• Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
    • Business Mag
  • Sport
    • Football
    • NAFC
    • Cricket
    • Durham Wildcats
    • American Football
    • Baseball
    • Rugby
    • Youth Football
  • Features
    • Blog
    • Picture Galleries
  • Community
    • A.T People
    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Aycliffe Today
Aycliffe Today
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
      Newcomer Ryan ‘elated’ to win Make Your Mark Award

      Newcomer Ryan ‘elated’ to win Make Your Mark Award

      Fast growth earns Small Business of the Year award for Murtek

      Fast growth earns Small Business of the Year award for Murtek

      Persistence pays off for Apprentice of the Year Matthew

      Persistence pays off for Apprentice of the Year Matthew

      Palram proud to be Aycliffe’s ‘Community Champions’

      Palram proud to be Aycliffe’s ‘Community Champions’

    • Business Mag
      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 70

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 70

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 69

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 69

  • Sport
    • Football
      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

    • NAFC
      Aycliffe FC celebrate record season with club awards night

      Aycliffe FC celebrate record season with club awards night

      Aycliffe narrowly miss out on play-off place – but achieve record league finish

      Aycliffe narrowly miss out on play-off place – but achieve record league finish

      Aycliffe’s play-off push on track – last home game Easter Monday!

      Aycliffe’s play-off push on track – last home game Easter Monday!

      Aycliffe boost play-off hopes with win in Leeds

      Aycliffe boost play-off hopes with win in Leeds

    • Cricket
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

    • Durham Wildcats
      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

    • American Football
      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

    • Baseball
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

    • Rugby
      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

    • Youth Football
      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

  • Features
    • Blog
      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

    • Picture Galleries
      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

  • Community
    • A.T People
      Spring 2015

      Spring 2015

      December 2014

      December 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
RESIDENT ‘GOBSMACKED’ BY ESTATE AGENT
Home
News

RESIDENT ‘GOBSMACKED’ BY ESTATE AGENT

October 17th, 2012 Martin Walker News 10 comments 2507

top banner

A Newton Aycliffe resident has been left “gobsmacked” by a Darlington-based Estate Agent which has been lambasted for its incompetence.

The Aycliffe landlord has been left frustrated by what he says has been a comedy of errors by sales and lettings agent Bellwood and Harris.

He says they:

● Handed over the keys of his house to a tenant, who was related to a member of their staff, without taking any bond or deposit before he disappeared

● Failed to collect the final month’s rent from another tenant, leaving him more than £250 out of pocket

● Didn’t even advertise his property for rent on their own company website when requested to, and

● Failed to keep him regularly informed of ongoing developments

Despite apologising – including an email from company director Justine Harris which said “once again I sincerely apologise for the issues you have encountered” – the company have since failed to take responsibility for their failings.

“They have been an absolute nightmare,” said the landlord, who asked to remain anonymous.

“To start with they got one tenant in very quickly and I was very impressed with them, but when it came to the second tenant, the nightmares began.

“He turned out to be related to a member of the Bellwood and Harris staff. They handed him a set of keys without taking a deposit or a bond, despite the fact he was on income support and seeking housing benefit, before he then disappeared to Scotland with my keys!

“It took me a month to retrieve the keys, even then I had to collect them from the Post Office and pay for the delivery, and I had no apology from Bellwood and Harris or offer of compensation.

“I gave them the benefit of the doubt, until the current tenant left the house before the end of his tenancy without notice and failed to pay his final month’s rent – Bellwood and Harris, although they have promised to pursue him through the courts, have so far failed to recover any of the money.

“I’ve just been gobsmacked by what’s been a comedy of errors and failings.

“Their experience in dealing with problem tenants would have to be questioned, and I’d certainly warn prospective landlords to think carefully before taking them on.”

Aycliffe Today have also received complaints from other Aycliffe residents who’ve suffered similar misgivings with the firm.

One, who asked not to be named, told us their communication is “extremely bad”, while another said she was left “banging her head against a brick wall” by their poor service.

Bellwood and Harris declined our invitation to comment.

 

top banner

Share it!

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Next article MEP ADDS SUPPORT TO TURBINE PETITION
Previous article AYCLIFFE MATCH POSTPONED

Related News

PCC driving national efforts to increase awareness about alcohol harm News
May 23rd, 2025

PCC driving national efforts to increase awareness about alcohol harm

Durham County Council appoints new leader News
May 21st, 2025

Durham County Council appoints new leader

Farage tells council diversity and climate staff to 'find alternative careers' after County Durham majority News
May 2nd, 2025

Farage tells council diversity and climate staff to 'find alternative careers' after County Durham majority

10 Comments

  1. Gillian F
    October 17, 2012 at 2:32 pm

    As a Landlord with properties with Bellwood & Harris I saw this article and called them. I have now heard the OTHER side of this story. I have to say I have been with the company for three years and have nothing but praise for the girls and the company as a whole. I would urge anyone reading this article to call the girls and hear what actually happened with this Landlord – the accusations are ridiculous in light of the real circumstances., but as I say – call them yourself .

