James Laurence Estate Agents

Fantastic experience: Great company dealt with Harpreet Kaur she was very helpful showed my properties which met my specifications very prompt with emails and arranging viewings

Negative experience: 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.

Negative experience: Reply for this one. Seeing your response has made me even more certain that you didn’t properly read my entire message. My main point isn’t about how much money it is; it’s that you have a responsibility to tell the landlord which damage was caused by us and which was already there. What I’m experiencing is that you’re not providing tenants with any protection. When problems arise, you simply shift all responsibility onto the landlord. Didn’t you take photos? Surely, at the end of the tenancy, you could compare everything carefully and tell the landlord what damage we are responsible for. If you had done that, there wouldn’t be an issue with landlords making up unreasonable charges in the first place.

Fantastic experience: 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.

Fantastic experience: A big thank you to Karan, Sam and Henry, for their support and kindness in the journey in selling my apartment, they have gone above and beyond, I am so grateful. Kind regards. Molly

Positive experience: From start to finish, Sana coordinates with me very well in finding a tenant. Every step of the process was explained with great clarity. What I appreciated most was the adaptive mindset — no matter the situation, she flexible and proactive to find solutions. Genuinely pleasant to work with.

Fantastic experience: 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.

Negative experience: I rented a property from this agent for six months, and my experience with this letting agency has been nothing short of a nightmare. Upon moving out, they attempted to deduct an extortionate sum of £1,246 from my deposit. Ultimately, after adjudication, I was only required to pay £175. This entire ordeal spanned five months, from February to July. I will now outline the issues one by one. Firstly, I was asked to pay for leaving stains on the sofa in the property: When we moved in, we immediately noticed large tea stains and other marks on the sofa, a photo was then taken to record these stains as evidence. I can say with certainty that the agent was aware of this, as it was clearly stated in the check-in report. Despite this, they tried to charge us £100 for sofa cleaning, which was entirely unreasonable. (After adjudication, we were required to pay notthing for this issue.) Secondly, kitchen ceiling light not working: At the time of our move-in, there was no record of a functioning ceiling light in the kitchen. Therefore, no repair charges should have been levied against us upon move-out. Nevertheless, we were asked to pay £130 for repairs when we left. (This was later overturned in adjudication and we were not liable for any of these costs.) Thirdly, the internet cabling: The building’s internet was outdated, so we had to arrange for the building’s network provider to install an external line to connect the router inside the flat. When we moved out, the letting agent demanded £800 for the removal of this cable. We reasonably requested an official invoice for any removal works. Otherwise, we had every reason to suspect that the cable and router were simply left for the next tenant to use—in which case, there would be no need for removal at all. (In the end, after adjudication, we were not required to pay the £800 removal fee, only a reasonable two-hour labour charge totalling £70.) Fourthly, cleaning fees: I was charged £210 for cleaning, including carpet stains, flooring stains, uncleaned toilets, stains beneath the sink, and dust. With the exception of dust and the stains beneath the sink, all other issues were already present when we moved in, as evidenced by our photos. As for the dust and stains beneath the sink, we unfortunately failed to clean these in time, resulting in a deduction from our deposit. (The adjudicator acknowledged that, while some areas had indeed not been cleaned, most of the issues predated our tenancy. Therefore, we were only required to pay half the cleaning fee—£105.) Finally, access cards: At the start of our tenancy, there were two of us, but we were only given one entrance key card, which caused us some inconvenience. At the time, we did not think much of it. However, upon move-out, the agent insisted that we had failed to return all key cards. It was only after we provided video evidence, they dropped their demand for compensation. I dread to think what might have happened if we hadn’t had that video. In conclusion: We were initially asked to forfeit £1,240 of our deposit, but after our formal dispute through DPS, we had to pay only £175. This clearly shows that the agent grossly exaggerated costs and attempted to charge us for things for which we should not have been liable. Please do not claim that these deductions were the landlord’s request—it is your responsibility as an agent to inform the landlord about pre-existing conditions. It was evident that many of the damages were already present at the time of our check-in. Anyone with questions is welcome to contact me. I would also like to advise all tenants to always challenge excessive deposit deductions, ideally through a scheme like DPS. To all prospective tenants: my experience with this agent was dreadful, so please consider carefully before signing any agreement with it.

Fantastic experience: 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!

Negative experience: I’ve had the worst experience since I moved to Birmingham. First, they told me by email that I needed two guarantors because they thought I wasn’t a full‑time employee. That’s fine—I came to England on a contract and a skilled visa. However, my salary and contract should be enough for the rent. I tried to explain the misunderstanding, but they ignored me (I sent the sponsorship details and they didn’t even know the difference between sponsorship and contract; I had to send them the gov-uk page for them to read). Then my company wrote a letter to help explain, and I also sent my contract so they could see, but they kept making comments about my work and disqualifying me. It’s really disrespectful. For a moment I considered staying because the apartment is in the same location as my work, but I decided to choose another apartment to avoid further problems and be treated this way. I’m happy because I found an agency that treats me really well and selected an apartment for £1,300 (whereas the one with James Laurence is £1,100) and doesn’t require a guarantor. Up to now, james laurence request for two guarantors despite my job/contract and salary makes no sense.

Negative experience: 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.

Fantastic experience: Had an issue with main electricity switch. Natasha was so helpful and kind too. She helped me sort out the issue for now. She was very professional and very calm. Definitely she needs a raise

Negative experience: It took 17 weeks to get our deposit back … We lived in a property managed by this agency for many years. During that time we did not have many issues and whenever something came up the landlord dealt with it directly rather than through the agency. We expected the moving out process to be straightforward but it was not. The agency falsely claimed there was no initial inventory and tried to deduct a significant amount from our deposit for “damage” and an end of tenancy cleaning fee. The so-called damage was already noted in the original inventory and even their own check-out report said the property was left in a good standard of cleaning. At first we thought it was just a mistake and that it would be resolved once we sent them the initial inventory, the date it was sent to us and the name of the employee that sent it to us. Instead, this turned into months of delays. They would take weeks to reply to emails or DPS requests and kept pushing for deductions despite the clear evidence of those issues already being present. We eventually got part of our deposit back after a few months and only now that the DPS has rejected their final claim we are finally due to receive the full amount. I expect the agency will say they were simply acting on the landlord’s instructions but I have my doubts and their behaviour suggested otherwise. The whole process felt like they were deliberately dragging things out in the hope we would give up and accept a partial deduction just to get the rest of our money sooner. We ended up winning the dispute as clearly we left the property clean an in a similar condition than at the start of the tenancy. You cannot always choose which agency manages your property but if you deal with this one keep every single document and piece of correspondence. Without our detailed records we could easily have lost a large part of our deposit because they claimed there was no initial inventory and tried to blame us for issues that were present at the start of the tenancy.

