle free as it possibly can be. Thanks Anita and team!

Our experience with James Laurence was incredibly disappointing. The staff were consistently rude and condescending whenever we raised genuine concerns, and communication was poor throughout the tenancy. The main bathroom was completely out of action for over three months due to a broken toilet and shower. While one bedroom had an en suite that we could use instead, it was not a practical solution at all, especially for a shared flat. Leaving tenants without a main bathroom for that long is unacceptable and shows a complete lack of care. After moving out, they tried everything they could to make unfair deductions from our deposit. They falsely claimed the flat smelled of cigarettes, even though no one in the flat smokes, and even invented a boiler leak to take more money, despite the boiler being in perfect working order and there being no mention of any issue in the official checkout report. They initially tried to take almost £1,000 from our deposit, but after we appealed, the deposit protection service only awarded them £300, which says a lot about the validity of their claims. We’re more than willing to pay for any cleaning or replacements that are genuinely needed, but blatantly lying just to keep tenants’ money is dishonest and insulting. To make matters worse, it took them four months to return the deposit, dragging the process out unnecessarily. We personally don’t need the deposit money, but that’s not the point. This kind of behaviour is harmful, especially for renters who rely on their deposit to secure their next home. And judging by other reviews, we’re not alone, as many tenants have reported them lying on move-out reports to justify unfair charges. Unfair, unethical, and unprofessional. I strongly recommend avoiding James Laurence and renting elsewhere.