BNS Property Services Arvostelua 

Completely useless organisation which serves no purpose. Charges an exorbitant fee for absolutely no service, communication or enterprise.

The list of issues I have had with this company is so long I can't fit them here. I've been left with no option but to complain to the property ombudsman.

They issued an incorrect 'Service charge adjustment' in 2023. After pointing out that instead of me owing them money I was actually owed money for that period (using their own documents and simple arithmetic as evidence), it took a year (multiple emails and a 2nd stage complaint) for them to acknowledge that I was correct. Another year later, multiple emails and another complaint (ignored) and the problem is still not resolved.

This cause several other issues, such as me receiving 'credit control' letters for funds they agreed to freeze while they 'looked into the issue' (and just ignored).

They have raised the service charge every year (recently by > 20%), without providing any evidence of why that needs to happen. Yet simple maintenance is still not carried out. Tickets raised just get deleted (which I guess from their perspective solves the problem!) or, if after a poorly thought out (and expensive) attempt to solve the problem doesn't work they just ignore and give up.

When I asked for a summary of the previous years expenditures, which is a legal right under Section 21(3) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. This has also been ignored which means I will now have to go to an independent tribunal.

I see no reason why a legitimate and honest company would want to hide this information. I suspect it is because they are funneling maintenance funds back into their own pocket by paying their maintenance team for each job/call out. This would be such an obvious conflict of interest and waste of their clients funds they would rather we didn't have that information.

Avoid at all costs!

EDIT: It has now been 3 months since BNS replied to this review and I have received no communication from them whatsoever. Apart from receiving more 'credit control' letters for the funds they agree to put on hold. Should tell you everything you need to know really.

We had an excellent experience with BNS when we encountered some electrical issues at our Student accommodation. From start to finish, their service was top-notch! Special shout-out to James Harris, who went above and beyond to help us. Not only was he incredibly knowledgeable, but he was also very patient, taking the time to explain everything in detail and keep us updated throughout the process. His professionalism and support made what could have been a stressful situation much easier to handle. We truly appreciate his dedication and BNS's great service. highly recommend them ☺️

Received on 15/1/25 invoice for January 24 having previously paid two later invoices! Totally inefficient organisation who simply do not appear to know what they are doing! Fair play to the MD who responds personally however the business just appears to be out of control!

BNS Property Services has been a mixed experience. While they managed our property for a time, there were several challenges. Communication often fell short, with some requests for maintenance going unaddressed and a noticeable turnover in personnel, which made continuity a problem. At times, it felt as though the management style was more authoritative than collaborative. Financial transparency was another area of concern, with delays in accounts and unclear charges for services that seemed lacking. On a positive note, they have now been replaced, and improvements are evident. Overall, BNS did manage some aspects but left room for significant improvement. Worth considering carefully before hiring.

We had to call BNS because of an emergency electrical issue in our building in Bristol outside the normal office hours. Their response was great and someone attended within half an hour from our call! James, the electrician that arrived, was very helpful and friendly. He managed to identify, fix, and explain to us the issue within less than an hour. We will definitely call them again for any future issues.

I have lived in my flat for some time, previously managed by BNS for the past several years. Recently the property was sold and a new management company have taken over.

Quite honestly, now the new company have taken over, it feels like a breath of fresh air and I’ve realised now the impact of BNS on my mental health.

Any issues minor or major would always have been a long drawn out battle and if BNS wanted to do something it was always on their terms.

In a short space of time the new company have sorted out a plethora of issues around the building and in my flat and everything has been done with ease and proper, excellent communication.

Often when dealing with BNS and being a tenant managed by them; you’d be made to feel like a criminal or like you were to blame for their lack of interest in maintaining the property.

And breathe! What a relief to be rid of them. Good luck to anyone who has the misfortune of dealing with them. Especially Helen.

BNS have recently been appointed to manage the shared area of landscape, playground and litter bins on Brizen View. Initial assessment of their performance is very poor! An overflowed litter / dog poo bin has been brought to their attention; not rectified and not even acknowledged the contact (including photo of the issue). They appear very swift to issue charges but less swift at fulfilling their responsibilities!

Fleecehold!!

Criminal is the only way to describe them. £300 a year and they haven’t bothered to turn up for the first 6 months because some residents hadn’t paid their fees. My elderly neighbour couldn’t walk down the path to the shops because the hedges were so over grown so we had to trim them ourselves. Now that they want money from us, they have recommenced work on site, and have charged us to cut the already cut hedges… joke.