Negative experience: I stayed at a property for two years with my wife in Moreton House apartment 208 in Birmingham B1 3BE, my personal experience with James Laurence has been incredibly frustrating where that have caused me issues from them not fixing a ceiling leak I reported in my last month of tenancy, having a non working fridge when I moved in, numerous issues with Centrick and Birmingham City Council they did not care about and then sending me emails addressed to someone I have never met and committing a GDPR breach and writing I’ll knock upon entry which is not correct how you should enter a property regarding a viewing they used an independent check out report and stated I had pets and damaged fixtures and fittings from when it was built with nothing to acknowledge what I had give them proof and evidence of showing the state and condition of everything when I moved in and I never had pets which if I did I should have been evicted as I would have been in breach of my tenancy. I can see Henry you reply to all reviews but I am not bothered what you have to say I am merely voicing my opinion on how you treat good normal people who cause no issues and pay on time etc and make it difficult to deal with yourselves I am glad I no longer give you guys money and feel that other people should see and know how you treat people I rented it at £925 then after I got a new landlord wanted £990? With nothing new old outdated worn everything and then settled at 950 as I felt I had no choice and now it has been let for £925 This clerk has been able to say whatever they wanted which then James Laurence have copied and pasted the exact same text to try claim my money in relation to my deposit...Neither have they acknowledged fair wear and tear or the shelf life of all the items fixtures and fittings which by own government guidance should be replaced etc which was clearly not done... Reply to response Your reply makes no sense and obviously the way you have treated me I am going to speak to you how I want seeing as you don’t want to listen to anything I have said or look at what I gave and my google review clearly shows the fridge issue of it being broken and logged on the PropertyFile app in June 2023?! I was a tenant for two years and the leak in the flat affected my flat internally and you have ignored my other points but whatever, again awful reply from an awful agents and someone who does not know how to read properly. An update on my DPS dispute James Laurence wanted £1020 from my £1067 deposit which I challenged and they were awarded £445.5and I got back £621.8 the most they got back in their claim was broken freezer drawers again which shows you should stand up to the these guys to get your money back and you will win and got 71% back of my deposit which if I never challenged it they would have taken it all!

Negative experience: ★☆☆☆☆ Our experience with James Laurence Lettings ended with a formal dispute over our £1,730 deposit, which I'm glad to say we won in full. I'm writing this detailed review as a warning about the unprofessional and frankly terrible practices we encountered at the end of our tenancy. While the tenancy itself was mostly uneventful, the move-out process was a nightmare. We left the property in a good, domestically clean state, expecting a smooth return of our deposit. Instead, we were presented with a shocking list of 14 separate deductions totaling £2,441.64. This was a clear attempt not only to keep our entire deposit but to charge us an additional £700 on top. The nature of their claims was what revealed their approach. They were a mix of the unreasonable, the unlawful, and the illogical: * Charging for their own neglect: They had the audacity to charge us hundreds of pounds for mould on a window and a blind. This was a direct result of a systemic damp issue in the property they had been aware of but had failed to properly address. They also tried to charge us for cleaning carpet stains that we had photographic evidence were present before our tenancy even began. * Illegal fees and "betterment": A large portion of their claim was for "professional cleaning" of multiple mattresses and the property itself, which is a prohibited fee under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Furthermore, they tried to charge us an absurd £150 for a single toilet seat, a textbook example of "betterment" where they attempt to make the tenant pay for a brand-new upgrade to an old fixture. * Misrepresenting fair wear and tear: We were also billed for classic examples of normal use over time, such as a loose front door handle and a worn wardrobe hinge. These are routine maintenance issues that are the landlord's responsibility, not tenant damage. Faced with this, we had no choice but to raise a formal dispute with the Deposit Protection Service (DPS). The final decision from the independent adjudicator was a complete rejection of the agent's case. They were awarded £0. The reason was simple and damning: James Laurence had failed to conduct their business properly. They couldn't even provide a valid check-in report for the start of our tenancy. Without this most basic piece of evidence, they had no proof of the property's initial condition, and their entire case collapsed. This experience demonstrates a fundamental lack of competence and a business model that seems to rely on making baseless claims, hoping tenants will be too intimidated to fight back. Thankfully the system works, but I would advise tenants to avoid the considerable stress and steer clear of this agency.

Fantastic experience: A highly professional real estate company. Charlotte responded promptly, was very friendly, and helped us resolve our issues quickly. Additionally, Sonia led us on a timely property viewing and provided professional explanations. Without their assistance, we would not have been able to secure the room we wanted. We are extremely grateful to them.

Fantastic experience: Henry Crane is one of the most diligent professional operators I have encountered in this space. Efficient and professional service delivered exactly what I needed. Highly recommend him and the company. I am already using them again! Thank you Henry

Fantastic experience: Tremendous team! After some initial scheduling difficulty, we were able to get a viewing booked quickly and within a few days. Karan gave a brilliant showing around the property and was very accommodating in helping arrange follow-up viewings. Tom helped arrange our house valuation and get the property listed quickly, and we were lucky to receive an asking price offer within two weeks of listing

Negative experience: I don't know if it's the agency or owner, but one my friend is facing worst days just because he rent a house with this agency. First they didn't arrange the viewing and as he was in hurry he rent it. The house was in the worst condition, carpets were all stained they send the unprofessional cleaner who just wasted 2 days, wash basin broken, doors locks missing, switch boards broken, kitchen dirty, past owners bills due of 770 so he is unable to setup light bills, electric hob promised and asked for choosing from store and the sent old hob from somewere, no cold water in house everywhere just hot water tap is working, parking were promised but left on him at the end to do it yourself. Please be aware of such scams. Better to go with other agency then James laurence...

Negative experience: Today my deposit protection dispute with James Laurence estate agents was resolved entirely in my favour. £180 for cleaning - rejected by adjudicator £200 for kitchen tile replacement - rejected £150 for an antique toilet - rejected £130 for shower grout - rejected £150 for window replacement - rejected £100 for lights - rejected £100 to redecorate ensuite - rejected £100 for carpets - rejected £50 for sink grout - rejected £40 for freezer drawer - rejected £15 for nonexistent key - rejected This was what we faced after our no fault eviction. After no action for 18 months to fix a faulty heating system, 6 months without a repair to a dishwasher and other disrepair swept under the carpet by the letting agent or fobbed off. A real litany of trumped up claims on the deposit, in my opinion meant to punish us for asking them politely to fulfil their contract towards us as tenants. I hope renters will see this and understand that James Laurence agents obviously don't believe in doing business in a nice way, at least for tenants. Other reviews from tenants show a clear pattern in their behaviour, taking the opportunity to rinse tenants' deposits on the way out. If you would like help disputing James Laurence's claims on your deposit, please reach out to me and I would be happy to share more information.

Fantastic experience: Just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone at James Lawrence Agency for helping me move into the apartment this week. I’m completely exhausted, but we made it happen! Special thanks to Lindsay for your help, to Jade – you’ve been amazing and I'm so grateful – and also to Charlotte. I really hope you won’t have to hear from me again (at least not for a while!), but if you do, I hope it’s for lovely reasons! And I’m sorry if I was at all difficult to deal with – I truly appreciate everything you’ve done. Thank you so, so much again, Katie xx

Fantastic experience: We’ve worked with James Laurence over the past eight years; buying our apartment in the Jewellery Quarter, renting it out, and eventually selling it, and throughout every stage, their service has been exceptional. The team has always been friendly, responsive, and genuinely helpful. It’s rare to find such consistency over so many years, and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for expert property services in Birmingham.

