Tenancy review for 53 Thayers Farm Road in Clock House, Beckenham rented from Mary Garside

Landlord rating: 1

Hostile and aggressive landlady who as soon as we signed our tenancy agreement claimed that we were ‘ungrateful’ when we questioned why a promised deep clean hadn’t taken place and repairs were not up to scratch. When slugs appeared on the carpet due to a gap in the old, broken front door she claimed ‘it’s an old house’ and that slugs on the carpet is ‘normal’. The Landlady lives on the same street and was always outside checking on us. When we questioned low standard of repair works she actually Blamed us for her high blood pressure and said she ‘was going to faint’. Do not rent from this landlady, especially if you’re a family, absolute nightmare for us and destroyed our mental health with, gaslighting and treating us like naughty children. she consistently claim she is a ‘victim’ of bad tenants and yet badmouths tenants to all the neighbours.

Property rating: 2

Was promised ‘everything needing repairing’ would be fixed before we moved in. This involved bodge job painting with a friend of the landlady’s not even bothering to pain to the top of the ceiling. Rotten window frames throughout house, doors that were warped and wouldnt shut or were sealed shut, extreme mould in bathroom, living room, back door and back bedroom. Cooker hood installed by handyman was hanging by one screw- dangerous and unstable. He joked, in front of the landlady ‘You won’t be doing pull ups off it, so what’s the problem?’... my husband fixed it himself.. (we also had a 2 year old in the house- complete disregard for any h&s). Claims we were ‘persecuting’ her by asking for a decent standard of repairs.

Area rating: 6

Really well connected and beautiful allotments behind property. Short walk to station and supermarket nearby. Very tranquil