Property Boutique

This Review relates to Property Boutique, 1 Royle Crescent, London, W13 0BH (as listed on an Ealing Council planning notice). I rented a studio flat via this company for just over 3 years from April 2018 to May 2021. I paid all rent payments on time and in full, I also repainted all the white gloss and white emulsion during my time there and replaced the broken window blinds with new curtains and pole when I vacated in May 2021. I notified the Letting Agent (Property Boutique) when I vacated the property by email and handed the keys to an estate agent, Go View, who are currently selling the property.

The day after I vacated on 14th May 2021, I returned on 15th May 2021 to thoroughly clean both the interior and garden area sending Property Boutique photos of the cleaned flat and garden before my tenancy ended on the 19th May 2021. I can’t recommend strongly enough anyone who has to deal with this agent to send them this proof of cleaning by you or a professional.

I found on the Gov.uk website I had to apply to the landlord for the return of my deposit (once my tenancy ended and had vacated the property) and also within 3 months of the end of the tenancy. This I did by email on 2nd June 2021 expecting return of my deposit by 12 June 2021 as per the Housing Act 2004.

I received neither the returned deposit or any form of communication from Property Boutique on behalf of my landlord by the 12th June 2021 so I emailed Property Boutique on the 14th June 2021 demanding the return of my full deposit by the 17th June 2021 as I had more than fully complied with my obligations from the rent agreement.

Through the advice on the Citizens Advice Bureau website I had researched the company where my deposit had been registered, this should be with one of 3 companies;

Deposit Protection Service, My Deposits or Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Mine was with MyDeposits.co.uk. (not the one quoted in my rent agreement by the way) and informed Property Boutique that if I did not receive the full deposit by the end of the 17th June 2021 I would initiate a formal dispute through their free ADR service.
This would mean my landlord would have to pay the full value of the deposit for MyDeposts.co.uk to hold. It took two further exchanges of emails on the 15th and 16th June 2021 before I was relieved to find the full deposit was in my bank account when I checked on the 17th June 2021.

I am both disappointed and insulted by Property Boutique for keeping me waiting for the return of my deposit and feel I would still be waiting if I had not sent proof of the cleaning I did, done my research, and initiated the threat of the formal ADR dispute procedure available from My Deposits.co.uk. I really could understand it if I had been a problem tenant but I was not!!!

I would advise any future tenants to be keep photographic evidence of the flat when vacating it and to be area of this disputes procedure for any landlord of agent that may try to make it difficult for you on the return of your deposit.

Alternatively don’t rent from Property Boutique, I won’t again!

I couldn't agree more with the other reviewer. Definitely shady and untrustworthy. Even after I got the property professionally cleaned, I had to wait over a month before getting any deposit back and then had a ridiculous amount deducted for supposed "extra" cleaning work they undertook, for which they couldn't provide a receipt to show they genuinely had it done. Then they wanted to haggle about the amount and I ended up have to fight every step of the way to see any of my deposit. I definitely got the sense all they wanted to do was wear me down until I would just 'go away', which I've now done having managed to scrape back two thirds of my deposit from them (and still no proof that that 'extra' work was even done). My sense is they just wanted to fleece me one last time. If you do decide to rent from them, remember to quote the Housing Act of 2004, which I believe makes them liable to put your deposit in a protected account and requires them to pay you back within 10 working days of your having moved out. They never bothered to mention that to me and would have saved me a lot of time and money. Or better yet, just avoid them.

***Unscrupulous, shady, mafia-like structure***

I rented a refurbished studio at the top end of the price range for Ealing. Any interaction with them gave the impression of hiding something. Then weeks of construction work started with no notice and no consideration for the tenants.

We have been experiencing excessive noise from demolition and construction work for over 3 weeks. Dust and construction debris have become habitual. There were a number of water cut-offs, announced and unannounced. Noisy construction continued during the weekends without consideration for the tenants. We were not given notice for the start of this major construction work. After complaining to the letting agency - UK Property Boutique, there was no sign of acommodating action.

These people have no idea what is the meaning of "right of quiet enjoyment" or a "suitable living environment".

So, if you want to pay top money in return for abusive disregard, UK Property Boutique is the right place.

Do not go tho them! In short, terrible service, with shady activities.

We lived in our flat for more than 6 months and on a few occasions they asked us to either leave the flat or be quite when they had someone coming and doing some inspections.

They did not give us any notice when they started heavy demolition on an early morning. When we mentioned to them, the agnet simply said they are not legally required to give notice!

For the past few weeks we could not sleep in the morning (even on weekends) due to the workers noise down starirs. They cut the water off several times without notice and as we were getting ready to go to work. The amount of dust and dirt that gets into our flat from under the door is unbelievable. We were sneezzing and coughing all the time.

We reported this to the agent professionally and politely and asked them to talk to the landlord. They came up with various excuses and that they can't do anything.

We think they are coverying up something like breaches of building codes or some other regulations.

Over all very irresponsible, unprofessional, and shady.

Avoid this letting agency and save youself lot of time, energy, and money.