Fantastic experience: James Lawrence are a good estate agents, they have their own maintenance team which are quick to respond and Lindsay managed our property well. Would recommend

Negative experience: This is hands down the worst letting experience I’ve ever had. They lure you in with politeness and fake professionalism when up until you’re signing the contract but once you’ve moved in, their attitude changes completely. They become slow, dismissive, and take no responsibility for issues in the property. When I moved in, there was no hot water. I reported it straight away. I kept at it for a week back and forth with them not responding to my emails for days my family didn’t even have the privilege to shower with hot water despite paying the rent and they weren’t even bothered even after repeated phone calls everyday. Disgusting! and only after I had to threaten them with Section 11 of the Health and Safety Act did they take action, suddenly sending someone out that same day. So clearly, they could’ve acted sooner, but chose not to. It wasn’t just this hot water problem there was so much more! Then came the end of the tenancy. Despite returning the flat in very good condition, they tried to deduct £450 from my deposit for completely unreasonable things. I challenged it through the deposit protection scheme and they were forced to reduce it to £80, which says everything about how inflated and unjustified their original claim was. Their staff are rude, evasive, and frankly, unprofessional. What’s worse is they rely on tenants not knowing their rights or being too exhausted to fight back for their deposit or anything else. I knew I had to stand my ground. Please read this and take it seriously. I wouldn’t wish this kind of stress and mistreatment on anyone. If you’re thinking of renting through them, Don’t please don’t!! Read the other 1 star reviews and you’ll understand. I’m posting this off a spam account as well so I don’t have to watch them reply to this with one of their usual responses to try and defend themselves they like to blame and don’t take accountability just look at the repeating pattern in the replies to reviews. Do yourself a favor and stay away!

Fantastic experience: These guys were fully on the ball throughout my whole conveyancing process. Henry was a great help and guided me through everything as a first time buyer. Highly recommended, I would use them again in the future if/when I sell my flat.

Fantastic experience: James Laurence are hands down the best estate agents in the JQ and wider city centre. They successfully marketed and sold my JQ flat that is housed in a particularly challenging block. They persisted with marketing and cross selling, whilst keeping me informed at every juncture. I had two failed sales through no fault of JL, however, they did not let it demotivate them or marginalise the flat. They understood my expectations and soldiered on until they found a lovely buyer that aligned with my requirements. Once a sale was agreed Henry and his team remained fully engaged and proactive with the lawyers to get the deal closed. The professional attitude and work ethic of every member of the JL team blew me away. I was fortunate enough to be able to compare JL with another JQ based agent that I appointed to jointly market my flat. The service and level of dedication received was worlds apart to that of Henry and his team. The regular update calls were appreciated and gave me an opportunity to reflect on marketing information and ask questions. Upon completion I received a follow up call from Tom to congratulate me. If you are looking for a tenacious, organiser and motivated bunch, look no further!!! My flat was on the market for over a year, other JQ based agents were either not interested or couldn’t produce the goods whilst promising the world. Well done JL! A incredible team and a breath of fresh air !!!

Fantastic experience: Lucas Rogers was by far the best agent I have come across. He was so personable, helpful & efficient. He went above & beyond for me & I am so grateful. Incredibly helpful & proactive!

Fantastic experience: We are chuffed to say that James Laurence Estate Agents just sold our property and helped us rent a fab place in the Jewellery Quarter. They are most definitely the best agents around and we throughly recommend them to you. Tom and Henry sold our property and when the going got tough they got tougher. Henry was even complimented by our solicitor to say his help in the sale was invaluable. Henry navigated every hurdle both professionally and positively. Both he and Tom are a pleasure to work with. Jade and Charlotte dealt with the rental and Jade worked so hard to ensure the rental coincided with the sale. James Laurence are head and shoulders above other agents. They always answer the phone pleasantly and nothing is too much trouble. It’s stressful selling and renting property but this team has it under control and their great approach alleviates the stress, keeps you confident and moving forward. Well done all of you at James Laurence and thank you for your excellent service.

Fantastic experience: Our experience renting an apartment with JL was excellent. Charlotte and Jade were always available to provide information and promptly resolve any issues. Hope to have the saem sort of good experience in the days to come.

Fantastic experience: James Laurence were the Agents for the apartment that we recently completed on. As first time buyers I cannot recommend them highly enough. Sam showed huge commitment throughout a difficult process and really made the sale happen for both us and the seller. We were let down by other Estate Agents and we're so glad we had the chance to deal with JL. If we were looking to sell in the future, I know who my first call would be to.

Fantastic experience: I hope you're doing well. I just wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for providing this flat on rent. I truly appreciate the space and all the arrangements made for a smooth move-in process. The flat is lovely, and I am looking forward to settling in. Thanks again for everything! Akbar Khan

Fantastic experience: Thank you to the Property Management Team. Great service, they always go above and beyond. Really helpful and knowledgeable when it comes to knowing the best possible route for tenants and issues that arise . It can be stressful being a landlord and they are always on hand to guide. Wouldn’t use anyone else.

Negative experience: I am extremely disappointed with the service I have received from Lindsey, my estate manager at James Laurence Estates. I have been trying to get in contact with her for weeks regarding my deposit and the process of removing me from the tenancy agreement while adding someone else. I spoke to Lindsey once, two weeks before I was due to move out, and she assured me she would keep me updated. However, since then, I have heard nothing from her. I have called over six times, only to be told that she is either on lunch, not in the office, or will call me back, which never happens. Each time, I specifically ask if she will call back the same day, but she never does. I have since moved out of the property, yet my name remains on the lease, and I still have the keys. I have received no communication about my deposit, which is very concerning, especially since someone else may have moved into the property. This situation could potentially jeopardize my deposit. This lack of communication and professionalism is completely unacceptable. I need a response as soon as possible, or I will be forced to escalate this matter further.

Fantastic experience: Thank you to Dani and Jade for an excellent service letting our flat in a week when it had been sat unlet with another agent for weeks. Having secured the let, the follow through with all the paperwork was seamless. Definitely recommend.

Fantastic experience: I have recently bought a flat from James Lawrence and both Sam and Henry have been amazing with the process. They were alway there on the phone and made the process enjoyable. They also recommend a really good solicitor and I would highly recommend them. Thank you so much for everything.

Negative experience: I rarely leave reviews, but I know how important they are for both businesses and those looking for honest feedback. After dealing with James Laurence Estate Agents, I feel compelled to share my experience unfortunately. This has, without question, been the most frustrating renting experience I’ve had in over 10 years of living in various properties in different countries. It took more than three months after moving out to finally receive my deposit—without a single update from James Laurence. Despite following up after moving out, they never responded and nearly a month after receiving an email from FPS when they attempted to claim nearly half of it for completely unjustified reasons. These included over £120 for a "toilet seat" which was in perfect working condition and more than £150 for a worn-out chest of drawers that were already falling apart the day we moved in. Fortunately, I wasn’t reliant on the deposit immediately, but it’s concerning to think how this could impact someone who is. Communication throughout the tenancy was consistently poor. While they responded quickly when the washing machine broke, this was the exception rather than the norm. We had to chase them after a delayed half-yearly inspection just to raise important issues which if we hadn't followed wonders would it have ever been done — one of which was mould in the property, which they never properly addressed. After reading other reviews, it’s clear my experience isn’t unique. Many others have reported terrible communication, unprofessionalism, and slow deposit returns. In over a decade of renting, this has been by far the worst experience. Avoid James Laurence at all costs—unless you enjoy fighting for your own money and being ignored when issues arise. Slán

Fantastic experience: Can highly recommend James Laurence to any landlords interested in letting their property. Charlotte, Dani and Jade made the experience hassle-free, prompt and smooth - while also providing great advice. Give them a call or email! Thankyou team at City Branch :)

Fantastic experience: I am very grateful to James Laurence for helping me to find my beautiful new home. They made the whole process so easy and stress-free. All the team have been fantastic. I would highly recommend them, especially to anyone with additional support needs.

Negative experience: I rented an apartment through this agency, and the experience was extremely disappointing. They repeatedly gave us incorrect information and charged us a significant amount for damages that were already there when we moved in. They initially told us the council tax band was A, but after we moved in, they said it was D. To make matters worse, when we moved out, the council informed us it was E from the start, leaving us with additional charges. I also had to sleep on a broken bed for nearly two months despite raising complaints multiple times, but nothing was ever resolved. The service was terrible, and the lack of communication was frustrating. For the money you pay this agency, the service is unacceptable. I would not recommend them to anyone.

