BNS Property Services Omdömen 

Completely useless organisation which serves no purpose. Charges an exorbitant fee for absolutely no service, communication or enterprise.

The list of issues I have had with this company is so long I can't fit them here. I've been left with no option but to complain to the property ombudsman.

They issued an incorrect 'Service charge adjustment' in 2023. After pointing out that instead of me owing them money I was actually owed money for that period (using their own documents and simple arithmetic as evidence), it took a year (multiple emails and a 2nd stage complaint) for them to acknowledge that I was correct. Another year later, multiple emails and another complaint (ignored) and the problem is still not resolved.

This cause several other issues, such as me receiving 'credit control' letters for funds they agreed to freeze while they 'looked into the issue' (and just ignored).

They have raised the service charge every year (recently by > 20%), without providing any evidence of why that needs to happen. Yet simple maintenance is still not carried out. Tickets raised just get deleted (which I guess from their perspective solves the problem!) or, if after a poorly thought out (and expensive) attempt to solve the problem doesn't work they just ignore and give up.

When I asked for a summary of the previous years expenditures, which is a legal right under Section 21(3) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. This has also been ignored which means I will now have to go to an independent tribunal.

I see no reason why a legitimate and honest company would want to hide this information. I suspect it is because they are funneling maintenance funds back into their own pocket by paying their maintenance team for each job/call out. This would be such an obvious conflict of interest and waste of their clients funds they would rather we didn't have that information.

Avoid at all costs!

EDIT: It has now been 3 months since BNS replied to this review and I have received no communication from them whatsoever. Apart from receiving more 'credit control' letters for the funds they agree to put on hold. Should tell you everything you need to know really.

We had an excellent experience with BNS when we encountered some electrical issues at our Student accommodation. From start to finish, their service was top-notch! Special shout-out to James Harris, who went above and beyond to help us. Not only was he incredibly knowledgeable, but he was also very patient, taking the time to explain everything in detail and keep us updated throughout the process. His professionalism and support made what could have been a stressful situation much easier to handle. We truly appreciate his dedication and BNS's great service. highly recommend them ☺️

Received on 15/1/25 invoice for January 24 having previously paid two later invoices! Totally inefficient organisation who simply do not appear to know what they are doing! Fair play to the MD who responds personally however the business just appears to be out of control!

BNS Property Services has been a mixed experience. While they managed our property for a time, there were several challenges. Communication often fell short, with some requests for maintenance going unaddressed and a noticeable turnover in personnel, which made continuity a problem. At times, it felt as though the management style was more authoritative than collaborative. Financial transparency was another area of concern, with delays in accounts and unclear charges for services that seemed lacking. On a positive note, they have now been replaced, and improvements are evident. Overall, BNS did manage some aspects but left room for significant improvement. Worth considering carefully before hiring.

We had to call BNS because of an emergency electrical issue in our building in Bristol outside the normal office hours. Their response was great and someone attended within half an hour from our call! James, the electrician that arrived, was very helpful and friendly. He managed to identify, fix, and explain to us the issue within less than an hour. We will definitely call them again for any future issues.

I have lived in my flat for some time, previously managed by BNS for the past several years. Recently the property was sold and a new management company have taken over.

Quite honestly, now the new company have taken over, it feels like a breath of fresh air and I’ve realised now the impact of BNS on my mental health.

Any issues minor or major would always have been a long drawn out battle and if BNS wanted to do something it was always on their terms.

In a short space of time the new company have sorted out a plethora of issues around the building and in my flat and everything has been done with ease and proper, excellent communication.

Often when dealing with BNS and being a tenant managed by them; you’d be made to feel like a criminal or like you were to blame for their lack of interest in maintaining the property.

And breathe! What a relief to be rid of them. Good luck to anyone who has the misfortune of dealing with them. Especially Helen.

BNS have recently been appointed to manage the shared area of landscape, playground and litter bins on Brizen View. Initial assessment of their performance is very poor! An overflowed litter / dog poo bin has been brought to their attention; not rectified and not even acknowledged the contact (including photo of the issue). They appear very swift to issue charges but less swift at fulfilling their responsibilities!

Fleecehold!!

Criminal is the only way to describe them. £300 a year and they haven’t bothered to turn up for the first 6 months because some residents hadn’t paid their fees. My elderly neighbour couldn’t walk down the path to the shops because the hedges were so over grown so we had to trim them ourselves. Now that they want money from us, they have recommenced work on site, and have charged us to cut the already cut hedges… joke.

BNS was contracted to manage the communal areas of this urbanization on January 1, 2019. they appear on the Companies House website as having been incorporated in March 2024. The former management company resigned due to increasing difficulty in managing this development. They did not cite names.

There is an history of emails with BNS asking that they carry out remedial works and maintain the communal gardens, ignored - mostly. A lengthy gap of three months - Spring 2024 - communal halls and stairs not cleaned. The porches and bin store are never cleaned and one resident has taken the responsibility of clearing the bin store of fly tipping, etc., and cleaning the porch. BNS uses agency staff, incurring further cost.

BNS take instruction from Staverton Marina Management Co. Ltd. (SMMC). There is, at the present time, just one remaining director, who refers to me as "it" as in "it" has raised it ugly head...." This director denied that a leak originating from the en suite of the flat above, causing a cascade of water through the light fixture in my hall existed and refused to act. I am reliably advised that there is a considerable build up of mildew in the shower cubicle that would uphold my notification that the leak arose from that flat. The position that the director took in this matter is unacceptable and may be unrealistically biased against me in favor of the other party. (Doc.)

