Complete failure of management and responsibility from Rawsons

I moved to the UK last December, and decided I would keep my flat and rent it out while my foster daughter completed her training, so she would have somewhere safe to live once she qualified and was earning.

Rawsons took on the management, as I would be overseas and not able to oversee the property. They quickly found a tenant, someone personally known to them, and recommended I accept the tenants offer of 1.5 months deposit instead of 2 months, as they knew them to be reliable.

The tenant lost their job due to COVID, and stopped paying the rent. Initially I was sympathetic, but after 3 months or so I told Rawsons that they would need to get the tenant to move out - I was still having to pay the expenses on the flat, and it was clear that the tenants were building up a debt they would not be able to repay.

All Rawsons did was send a letter of demand, month after month. When I asked what action they were taking, they cancelled the lease. Still the tenants weren't paying, and they were refusing to move out.

I asked over and over again for regular updates, but never received any. My emails were not answered for days on end.

Rawsons then told me that if I wanted them to continue to 'manage' the property (what management?!) I would need to pay them as they were not getting their percentage from the rent - as the rent wasn't being paid.

The tenants have racked up a huge number of complaints, and now I am being fined by the body corporate as they have broken so many rules. They still refuse to move out. These were the tenants Rawson recommended as known to them.

Now Rawsons has walked away - I have had to find a lawyer and try to manage the situation from overseas - EXACTLY the reason I wanted a local, expert, agent who would deal with these situations and be paid fairly for it.

DO NOT rely on Rawsons to manage your rental property - while the money is coming in they will take their percentage, but as soon as there is a problem you are on your own. It is a complete waste of money, you may as well manage it yourself.