Tenancy review for Park Road Combs in Onehouse, Stowmarket rented from Darren Brick

Landlord rating: 1

The worst landlord I could have ever imagined. Any time you’d report a problem with their property they would first accuse you of causing it, or argue with you some other way. This landlord put up the rent by the maximum legal amount allowed; two years in a row and sends intimidating texts trying to convince you that you have to agree with it. He then goes on to say that if he was not legally bound that he would raise it by hundreds. The landlord does not reply to emails and consistently ignores you. This landlord does the minimum legally that he has to, and yet raises the rent twice during a global pandemic. The local area has a syndicate of landlords that actively try to buy properties so that Darren Brick can’t. Beware Darren Brick, he is the worst landlord I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with.

Property rating: 3

In fairness the actual property is beautiful and was made more so during our stay (with no help from the landlord). The oil boiler however was decrepid and broke constantly, and we learnt from a previous tenant (that is now a neighbour) that it had never been serviced in over a decade. The landlord prefers to accuse tenants of ‘buying dirty oil’ than to repair it. The pressure gauge is broken and the button markings have rubbed off a long time ago. The landlord refuses to fit a thermostat throughout tenancy. The front stable-style door was so badly fitted and drafty that we had to cover it and not use it. We had consistent mould problems in the bathroom which we kept reporting to no avail for over a year and half - until the slow leak finally gave in to a full bursting of the pipe in the wall. This could have been dealt with when we first reported it by a quick investigation by a plumber.

Area rating: 5

This area is a hamlet of lovely neighbours. Very quiet, nothing to do and no shops and that’s just how we wanted it.