Leeds Accommodation Bureau

I can see some of the reviews are mixed, so it really is different for each person here. However in my experience, we were fantastic tenants, and it was such a shame to see the landlord and agency ignore all emails (we have evidenced this and are currently seeking legal advice) and try charge us for odd things.

We reported numerous times that there was a leak in the floorboards from the bathroom. They resealed the bath even after we advised it was the bath panel (which was very clear as the wood was showing) - the agency/landlord now want us to pay for the light bulb? We evidenced this and have the emails they did not respond to.

The landlord has wallpapered over wallpaper. Extremely poor and cheap. Now trying to charge us for more wallpaper as an ever so slight gap revealing the old wallpaper has appeared. They arranged for contractors to fix a unit in the kitchen. The contractors then dumped their rubbish in the garden and again the agency/landlord have tried charging us for this (pics taken and mails sent again). The property was in a poor state when we moved in and this was advised (we did not complain, we just informed them)

The neighbours complained multiple times before we moved in about the roof - again this was not solved until raised multiple times by ourselves and a leak into a bedroom from the roof.

The agency is supposed to do final checks approx 48 hrs after. They waited 2 weeks and then claimed it needed cleaning because there was some dust.

The agency made themselves look unbelievably foolish by replying to an email we sent some time ago.... reading new emails and then responding to us saying "sorry this is for someone else" after realising they have not even responded to the majority of our mails.

The agency/landlord have further changed the costs, sent multiple emails with issues added on each time and fee's, over the course of the last 6-8 weeks. This is extremely poor practice and looks very poor from their perspective - they cannot even agree what it is they are trying to get out of us without changing their minds.

We were pretty cool tenants to be honest, we did not kick off, be rude or really complain. Its such a shame how they act, some people genuinely do care - however these are typical capitalists - only interested in further gain for themselves - we never complained at the fact they ignored the vast majority of our emails. We were happy to just move out and have our deposit back.

I found this firm fine when we were in the flat but really bad at communicating once we had left. Phone calls and emails are simply not returned. Things are forgotten. One of the receptionists will tell you people are out of the office, then change her mind and say she’ll see if they’re available so you know she’s lying. (The office is tiny. There’s only about 6 desks and they’re all in one room.)
They refused to tell us when we could expect our deposit back. We no longer live in Leeds and it caused a lot of unnecessary stress. It only ended up being a month’s wait to get the money back but the fact they wouldn’t tell us that or answer questions was very stressful. You feel so helpless as they know the cost of legal proceedings would probably eat your whole deposit.
Overall, unprofessional.

Visiting the office of Leeds Accommodation Bureau one afternoon on my lunch, I should have known that something was amiss. The only staff members around covering lunch were more interested in dealing with personal issues and arranging their social lives, to the point where after 10 minutes sitting around I was asked to leave for 15 minutes until they were able to deal with me. On my return I had another 10 minute wait without acknowledgement before I was, rather nicely, driven out to view a property.
Fast forward a few weeks later. I’d placed an offer on said property, but due to my long notice period, Leeds Accommodation Bureau were (understandably) unwilling to hold it for me. I withdrew my application, was promised my deposit back, and we parted ways.
Now, over 4 weeks since withdrawing, I’m still fighting what feels to be a pitched battle for my deposit. I have called multiple times each week since and been promised the money back. I have been to the offices and waited patiently, before being told to «we’re too busy; come back tomorrow». I have emailed my bank details for an electronic transfer no less than SIX times, and I am still waiting for my money.
It hasn’t been the smoothest relationship on either side, but the only time I’ve experienced good customer service with them is the 5 minutes I spent viewing a property. Personally, I wouldn’t use them again. Ever. Not for the nicest property at the best price in the world; I feel that once they have your money, there is no way they would offer you any semblance of good service or respect again.

We used these guys when flat hunting in 2008. They were quite friendly, probably in a «we’re keen to close this sale» sort of way if I’m honest but all questions were answered and we were shown a couple of properties with no problems.
Incidentally we chose another place from a different agency because we preferred the property, but these guys did their job well enough.
Not the best agency I’ve looked at but definitely not the worst, probably worth looking at if you’re searching for flats in Leeds city centre and surrounding areas.