Be warrened when approaching Brink Riley Properties
I rented a flat managed by Brink Riley Properties and kept it in good condition throughout my tenancy. After moving out, having thoroughly cleaned and returned the property, I was shocked to find that Brink Riley Properties attempted to withhold my entire £300 deposit and even claimed an additional £40.
The claims were, in my view:
1. Completely unfounded, or
2. Ignoring issues already recorded in the check-in inventory,
3. Charging tenants for tasks that are unreasonable or not feasible (e.g. cleaning exterior windows of a second-floor flat),
4. Applying disproportionately high costs for minor issues.
For example:
• I was charged £192 for repainting all the walls in the bedroom and lounge, despite only slight marks where furniture had been placed. The check-in inventory photos already showed discolouration and wear throughout the flat when I moved in.
• I was charged £160 for “full cleaning,” even though the flat was left in a thoroughly cleaned state. At typical cleaning rates, the small remaining issues could reasonably have been addressed for £20–£40, not the equivalent of nearly two full days of work.
During my tenancy, the ceiling suffered from water leakage from the flat above, causing severe discolouration and mould. Despite repeated requests for repair due to health concerns, the landlord left this issue unresolved for 6–7 months. Now, instead of addressing these long-term maintenance problems, the landlord appears to be attempting to recover costs through unfair deductions from tenants’ deposits.
I have formally disputed these charges through the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). Based on my experience, I strongly caution prospective tenants about Brink Riley Properties, as they may attempt to withhold deposits unfairly even when a property has been well-maintained.