My experience with James Laurence Letting Agency, particularly with Henry and Lindsay, was nothing short of a nightmare. We rented the property 4, Comet Works, presented to us a luxury rental, for two years, and it gradually turned into a nightmare. To begin with, the service issues were small. Failures to show up for property checks, maintenance issues not responded to, failure to respond to emails. This was an ongoing issue which acclimatised in August 2023 when the property was water damaged by an external leak. In August 2023, we returned home to a significant leak, no power and water damage. Despite immediately flagging the issue, no action was taken for four months. By November, the damage had worsened, with walls swollen, plaster crumbling, holes cut into the plasterboard and left open, bricks turning to dust, wooden beams beyond repair and electricity short-circuiting. Despite having four months to fix the issue with free access to the property, James Laurence showed no care or urgency, deeming the property satisfactory when it was far from it. Alone, this is problematic, but I also suffer from numerous autoimmune diseases, and I have significant allergies to dust mites and mould. Upon entering the property in November, when we had been informed the property was “immaculate,” I immediately broke out in hives, and had difficulty breathing. It worsened from there. As we tried to get this resolved, maintenance requests were consistently ignored, with serious issues like underfloor pressure leaks and mould left unaddressed for months, despite sending medical documentation presenting my severe allergies and autoimmune conditions. The offered "cleaner" was insufficient, as the problem ran deeper than surface level, all other concerns were dismissed. My health deteriorated significantly due to the mould, leaving me barely able to function and confined to the living room on a blow-up mattress due to asthmatic and allergic reactions in the bedrooms. Despite numerous pleas, James Laurence showed no sympathy or resolution, dismissing our concerns and illnesses. The property, advertised as "luxury," turned into a hellhole, with crumbling walls, blackened ceilings, and mould-filled cavities. Henry and Lindsay continuously dismissed our concerns, even as my health suffered. To add insult to injury, we had ongoing boiler issues, which they failed to investigate properly. We found, upon our own investigation, a pressure leak under the stairs which had been present for so long the floor boards had turned to sponge. This leak resulted in boiler failures, and an extortionate gas bill despite having no heating on one floor of the property and the property being vacant for a short term. Again, JL dismissed this, and told us to check our rates. The empathy level and efficiency offered by JL is zero. Please do not be fooled by their initial friendliness; the genuine service provided by James Laurence emerges once you're locked into a contract. The five-star reviews are coerced, requested by email upon receiving a contract for a property, and the true experience is a downward spiral of neglect and dismissiveness. Henry's awful & arrogant attitude only adds insult to injury, evident from his comments to less than preferable reviews. Steer clear of this letting agency unless you want to endure endless frustration and health risks. I wouldn't wish our experience upon anyone, it has been horrendous and the negative impact upon my health mental and physical has been monumental. Only now, after exiting the property am I beginning to recover. I can say, truthfully, that this is the lowest level of service I have ever received in my 32 years. I can't state strongly enough how much I would advise against using this company. Please do your research before letting JL manage your property, or having them as your property managers. Birmingham rentals usually have numerous agents assigned, so please, if you can, use an alternative. It will save you so, so much stress in the long run.