Negative experience: I must say, I found this group to be utterly unprofessional and deeply disappointing. They would not merit even a single star after a series of broken commitments. Jade and Tilly consistently misled us, keeping us in the dark, despite having provided a move-in date nearly a month in advance. They failed to honour their promises on several occasions, derailing our carefully laid plans at the last minute. On the very day we were supposed to collect the keys, they raised unforeseen security concerns, leaving us stranded for the third time. Ultimately, we had no choice but to withdraw our application. Regardless of their reasons, I strongly urge anyone to think long and hard before engaging with them—they simply do not keep their word. I wish I could have include clouse in the contract regarding compansation to claim our loses.

Negative experience: FLAT 1, 100 WARSTONE LANE, B18 6DZ. Very bad handling on MOULD issues. One of the window frame in our property, in the bedroom, is very poorly installed and they are trying to blame our “lifestyle issues”. None of the other windows have issues, or rooms with temperature or condensation. We should have known before we moved as the property was freshly painted and air-con was in the bedroom. We didn’t think it would be this bad. This has travelled to our furniture and has made us ill nonstop over 3 months, with a newborn in the room. The agency..? No response, or when they do respond, there’s no further actions and repairs. The heating to repair the condensation and airflow is rated very poorly, yet this would be “the solution”. Very disappointed with the service of this agency and the landlord . I hope future tenants of the property FLAT 1, 100 WARSTONE LANE, B186DZ see this before they rent it out.

Fantastic experience: I have dealt with many estate agents across Birmingham in the 10 years I’ve been in the city and my experiences have always been really bad, both from a rental and purchase perspective. However, I found my experience with James Laurence to be very different. When I was selling my property I reached out to JL as I was struggling to sell with another estate agent, the market was difficult at the time so I wanted to try out my options. I had Henry come to visit and he explained very open and honestly the issues with the market and set my expectations. I decided to switch to JL and although viewings were low, they kept in touch regularly with what was happening and we explored different options and switching things up. We also rented out the property during the sale listing process, which again was all handled through JL. They were great from a rental perspective and secured a tenant within a week of listing, they were very thorough with the management of the rental, including regular inspections with details reports and photos. I was always paid on time and the amounts I was expecting. When we finally secured a buyer we encountered many issues in the sale process, all were out of JL control, but Henry was very supportive in helping move things forward including offering advice and reassurance, I’d even get the odd call late in the day to provide updates. This can’t have been an easy sale on JLs behalf too and they did everything they could to ensure it completed. JL have changed my perspective on estate agents, that there can actually be some decent ones out there and I would 100% recommend them to anyone from both a sale or rental perspective. Everyone I dealt with (Henry, Jack, Charlotte, Sam) were great.

Positive experience: We were first time buyers and our flat was marketed with James Laurence. We mostly dealt with Henry who was responsive and knowledgeable. James Laurence is definitely the best Estate Agent in Birmingham City Centre, nobody else compares.

Negative experience: Terrible experience from the start to end as a tenant. Maybe they’re landlord friendly, but as tenants, it was exhausting. Had two emergency situations where they were practically useless. Got Locked out of house and they expected me to magically produce £100 in cash just to get an extra key to enter, even when I told them all my cards were locked in the house. Security Alarm went off one day and there was no answer on the emergency number. Heating wasn’t working in the middle of winter and it took 2 months to sort out. Claimed some ridiculous charges at the end of tenancy which caused a lot of undue stress. Thank god for deposit protection laws. I know they’ll just say the landlord made the claims but what were they doing, not verifying the apparent imaginary damages with the check in report? Quotes for claims was provided only upon request and with no invoices or evidence of actual damage. When refuted, there was no response so had to challenge it through DPS. Wouldn’t consider any rental listing by this agent again.

Negative experience: This letting agency initially tried to claim our whole deposit, fabricating a list of claims. They were warned that this was unreasonable, but refused to budge on this matter. Eventually the Deposit Protection Scheme offered them only £110, proving their claims to be false. I would not recommend this letting agency at all.

Fantastic experience: Nothing shy of an excellent service from both Jade Whitehouse, Daniella Lawmon at James Laurence Estate Agents! Super responsive and helpful, very professional, knowledgeable and good manered. They have made this rental experience stress free! Thank you very much!

Fantastic experience: After enlisting another letting agent and not even having one viewing over a period of time we enlisted James Laurence. Charlotte promptly arranged photos and marketing- within an hour of the go live she arranged 4 viewings. We received prompt feedback after these and subsequent viewings. A tenant was secured in no time at all. The whole team have been extremely supportive and helpful all along the process. I cannot recommend them enough, other agents over promise and under deliver. The James Laurence team were true to their word that they would have no problem letting our property. Amazing service, thank you!

Fantastic experience: Amazing experience with this estate agents. Cannot fault them at all. Daniella Lawmon, Lettings consultant was so helpful with everything. The process is speedy. Took me 2 days from the viewing to being accepted and honestly I count my blessings for it. Thank you James Laurence! So professional

Negative experience: Dear Mr David Gibbins, First of all, congratulations to your company for reaching its 20th anniversary in what I’m sure is a rather challenging economic climate. This is undoubtedly an achievement that hasn’t come easily. However, as the Founder and Managing Director, you must surely be aware of how your team is running the business. I came across your company’s description on your website, where you proudly claim: “You can rest assured that your dedicated James Laurence team will use its industry knowledge and professional expertise, combined with excellent standards, to exceed expectations, providing you with friendly, honest advice you can trust, whether you are a vendor, landlord, buyer or tenant.” If this truly reflects your company’s service ethos and promise, I do hope you’ll ensure that it’s upheld. After all, it’s hard to predict whether today’s tenant might one day be tomorrow’s property buyer. Now, to my experience as a tenant, which, frankly, has surpassed even my wildest expectations – and not in a positive way. If you’re an owner, I imagine they’ll treat you with courtesy, since you’re the one paying for the service. But if you’re a tenant, well, tough luck – no service for you, as they can’t make a single penny off you. As a tenant, I never imagined I’d be asked for the building entry code. Shouldn’t your team, when serving your customer – i.e., my landlord – know the building inside and out? I repeatedly reminded them to bring the management key for the property viewing, only to be told, in the end, that they didn’t have it. Worse still, they demanded that I “immediately” return home. Yes, you read that correctly – they actually insisted that I immediately return home. Now, I do wonder: how exactly is someone who’s already on a train, on a business trip, meant to immediately return home? Quite the paradox, wouldn’t you say? This experience with your company has truly been eye-opening. I do hope your team will consider broadening their horizons a little. While I’m “only” a tenant now, there may come a time when I’m in a position to buy property. If you can deliver the level of service that’s promised, I’m sure I’ll remember you when I come to purchase – and would be happy to entrust you with managing my property. Again, congratulations on your anniversary – but I do hope you take this feedback to heart. Reputation is built on consistent service to all your customers, not just those who are currently able to generate immediate profit.

Fantastic experience: Kitti & Jade on the letting team dealt with finding a replacement tenant, after our previous tenant defaulted, in an efficient, quick, considerate, professional but friendly manner. All our communications with them or their office, whether verbal or written about this matter, were dealt with in a timely manner. Many Thanks

Fantastic experience: After an intense few months of searching for a flat to rent I stumbled across James Laurence Estate Agents and spoke with Kitti. Right from the start she was very friendly and professional and honoured her commitment to helping me find the best flat possible, consistently going above and beyond and even took the time out to show me the flat at a time that suited my busy schedule. I would highly recommend James Laurence’s services and they will be the only estate agent I use going forward!

