Barnard Marcus

I wasn’t sure I should write this review, since it was my own personal experience. But then someone else had a similiar one and I figured it was time to post.
I moved to London and needed to find a place that allowed a dog. It was hard and it was frustrating and I was new to the country. I went to have a meeting with Barnard Marcus and a man named Bahrul, who was cheerful and friendly and said he knew just the place.
We went and visited a spot in King’s Cross and it was lovely… except for the fact that there were a few major things wrong with it. Including, the microwave being built into the wall but the socket not working so it didn’t work at all, light switches broken, washing machine broken, blinds bent, walls cracked, fridge door broken and, of course the big one — the second lock in the front door missing.
They also didn’t know how to turn on the heating.
These were small things easily fixed, and they promised to fix them by the time I moved in.
The day I moved in, and I can’t stress this enough — Not a one of them was fixed. Not one. They also told me they didn’t know how to turn on the heating and I needed to figure it out myself. I could not figure it out and eventually just bought a small heater.
Bahrul promised they would be fixed within the month. Nothing fixed. Month two. Nothing fixed. I had emailed Bahrul and others at Barnard Marcus again and again, and they kept saying things would be fixed. They were not.
Coming on to month three, I said I would withhold rent or take this to court. Bahrul told me he would get it fixed. I told him that I was a man who believed in actions, not words, and I was willing to trust him on this. He said he was too and would get it fixed.
It was never fixed. When I called him out on this, Bahrul told me, and I quote: «Alex, we’re people. We’re not a bunch of men in grey suits getting things done.» I still have no idea what the hell that means. Also, isn’t that exactly what a leasing company should be?!
I finally had to drag the landlord into this, who was an understanding man and let me out of my lease early. They also finally sent a locksmith and an electrician, both who, I cannot make this up, made things worst. The first installed a lock that broke and locked me out of my apartment. The second who fixed the microwave but went into the wiring and broke that so none of the other appliances worked. I finally was given the permission to call my own electrician who fixed it on the first try.
I gladly moved out, after months of fights with literally the worst leasing agents I have ever seen. I have email after email saved and documented of just how bad they are and if I ever want to make myself furious for whatever masochistic reason, I go back and read them.
To end this story on a pitch-​perfect note, I had two phone calls from Barnard Marcus after I moved out.
The first was from Bahrul, telling me that he found the perfect apartment for me that he thought I should move into right away. I have to hand it to him, the man had guts. I think I hysterically laughed as I hung up.
The second was from the Barnard Marcus team asking me, again, cannot make this up, if I knew how to turn on the heating in my old place.
No, even today, I still have no idea.