Avoid these guys like the plague.
Ultimately they issued a section 24 notice to install gates and a perimeter fence. Which were never provided and the money was never accounted for.
NO accounts were submitted by them for the last few years! FORCING US directors to submit non trading accounts so putting us directors in breach of our duties.
WHEN WE FINALLY LEFT, BNS charged for work not done AND it took over a year to get MOST of the money back they owed us. NO "hand over" accounts were submitted.
THE NEW management company is collecting the same monies, but we can actually see work being done - unlike BNS. AVOID BNS like the plague.

Dreadful company. Ignore all issues in your building but keep putting fees up for a drop in service. If you see BNS as the management company of your property, run a mile!

Expensive and do not respond to queries. It is almost impossible to speak to anyone in the company.

Thank you for your reply albeit I am very surprised you had the time and a member of staff to reply.

One question for the fella from the circus ( Simmons ) why is it you seem to have a different accounts manager each and every time I call, only to be met with the same ( oh so and so has left the company) speaks volumes of this car crash of a company.

I have on numerous occasions requested a meeting with the head clown as named above but he is spineless and hides behind the staff as I have previously mentioned in a previous review hence he can’t keep his staff.

Man up and grow a set Simmons and Agree to a meeting,

worst company I've ever dealt with in my life! no one takes responsibility, the account managers are changing all the time, no one picks up when you call them - absolutely terrible!

Going to ombudsman about them .
2 properties were managed ( haha)
By them ,not anymore

Useless , they fitted a new communal door to block of flats , didn’t fit security lock until a week after . 5x phone calls , now 3 weeks later flats are getting no letters as they didn’t fit a letter box , keep phoning and keep getting fobbed off so no letters for three weeks , how hard is it to fit a letter box , lock and letter box should have been fitted when door was fitted, reading the reviews I can see this is a bad company that are not professional

Repair work to guttering damaged by a fall of two chunks of coping mortar, now dating back to 2016. Persistent requests for repair ignored.

Email from BNS:

"....your requests for repair will be reviewed and I'll advise once a decision has been made..."

A further fall of coping mortar front and rear of the property that could have caused life changing injury or fatality was reported in 2018, with more coping mortar overhanging populated areas, ready to fall. (Doc.) Remedial work carried out but that did not include repair to the guttering, the subject of the 2016 report! (Doc.) Still under consideration....?

Routine maintenance is not carried out. Is whether or not routine maintenance is carried out also the subject of much "pondering" by the two BODs of Staverton Marina Management Co. Ltd., (SMMC?)

Communal gardens and landscaping - out of control - and works and planting that were promised as far back as 2018 - we still wait with interest and concern. In one case, landscaping and maintenance work has been so neglected that a ground floor window is completely obscured by overgrown shrubbery, etc. Still being "pondered upon - possibly?

A temporary wire fence was removed in 2022 with no replacement and a spike of wire dangerously protruding from a fence post has still not been clipped back after constant reminders. Constant alerts regarding the total lack of security at the rear of the property. A three foot high fence affords no security whatsoever.

Why did SMMC recommend BNS to the shareholders? Is it possible that SMMC either do not have confidence in BNS, or are they reluctant to spend our management fees on routine repair and maintenance? Are our management fees gathering dust or interest?

Nil pointe!

2 July, 2024 - two man gardening crew sent out to clear shrubbery that was very evident and in clear view when driving down the cul de sac. It was totally out of control, obstructing a ground floor window, and immediately adjacent to council land. Comment by team leader that they were leaving the shrubbery that bordered a high boundary brick wall (about 10') higher against the wall so that "the little s----s do not jump over it")! The same ethos, apparently, does not apply to the rear of the property - a three foot high fence and no security anywhere. CCTV prohibited! Constant vandalism and theft. (Doc.)

Management claim that they did not know that this area was their responsibility to maintain. Surely, SMMC knew this! There is an architectural plan that was in the possession of the original salesman, and should be in the possession of BNS/SMMC. Despite my repeated alerts, this too, was ignored. I produced a copy of the plan several years ago when additional planting was being put in. Laughed at and ignored. SMMC chairman refers to me as "it" as in "it has raised its ugly head..." Response to a leak from floor above. (Doc.)

Much needed maintenance put off until August 2024. No mention of repair to damaged guttering.

Usual generic response from BNS on this site. Interesting, that! Until just the last couple of days, my alerts have been systematically ignored, and I have addressed this with BNS. And now, suddenly, a reaction!

On new development in Wiltshire which BNS took over in April 2024, still waiting for response about grass cutting for over a month. Yet they were so quick to send an invoice. Very disappointed and improvement needed.

Have been trying to contact BNS for several MONTHS to chase documents that are holding up the sale of a property.

We have left 6 messages asking for the accounts team to call back in 2 weeks and have had absolutely no communication. This is appalling service.