    1. tania
      October 17, 2012 at 6:22 pm

      To be fair, Aycliffe Today did ask people to contact them with their experiences of the company – good or bad – via their facebook page before they wrote this. AND they were offered the opportunity to give their side of the story but they declined to comment.

      1. Mrs H Cook
        October 17, 2012 at 10:16 pm

        So – is the Landlord willing to name himself and his sources???? Hmmmm I understand he is not – those in the know will understand why!

  2. Stephanie Ely
    October 17, 2012 at 6:26 pm

    Couldn’t agree more with Gillian F outrageous story if you know the team. They are some of the most diligent hard working girls I have ever dealt with. I am always suspicious of people who choose to remain anonymous and see not one person has put their name to this article. I hope the girls are not too upset by this complete tosh – for the record my name is Stephanie Ely and I have worked with the girls at Bellwood & harris for three years see I WILL put my name to my comments!

  3. D wood
    October 17, 2012 at 9:48 pm

    What a HOWLER!! Just read Justines reply to Landlords – this bloke is a menace
    Justine, girls you are fabulous and I give you my support – hope you get the apology. It should be rightly grovelling
    Darren x

  4. Dave
    October 17, 2012 at 9:54 pm

    Go Girls
    Loved the pics!!! As they say a picture is worth. Thousand words where’s this guy coming from ,? Obviously one of those that gives landlords a bad name
    Don’t sweat it girls we still think you’re marvellous

  5. Nick
    October 17, 2012 at 10:35 pm

    In this authors opinion as I share the same surname of the company I should be related! How pathetic despite this I will add my support to the girls and say they consistently deliver great service I have had my share of ups and downs but Justine and the girls have always fully supported me and I feel deep sadness for their being at the receiving end of this trashy article. I am glad they have sought to face ths head on and wish them every luck in getting that apology.
    Tania also should note that offering to only publish part of any response is not really the same as declining to comment
    The Bellwood & Harris girls have my full support (same surname or not!)

    1. tania
      October 18, 2012 at 9:59 am

      Aycliffe Today have obviously been approached by a reader who has concerns about the service he has received. They have ran the article in an attempt to ‘champion the people’. If you had had a poor experience from a company, and you wanted your voice to be heard, I’m sure Aycliffe Today would try to give you that voice. @Nick – it says in the article that they ‘declined to comment’. Are you saying that this is not the case?

  6. AdeleC
    October 17, 2012 at 11:11 pm

    Totally understand justines frustration with this article particularly the so called anonymous landlord (?!) luckily this will be electronic fish and chip paper tomorrow just as it deserves. Chin up ladies

  7. Martin Walker
    October 18, 2012 at 10:51 am

    This story is based on FACTS which can and will be backed up by EVIDENCE. Bellwood & Harris were offered the opportunity to comment IN FULL. They didn’t offer any explanation whatsoever and showed no remorse for their client. How many Estate Agents give the keys to a client’s house without any form of bond or deposit? Is this standard practice? We have a duty to represent our readers, report facts and bad news stories as well as good. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I should point out this is not an open forum – all the comments above have been approved for publication by Aycliffe Today.

LATEST VIDEO

This week on A.T

May 30th 1:01 PM
Business

Newcomer Ryan ‘elated’ to win Make Your Mark Award

May 30th 9:22 AM
Community

Students enjoy Geordie photography trip

May 29th 9:22 AM
Business

Fast growth earns Small Business of the Year award for Murtek

May 28th 2:42 PM
Sport

Aycliffe FC celebrate record season with club awards night

May 28th 1:38 PM
Business

Persistence pays off for Apprentice of the Year Matthew

May 28th 8:39 AM
Community

Exploring sustainability: Students enjoy Florida trip

May 27th 12:55 PM
Business

Palram proud to be Aycliffe’s ‘Community Champions’

May 27th 10:22 AM
Sport

Aycliffe Cricket round-up

May 23rd 3:51 PM
News

PCC driving national efforts to increase awareness about alcohol harm

May 23rd 10:33 AM
Business

Window of opportunity leads to award win for Ralf

Recommend
Follow @AycliffeToday
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Community
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Back to top
© Aycliffe Today 2019. All rights reserved.
Developed by Thrive