Fantastic experience: Thank you very much dear James Laurence team, and special thanks to dear Henry, Kitti, Charlotte, Jade, and Daniella. I had a great experience with the JL team, and thanks to their professional team, I secured the tenancy for my 1st choice among the properties I had saved for viewing. I emailed Henry and explained the reasons that I'm interested in this apartment as my 1st choice. I told him if everything went well and the place was relatively close enough to the photos in the advertisement, I wouldn't view other places as this place looks ideal for me, close to my office and gym, decent, spacious, central heating, good EPC and council tax rate, reasonable price, etc. Thanks to dear Henry and Kitti, I got the first opportunity to view the flat, fill out the application form, and secure the tenancy. Charlotte and Kitti are excellent in communication, professional and nice. They helped me promptly throughout all the stages of application, referencing, etc. and they informed me about the development in each stage. There was a bit of misunderstanding about my move-in date but they handled it professionally and immediately. I collected the keys in the JL Birmingham city centre branch from dear Ms Jade who is a very nice, quick-witted, and professional lady. When I entered my new apartment, I was delighted that it was in even better condition, compared to when I viewed it because further cleaning, maintenance, checks, etc. was done as it was promised. Overall, I recommend James Laurence's team to anyone who wants to have peace of mind to rent a new flat. I will definitely ask for their help again when I want to buy my first flat.

Fantastic experience: James Laurence is an exceptional letting agency, and I wholeheartedly recommend their services. Navigating property management can often be overwhelming, but they have turned it into an effortless experience. A special mention goes to Charlotte Blount, whose brilliance, patience, and professionalism have been truly remarkable. Her unwavering support throughout the process has not only eased our concerns but also exemplified what outstanding customer service should be. My partner and I are incredibly grateful to Charlotte and the entire team for their stellar support. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with James Laurence, knowing we are in the best hands possible.

Fantastic experience: I cannot thank the lettings team enough at James Laurence, Birmingham City Centre Branch. As a relocation consultant I work to tight time frames and a prompt response is always welcomed. The team were so proactive in helping secure a tenancy for my client. Particular mention to Daniella, Charlotte B, Jade and Kitti. Thank you so much for your help. It is really appreciated. I will be happy to work with you in the future.

Fantastic experience: I have known James Laurence Estate Agents at Birmingham City Centre since 6 years now. They helped me purchase a property in October 2018 as a first time buyer and I cannot say enough about their professionalism in public dealing. Now I have seeked assistance again in renting out the same property and have come accross the same if not higher standards of competence. Everyone in this agency is skillful, courteous and highly experienced in dealing with any given situation which may arrise. They go an extra mile to ensure things are done properly. Many thanks to the two Charlotte(s), Jade, Daniella, Kitty, Lindsay and Henry - a few amongst many other friendly people I have interacted with so far at James Laurence. Keep up the good work!

Negative experience: I'm writing this review on the basis of our recent experience of taking apartment on rent through James Laurence which is nothing but pathetic. Their maintenance team is full of incapable staffs who don't know how to solve the issue instead give one or another excuses every other day. Our dishwasher was faulty which had internal leakage and irreparable confirmed by their own contractor. And even after reported 17 days ago, they have not fixed or replaced it so far and there is no ETA either. Think twice before taking rental apartment through James Laurence

Fantastic experience: Amazing experience with property agency James Laurence. It was an easy and comfortable process for renting the property, I am amazed to be honest and thanku u Jade whitehouse , Charlotte and Anita Chow so much for making our renting process quick ,convenient and transparent always being there to communicate and support us through. The most surprising part for me was they gave us 2 keys to the apartment which we hadn’t been given from our previous agency. A big thankx from bottom of my heart to Jade whitehouse, Charlotte Blount and the James Laurence team

Fantastic experience: Charlotte Blount was first contact with James Laurence EA and was impressed - timely, efficient, had/got answers to all questions. Great service from Daniella and Jade too. Very good experience.

Fantastic experience: The James Laurence Team in the Jewellery Quarter did a fantastic job helping me find a new tenant again. I have always had a great experience with this agency and have utilised them over the many years as landlord. Thank you to Charlotte, Danielle, and Jade at the JQ branch.

Fantastic experience: Kitti Krizanova and Charlotte Blount made letting my property easy and efficient. Both were very responsive to queries and provided regular updates. Their hard work meant tenants moved in within weeks of the property going on the market.

Fantastic experience: I would say the highlight of using James Laurence Estate Agents, was indeed the letting agent who handled my case. Riegan Nash, I can honestly say was one of the best agents I met through my whole moving process. She was quick, efficient, welcoming and communicated well back and forth about all the information throughout. Honestly need more people like her in this field of work. Will definitely ask for her in the near future.

Fantastic experience: James Laurence Estate Agents have always provided an excellent service throughout my interactions with them. In particular, Anita in property management has always been communicative, professional and helpful (thanks Anita!).

Fantastic experience: We recently had the pleasure of working with James Laurence Estate Agency, and we could not be more satisfied with their services. The team, particularly Charlotte and Daniella, have been exceptional in getting our property let. Their personal touch, timely feedback, and consistent updates on the platform have made the entire process seamless and stress-free. Moreover, Sam has been outstanding in handling the purchase of our property. His reliability and transparency have been top-notch, and we are already planning to work with him again for future transactions. The communication from the entire team has been excellent, ensuring that we are always informed and confident in their services. Overall, James Laurence Real Estate has proven to be a trustworthy and professional agency, and we highly recommend them for both letting and sales.

Fantastic experience: Amazing! I had a great experience with James Laurance, as a first time buyer. Sam was brilliant on showing me the apartment and really sold it on the first viewing! Jack and Henry's support through the sale was great, especially considering it was not the easiest process - it actually took a lot of patience for us to complete. They kept me up to date throughout the process and made sure to reply promptly at all times. Really appreciate all your care and patience!

Negative experience: I regret to say that my experience with Charlotte Evans as a real estate agent has been extremely disappointing. From the outset, the process has been plagued with unnecessary stress, largely due to her lack of communication. Charlotte rarely responds to emails, and when she does, it's often after significant delays. This lack of responsiveness has caused countless setbacks and added frustration to what should have been a straightforward process. Additionally, Charlotte seems to be constantly on annual leave, leaving me without support during critical moments. This frequent absence has made it nearly impossible to get any consistent help or guidance, further complicating the transaction. Overall, my experience with Charlotte has been overwhelmingly negative. Her lack of professionalism and commitment has made this a stressful and frustrating experience, and I would not recommend her services to anyone looking for a reliable and competent real estate agent.

Fantastic experience: Having used James Laurence for renting, buying and selling I now wouldn’t use a different estate agent in Birmingham. From start to finish across all transactions the team are helpful, friendly and most importantly communicative. My most recent sale wouldn’t have gone through with the efforts of Sam and Henry so I really cannot recommend them highly enough.

Negative experience: It is obvious that the quality of the estate agent has fallen through since 2019 when we first started renting with them. Each contract renewal you will be met by a 10% increase in rent which is absolutely scummy from the parties involved. After moving out of the property, they attempted to claim a significant portion of our deposit without even providing a detailed quotation list beforehand. This lack of transparency is completely unacceptable and feels intentionally predatory. When we finally received their so-called "observations report," it was clear that they did not account for normal wear and tear, instead trying to pin minor issues on us. For instance, they listed the condition of the mattress as "good" in the initial inventory, but it was actually used and far from the condition they described. They also tried to charge excessive amounts for minor silicone repairs without providing any proof of the quotations. Overall, their approach was unprofessional and dishonest. I strongly advise others to be cautious when dealing with this agency, as they seem more interested in conning ex-tenants than in conducting fair and transparent assessments. edit: Thank you for your response, Henry. While I appreciate your input, it's worth noting that these concerns have been consistently mentioned in your Google reviews over the past year and ramping up. This pattern suggests that the issues might be more than just isolated incidents. Addressing these concerns thoughtfully would be more constructive than responding defensively.

