That they are only interested in money and not in providing any sort of service to tenants is evident from their website which doesn't even have a section for information for tenants.
They took over the agency of the flat I was renting midway through a tenancy and failed to provide any information at all, not even bank details to pay the rent to despite repeated requests. Having eventually got these details from them and paid my rent on time, I then got an overdue rent demand through the post on the day the rent was due! Utter incompetence!
Incidentally, this letter was one of a number of attempts they made to try and get me to make additional, unnecessary rent payments over the phone. I am very suspicious about what would have happened to these requested 'additional' payments had I ever made any.
They seem to have an incredibly high turnover of young staff in their offices who don't have a clue what they are doing.
At the end of my tenancy I thoroughly cleaned my flat and had a checkout inspection from a local agent on behalf of Goodchilds which revealed no problems.
Goodchilds then failed to return my bond in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Protection Scheme or respond to any e-mails about it.
I was therefore forced to open a dispute with the Deposit Protection Service, upon which Goodchilds attempted to retain £140 of my bond for 'cleaning charges'.
It was clear that Goodchilds were simply 'trying it on', first in attempting delaying tactics with the return of my bond to take me outside the time limit for raising a dispute, then by making a totally unjustified attempt to claim a huge sum for cleaning.
Of course, Goodchilds were unable to supply any evidence in support of their claim and the Deposit Protection Service found in my favour and I received the full amount of my bond back.
But what a bunch of shysters. I'm glad to now be out of the rental market but I feel sorry for the tenants at the mercy of people like Goodchilds.
Avoid if you can.
06-09-13
