To the management,
I have just left this Hove branch to enquire about the following property: https:\/\/www.onthemarket.com\/details\/7639087\/
I became aware of this property instantly through "on the market" and telephoned numerous times. As my call wasn't answered or returned, I drove to your office (fighting the traffic and climate change activism taking place in the streets) to meet face to face as I have been looking for a property for over a month now. This is in the perfect location for my daughter's schooling and the advert clearly uses "favourable location" and proximity to schools as one of its features and assets. Please see screenshot of your advertising posted in the public forum.
I spoke, in person, with the lettings agent, Ollie, to book a viewing and was told I could be part of the (already 2 persons) block viewing. Upon mentioning that I would like to live in the property with my 9-year-old daughter (at school locally) was met with resistance and told I could not live in one bedroom with a 9- year-old that I had to live in a 2 bedroom. I explained my budget only afforded a 1 bedroom as location was more important than rooms as I commute to London and my daughter is at school near this property. I know the area well and am very aware of areas where there are waiting lists for permits and/or areas further out that perhaps have affordable 2 bedrooms but are not in walking distance to train and school.
I highlighted the false advertising of promoting this as a family-friendly which can be assumed when using the proximity to the local schools as one of its assets. I point out the contradiction and asked to speak with the manager. Ollie then returned back to me to state that the manager and who I could see behind the desk (and from your web pages was called Helen Pope) would be with me when she could as she had calls to make despite not being on a phone call at that moment.
Helen began to re-iterate the same; "I could not live in a one-bedroom property with a 9 years old", "she needs her own bedroom" (yes, in an ideal world but this is about needs and budget), it was a fire regulation (which has been dispelled by other agents) and the final one was that many people already viewing it (despite Ollie already telling me only two booked. I questioned why a couple would not be a fire hazard but a mother and child would? I also stated that my daughter and I were used to sharing a room. To this, Helen responded "it is for professionals". I asked her why she felt that language was ok to assume that I would not be a working professional and she tied herself in many linguistic knots contradicting all that was said. Such as " they already had a tenant for the property", the block viewings were "full".
I challenged her to call the owner whom she claimed to "know very well" and request that I may be able to live in the property with my child but it became clear that she and this agency would put obstacles every step of the way to put me forward as a tenant. I am upset as this lack of understanding regarding single parents - it is a culture of poor training and lack of education that single parents can also be " working professionals". I am not sure why your staff would think that a University Lecturer and Doctoral Candidate would not be a working professional. This is a culture of prejudice in which you are all complicit.
As you will see, I have submitted a review at all agents and will continue to post this publicly until I get a formal apology.
https://www.allagents.co.uk/review/369652/
Please understand, this is a formal complaint against rude staff and unethical practice and it is clear by this experience that your staff need educating about their use of language, equality, implicit bias and ethical standards alongside some customer service
I await your reply,
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