Fantastic experience: I want to thank Jade Maskell and Henry Crane for their exceptional work in managing my property. Despite a challenging six-month vacancy period, they finally found the right tenants for my property. Their dedication, particularly Jade's efforts in navigating the difficult council licensing process, was invaluable. The professionalism and commitment demonstrated by the team at James Laurence Estate Agents in Birmingham made all the difference. I truly appreciate their hard work and support throughout this journey. Thank you, Jade and Henry, for making this experience a positive one!

Fantastic experience: Really great experience with JL. Charlotte B and Jade were both very helpful. It was our first time renting outside of student accommodation so really appreciated Jade telling us that there’s no such thing as a silly question (because we had many). Will defo recommend.

Fantastic experience: I have recently switched my management company after years as the service has declined rapidly - I came across James Laurence who have been great from the moment I put my enquiry in to let my property! In particular I have been working closely with Jade and she has been great, always keeps me in the loop and really cares about propounding me with a great service! Thank you - I am looking forward to working with you guys for the foreseeable!

Negative experience: Being a very recent tenant through James Laurence, our experience in taking a flat on rent is nothing, but disappointing. The flat we moved in was not tidy as opposed to the claim, infact inventory report suggested the same evidence. It was with debris and filth. Moreover when we reported on the very first thing noticed after move in, the post letting support was sheer frustrating without any help on ground. Their letting agents Kitti and Charlotte looked very inexperienced and incompetent while dealing with such sensitive health hazard instead advised us to clean ourselves to suppress the matter. Apparently we had to report to local council for kids health and safety hazard to invenue into. I'm attaching few snaps to depict horrible experience my family especially kids gone through. James Laurence should enhance post letting support instead of focusing on selling unwanted property damage insurance (which ofcourse comes with additional hidden costs) and hire experienced people, if they want to remain good brand in ever since competitve real estate market.

Negative experience: On July 25th, I lost my fob, which is essential for accessing my building and performing basic tasks like taking out the trash. I contacted Centric to request a new fob, and they responded via email asking for proof of my tenancy agreement, which I provided. However, days went by without any follow-up email from them. This situation was extremely stressful as I couldn't leave my apartment for fear of not being able to re-enter the building. On July 29th, I decided to call Centric again. They informed me that I needed to contact my property management office, James Laurence, as they were supposed to handle the situation with Centric. I spoke with an employee named Anita Chow, who assured me she would assist. However, every time I called her, she said she was trying to contact Centric but was not getting a response. She also asked me to reach out to Centric directly, despite previously being told that James Laurence should handle the matter. Today is August 2nd, and I still haven't received a new fob. This is unacceptable, and the lack of urgency from both companies has been frustrating. When I finally managed to speak with Anita Chow، again, she spoke to me with a cold demeanor, as if the issue wasn't important, even though I've been struggling with this for eight days. When I expressed my frustration and asked what she would do in my situation, she responded rudely, saying, "You're the one who lost it, not me." Just now, I received a call from Lindsay, who informed me that I could get a temporary fob, but it would cost £50 until they could issue me a new one. This situation is both funny and strange—why wasn't this option mentioned from the beginning? Why only now, when they see that I'm extremely frustrated and upset? this experience is a clear indication of extremely poor customer service from both Centric and James Laurence. They should know how to treat their customers better. This will be the last time I deal with these companies. If this is how they handle a simple issue, I can't imagine how they would respond to a more serious one.

Negative experience: Initially my experience was brilliant but after moving into my new flat things drastically went down hill. 3 main areas of problems include a vast amount of previous tenant belongings being left in flat for removal, a myriad of maintenance issues including safety issues that I am gobsmacked weren't resolved prior to my tenancy, and finally cleanliness. I was shocked to find multiple examples of cleaning not being completed and have attached a selection of photos as evidence of this. The contact at James Lawrence assured me it had been cleaned but look at the photos and you tell me. I experience OCD and haven't been able to live in the flat since picking up keys and have felt forced to organise a professional end of tenancy deep clean directly and fund it myself. JL refuse to let me deduct this from my rent in contrast to advice from Citizens Advice. For a 1100 monthly flat I expected more than a hole in a door, a hole in the living room wall, multiple counts of mould build up around window frames, a mattress in need of replacing, disgusting standards of cleanliness in places, drawing and very heavy scuff marks throughout walls, a peiling ceiling and chipped furniture. Yes, I viewed the flat but I realise I was complacent expecting these blatant issues to be addressed with a simple fresh coat of paint and proactive maintenance response. I ask two questions... does the landlord of the flat understand the condition it is actually in? I get issues are ware and tare over time but it seems high time for some touching up to be done. Secondly, how on earth was money not taken from the previous tenants deposit to remediate these issues? I would have been embarrassed to leave a property in such a condition. Edit: I am pleased as per response that a contractor will be sent out regarding maintenance issues but I wasn't aware of this before hand as email responses stopped. Cleaning is being dealt with directly by me for own peace of mind. Awaiting advice on removal of belongings. Thanks for your response Henry. Makes me feel better.

Fantastic experience: Genuine buyer/seller? look no further! James Laurence Estate Agency is the place. I highly recommend them and would not hesitate to do businesses again. The team succeeded to seal the deal from the first client without any prior marketing in a very short period of time. A gentleman handshake between myself and the buyer, followed by legal formalities and the deal was shortly concluded. They are professional, proactive, transparent, and excellent communicators throughout and after the sale irrespective of my whereabouts. They also maintained good communication with the solicitors. Sam you’re a legend, special thanks to you as well as Sophie and Henry. You folks are the real asset of James Laurence Estate Agency. Wish the team more success, and a prosperous future ahead. Till next time.

Fantastic experience: James Laurence have always been my go to choice when I have wanted to rent out my apartment. They are always very responsive and have great knowledge of the area and the market. Charlotte Blount is exceptional and is my go to contact and has always been able to find me new tenants very quickly.

Negative experience: Re: Regarding the number of issues reported, you are perfectly aware that most issues were reported directly to our property manager. If the property manager was not trained to log the issues into your system, this is once again on you. Indeed, you are incorrect. In 26 months we reported 8 minor problems (broken table, broken extractor hood, broken heater, broken washing machine, dripping sink pipes, dripping kitchen tap, damaged vinyl floor, broken kickboard) and 3 major ones (broken boiler, holes in the wall from which mice entered, leaky skylights); of these, only 3 minor ones were resolved in a "timely" manner. For 4 others it took between 2 to 4 months, and the remaining 4 (of which 2 major ones) were never addressed. You should have plenty of emails proving it. You are also incorrect about the water cylinder. We reported an initial leak for which a contractor was called, but nothing could be done other than tightening a bolt, as a new piece was needed. The piece was never approved, as confirmed to us by the contractor. Not long after, it started leaking from somewhere else (as well expected), until the situation escalated dramatically. Lastly, the skylights are a problem that the landlord should have addressed immediately, even just temporarily, as the Council confirmed. Instead, we were left for 6 months with leaking windows and unable to use the living room, in a flat that became so cold that the temperature dropped below 10 °C on more than one occasion. The fact that you were regularly chasing the block management then is good to know; unfortunately, we never received a single update from you on the matter. We appreciate that you had no power on these issues; however, the fact that, even now, you refuse to acknowledge that you could have acted with more regard toward us, is in itself the problem. All the best. Original: Sadly, the worst experience in years of renting. Admittedly we were rather unlucky, renting a duplex flat in the city centre in seemingly good condition but with endless problems in reality, and a landlord not remotely interested in maintaining his own property (coincidentally now on sale). In just over two years we experienced far too many minor problems (most of which from day 1), and at least 3 major ones (two of which were never resolved), all coming down to poor maintenance over the years. We don't hold James Laurence responsible for this, as maintenance is ultimately the landlord's responsibility. However, the incompetency shown is entirely on them. Communication was incredibly stressful, with us constantly having to chase them for the simplest update. On different occasions then, we felt almost intentionally misled. This was especially evident when we opened a misrepair case with the Council after being ignored for months on major issues reported, including skylight windows leaking into the living room in full winter; a problem that in almost 6 months was never resolved. In addition, they never seemed to understand the severity of the issues or the stress and disruption they caused us. For example (one of many), when we reported that the boiler upstairs - over 30 years old - had broken and started leaking through to the downstairs kitchen, it was only when the volume of water dripping reached litres per hour, causing us a sleepless night emptying buckets and a day off work, that a contractor was called as a matter of urgency. Two months had passed in the meanwhile, and this is simply unacceptable. Finally, when we left, they tried to deduct £120 from our deposit in the most unprofessional way, without even informing us. As a side note, in over 7 years of renting we never had a single pound deducted from our deposit, nor had we had to start a dispute. So no, we wouldn't recommend them to anyone thinking of renting. Our experience as tenants was beyond stressful, and for an agency that "prides itself on customer service", they were shockingly unprofessional, unhelpful and unsympathetic on all levels, and there is absolutely no justification for how badly our situation was handled.

Fantastic experience: Henry Crane is the estate agent you need when you want to complete your sale. His dedication to go over and beyond to support me through my sale is extraordinary and reflects the commitment that James Laurence have in guiding you through every step of the selling process. Along with his colleagues Sam and Jack they have supported me through this process. If you are looking to sell your property then ask for Henry Crane from James Laurence Estate Agents. Truly they are the best at what they do.

Fantastic experience: I can't fault James Lawrence's care and professionalism throughout our experience with letting our flat. Charlotte B. assisted me throughout the process and responded promptly to all of my enquires and was always available if I needed any help. My husband and I were highly impressed with Charlotte, Henry and James Laurence and would not hesitate in recommending them.

Fantastic experience: As an overseas landlord, I had a very positive experience working with the team at James Laurence. After my apartment had been vacant for several months under the management of another agent, I decided to switch to James Laurence. The difference was night and day. The team, including Charlotte, Daniella, and Jade, was extremely proactive. Even though I am located in another part of the world, they always answer my inquiries quickly by email, no matter if it's early morning or late at night in the UK. Most importantly, they generated numerous viewings and found the right tenant for my property within just 2 weeks. Their dedication and customer service are just unparalleled. Besides, their operations are very transparent, with the use of a client portal that allows me to easily view details of the scheduled viewings, feedback, marketing response, and tenancy information. The portal is user friendly, making my experience as a landlord seamless and hassle free. They also have an exceptional online presence that instantly reminded me of the popular real estate show "Selling Sunset". Their videos in social media emanate similar polished, high-energy vibe - from the visually stunning property listings to the engaging video content featuring the charismatic team. This level of digital sophistication and customer-centric approach gave me great impression of the team's creativity, energy, and enthusiasm. To conclude, I would highly recommend James Laurence to any landlord looking for a reliable and effective property management solution. Their expertise, responsiveness, and use of digital platforms are truly outstanding and make them a cut above the rest.

Fantastic experience: Can’t thank the team at James Laurence enough for all their hard work, in particular Henry and Sam. Great service from start to finish. Very knowledgeable , great advice and overall very easy to deal with. It’s been an absolute pleasure, will recommend to anyone looking to sell their property. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: James Laurence Estate Agents (Lettings) were very quick to find new tenants for us for our 2 bedroom apartment near to Birmingham city centre. James Lawrence Estate Agents (Lettings) is a well managed organisation, and the people that we interacted with the most (Charlotte and Jade) were professional, friendly and efficient. We feel that it is particularly important to note that Charlotte and Jade always kept us informed, and they always did what they said they were going to do. And last, but not least, we never had to ask twice for something or for something to be done. We would highly recommend James Lawrence Estate Agents (Lettings).

Fantastic experience: As a London-based letting agency, we engaged James Laurence to handle a property rental after being disappointed by a local competitor. Our experience with James Laurence has been exceptional from the outset and decided we will trial out services on a sole agency basis. Charlotte our primary point of contact, has been outstanding. She demonstrated remarkable expertise of the area, provided realistic insights into market rent, and outlined timelines for securing suitable tenants. We wholeheartedly endorse their services and plan to continue working with James Laurence in the foreseeable future. Keep up the excellent work! Also a big heads up to Daniella and Jade:-) Aziz and the Farrell Lewis Team

Fantastic experience: We can’t praise the team at James Lawrence enough. They are absolutely wonderful. Right from the start with Jack and Sophie they guided us through every step and had a kind and considerate approach. Sophie was brilliant at handling difficult situations. Sam kept me going with his cheerful disposition and was a constant form of support and encouragement. He is so professional and his humour lightened up even the most challenging of times! Henry’s professionalism was second to non, he was always available and was amazing when closing the deal at the end. We cannot recommend the team at James Lawrence enough. They are the complete package and a delight to work with.

Negative experience: Incompetent, negligent and deceitful. We were fed a pack of lies in order to conceal the condition of and secure a tenancy for a poorly maintained and heavily damaged property. Myself and a friend were looking to rent 5, Elmwood Court, and the first red flag should have been evident when we were told that we could only be offered a virtual viewing as there was no availability for in-person viewings. We were sent a video that we were told in writing was taken on 21/02/2024, and although the property was a bit untidy, we couldn’t see any discernible issues and decided to proceed. Whilst this was a mistake on our part, we were ultimately misled to accept a property that was not in the state advertised. We made several requests to see the property in person after signing our contracts, yet these were continuously ignored or we were told there was no availability for anyone to show us around. I’m not sure what professional estate agency can’t spare anyone to show a tenant around a property over an entire month, unless they're trying to hide something. A few days before our planned move-in date, after calling to chase key collection, I was told that the previous tenants had caused “damage to furniture” and our options were to move in acknowledging the damage or delay our move-in date. JL has always insisted we were informed of the damage as soon as they became aware of it, however, we have never believed this as the condition of the property would have been apparent at check-out. There were further attempts to conceal the condition of the property over the following week, as our requests to see evidence of this damage were continuously ignored or deflected and the details of which furniture items were affected kept changing, leaving us suspicious that there were serious problems with the property. I am surprised at the glowing accounts of Charlotte Blount. We found her rude and unpleasant to deal with, and she kept exerting pressure on us to blindly resign our tenancy agreement. With no clarity on the situation a week later and due to the stress we were being placed under, we felt we had no choice but to put in a formal complaint and request an urgent viewing. When I viewed the property the following day, I was frankly disgusted at what I found. The state of the flat was worse than expected, with almost all furniture items broken, a ripped sofa, heavily marked walls and a smell of damp in one of the bedrooms. The piece de resistance was the foul stains on the bath, which do not appear in the video we were sent, nor on the Rightmove photos, funnily enough, and it became clear that the video we were shown was likely taken years ago, as these stains would have developed over time. Due to this breach of contract, we requested to cancel our tenancy and receive a full refund, and it is interesting to note that this was actioned without any resistance from their side. Despite this, once again, we had to chase JL for return of monies paid as we received no acknowledgment of our email, only an automatic notification from Goodlord to say our tenancy had been cancelled a day later. After calling several times and with no one in the office capable of providing an answer, I was eventually put through to Henry who tried to give it the big one and tell me that I couldn’t make “unrealistic demands” to speak to him urgently. I never asked to speak to him specifically, and we were understandably concerned about the lack of confirmation regarding the return of a significant amount of money, but this serves to demonstrate his arrogance. As expected, the outcome of our formal complaint was as unprofessional as the rest of our interactions with the company - littered with misspellings, typos and poor grammar - and laughably absolved themselves of any blame and stated that their “proactive” team only had our best interests at heart. It’s utterly disgraceful to see that this property was put back on the market with outdated and inaccurate photos. Please spare yourselves the stress of what we went through and look elsewhere.

Fantastic experience: Thanks to Sophie, Jack and Henry, I'm very happy with the service provided through out the sale of my first flat. I liked the customer portal I was given access to, which provided me with everything I needed to know about how they marketed the flat, the online exposure, viewers and the thing I was amazed most was they had very good follow-up for each each viewing. I know they were doing the best they could to accelerate the sale. Thanks!

Fantastic experience: My partner and I have recently used James Laurence to sell our property and we cannot thank them enough for the service, communication and level of experience we have received. Our property went on the market on 27th Dec and by 21st March we were getting the keys to our new home. We were lucky to have a nice chain to enable all parties to move quickly however this wouldn’t have been as quick had it not been for the efficient service provided by Henry, Charlotte and Sam. We had a phenomenal amount of viewings and the professionalism was second to none with everything going so smoothly when it could’ve been very daunting having such high interest. After the offer was agreed, the team, Henry in particular, were always at the end of the phone, updating us every step of the way, and pretty much replied instantly to emails. We were never left waiting for a response on anything. I can’t thank them enough for helping us move our growing family into our new home and making the process so easy. I won’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking to sell their home. Thank you all, Samantha Blount & Ben John-Hynes

Fantastic experience: I want to personal thank Charlotte and Jorja for all of their support and help in getting our rental sorted. They have been incredibly patient and went above and beyond every single day (with all of our questions and requests!). Their patience and enthusiasm gave us have a level of confidence we haven’t before had with letting a property. Thank you both- it was our pleasure!

Fantastic experience: Charlotte was really helpful and answered any questions that I have in detail. Kept me updated on the progress and managed to look for a tenant in a timely manner. I would recommend James Laurence to anyone looking to rent or rent out property.

Fantastic experience: Met Jack Painter, he took me to see several apartments. He was very professional and made me feel very at ease and not pressured, unlike some agents I have met. I found my perfect place and he not only negotiated the sale but also secured renting in interim while my sale goes through which removed so much stress. Communication was amazing and I can’t wait to move now. Thank you Jack

Negative experience: I approached James Laurence to let and manage my property after they successfully sold one of my property. Then I had a great experience and commutation. However, I can't see the same level of service now. Overall I had good communication with the staff. The problem that accrued is that during the management period of the property they never found time to do a single inspections. I don't know if only transferring the rent to my account is classified as a management by them? I personally think this is quite a big breach of the contract as overseeing the property is essential for both tenant and landlord. A damaged property can cost a lot to be repaired.However, after I decided to use a different agency I was offered discount £125 payable for switching over. I was told by the staff , I should not pay anything after giving three months notice of ending the management. Unfortunately, they do not value their loyal customers and I will never recommend them again.

Fantastic experience: We use the lettings team at James Laurence. From the very start they were more professional and helpful than other lettings agents. Charlotte Blount our main point of contact has been great; is efficient, prompt and clearly very knowledgeable. Never thought we'd actually recommend a letting agent but can't fault the service we've had from Charlotte and the rest of the James Laurence team.

Fantastic experience: I was surprised with the level of support and professionalism by James Laurence. Charlotte was in constant communication with me and guided me throughout the process, from viewing the property to making an offer and securing the property, all done remotely as I was not in the UK during the process. Given this complex situation, getting everything right was a real challenge. I was in contact with all major letting agencies the city. They couldn't help me in this situation. I was in search of a property for more than 3 weeks until I stumbled on a property by James Laurence. I was able to secure a suitable house within 4 working days. Thank you, James Laurence, especially Charlotte, for providing a great service!

Fantastic experience: I cannot rate the team at James Laurence highly enough. From start to finish they have helped steer us through our sale, giving us excellent advice when needed in a balanced and informed way. Henry, in particular, has been absolutely brilliant, always responding to calls and emails in a timely fashion. I thoroughly recommend.

Negative experience: It was a good experience to let a property through James Laurence. The viewing appointment went very smoothly with Charlotte Blount who provided us with all info about the property. Melissa Wilson was also helpful and kindly answered all our questions. EDIT: However, maintenance services were rather poor. Some issues were not sorted at all or there was a lot of delays, which caused serious consequences including health issues. Moreover, unfortunately, not fixed issues affected the deposit although these issues were not our fault, for instance having water leak (broken valve under flooring).

Fantastic experience: Refreshingly professional service from a local estate agent with great knowledge and insight into the Birmingham property market. Sophie worked hard over a year to find me my dream property, and she always went the extra mile chasing clients, landlords, and solicitors, and me if necessary to make things happen. I wouldn’t hesitate to use this agent time and again for all my property needs.

Fantastic experience: Over the course of the three months I spent searching for a flat, I had two separate viewings with James Laurence. While I actually ended up buying via another agency, I had such an outstanding experience with James Laurence that I felt the need to leave a review. Both the representatives I met, Sam Harper and Jack Painter, were exceptionally polite and friendly, and went above and beyond to answer any questions I had and check back in after the viewings. Not only this but they even helped talk me through some of the problems I encountered with the flat I did buy from the other agency. They are the only estate agents I dealt with that seemed informed on the issues around buying a flat covered by the Building Safety Act and even put me in contact with a solicitor that could take on my purchase. While I didn't end up buying with them, I couldn't recommend them any more highly to anyone currently looking to buy.

Fantastic experience: I had a great experience with Charlotte who assisted my sister and I with securing our new apartment from viewing to signing contracts. She responded promptly to all our enquires. Highly impressed with Charlotte and James Laurence.

Fantastic experience: We sold our property with James Laurence. Sophie and Sam were professional, very responsive and helpful. Their local knowledge and experience selling in the vicinity was hugely beneficial. After some initial issues and a reshuffle, Sophie and Sam quickly found us a buyer, progressed the sale smoothly and got us over the line. We’re relocating, but if we were selling in Birmingham again we’d probably use James Laurence once more.

Fantastic experience: I have always admired the quality and standard of the homes I see on the website. I prayed that one day I will get to work with them. Today, they are managing the property I am loving in. Very professional and organised. Best I have worked with in England. The Goodlord application for referencing and communication is very Excellent. One of the Staff MELISSA is just the perfect person to talk to. She got me everything I wanted at ease. Not a regrets working with her and with James Laurence one bit.

Fantastic experience: I sold my apartment through James Laurence and had a very positive experience. Henry did the initial meeting and was friendly and professional. Caroline then managed the sales process, always kept me up to date, and was very friendly and professional too. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.