At the present time, this 18 year old development is in a very run down condition. Guttering that was damaged by a fall of coping mortar in 2016 was brought to the attention of management and ignored. The guttering is still awaiting replacement and repair to the stained brickwork. Two further falls in 2018 at the front and rear of the property could have caused severe injury or a fatality. BNS was not on board at this time.

The communal gardens urgently require remedial attention. Trees and shrubs, at the front and rear are diseased, dead or dying. Only the grass is mowed twice a month by a private person, operating from the trunk of his car. Several maple trees have appeared in the middle of a Red Robin shrub. Advice of their presence - ignored. The far end of the property is consistently ignored and this is where most of the problems are located. A prunus that management had cut back to form into a bush is diseased and almost dead. A three foot high temporary wire fence was removed and replaced by a wood fence, leaving a large area unsecured.

The windows have not be cleaned this year. The guttering and roof requires clearance of moss and debris.

Guttering above the entryway canopy is not aligned with the brickwork leaving a gap where rainwater cascades down into the mailboxes soaking residents' mail. Ignored. AGM 2018 - Chairman advised that the mailboxes are demised to the individual apartments. Emails asking how we were expected to maintain them - ignored.

The intercom system push buttons do not show apartment numbers. I created a color coded list showing which push button related to which apartment. An SMMC director, in the process of removing furniture prior to completion took the notice down twice. It showed that their flat did not have a working doorbell. The new buyer has advised that they were not made aware of this omission.

All emails dating from August 28 to October 5, 2024 have disappeared despite sophisticated encryption and security. Among those missing is an email thread from BNS who wrote confronting this reviewer using the reviewer's personal email address regarding the negative reviews. BNS followed up and issued an email alleging "Unreasonable Behaviour" and quoting an unrealistically high number of emails that they claim I had generated following up requests for essential works and maintenance to be carried out that had been ignored. This may be age discrimination as BNS do not recognize that my age group - 80+ were educated differently.

NOTE: BNS appear to regard "Follow Up" as "persistent" and "Unreasonable Behaviour!" The email, from Customer Service was sent anonymously! Why?

Had works and maintenance been carried out within a reasonable time period, there would be no need for follow up.

There has been a considerable turn over of personnel and a change of ownership. Inquiries into the structure within BNS were met with the statement "you are told what you need to know." This is completely unacceptable. The background of any contractor would be checked before contract and changes queried!

BNS, appear to believe that they have the right to reprimand, challenge and give instruction to the shareholders who pay their salaries. Absurd, but common practice. They believe that they are "the boss." I think not. No contract = no salary!

The right of shareholders to a "voice" appears to be in jeopardy.

Avoid these guys like the plague.
Ultimately they issued a section 24 notice to install gates and a perimeter fence. Which were never provided and the money was never accounted for.
NO accounts were submitted by them for the last few years! FORCING US directors to submit non trading accounts so putting us directors in breach of our duties.
WHEN WE FINALLY LEFT, BNS charged for work not done AND it took over a year to get MOST of the money back they owed us. NO "hand over" accounts were submitted.
THE NEW management company is collecting the same monies, but we can actually see work being done - unlike BNS. AVOID BNS like the plague.

Dreadful company. Ignore all issues in your building but keep putting fees up for a drop in service. If you see BNS as the management company of your property, run a mile!

Expensive and do not respond to queries. It is almost impossible to speak to anyone in the company.

Thank you for your reply albeit I am very surprised you had the time and a member of staff to reply.

One question for the fella from the circus ( Simmons ) why is it you seem to have a different accounts manager each and every time I call, only to be met with the same ( oh so and so has left the company) speaks volumes of this car crash of a company.

I have on numerous occasions requested a meeting with the head clown as named above but he is spineless and hides behind the staff as I have previously mentioned in a previous review hence he can’t keep his staff.

Man up and grow a set Simmons and Agree to a meeting,

worst company I've ever dealt with in my life! no one takes responsibility, the account managers are changing all the time, no one picks up when you call them - absolutely terrible!

Going to ombudsman about them .
2 properties were managed ( haha)
By them ,not anymore

Useless , they fitted a new communal door to block of flats , didn’t fit security lock until a week after . 5x phone calls , now 3 weeks later flats are getting no letters as they didn’t fit a letter box , keep phoning and keep getting fobbed off so no letters for three weeks , how hard is it to fit a letter box , lock and letter box should have been fitted when door was fitted, reading the reviews I can see this is a bad company that are not professional

Repair work to guttering damaged by a fall of two chunks of coping mortar, now dating back to 2016. Persistent requests for repair ignored.

Email from BNS:

"....your requests for repair will be reviewed and I'll advise once a decision has been made..."

A further fall of coping mortar front and rear of the property that could have caused life changing injury or fatality was reported in 2018, with more coping mortar overhanging populated areas, ready to fall. (Doc.) Remedial work carried out but that did not include repair to the guttering, the subject of the 2016 report! (Doc.) Still under consideration....?

Routine maintenance is not carried out. Is whether or not routine maintenance is carried out also the subject of much "pondering" by the two BODs of Staverton Marina Management Co. Ltd., (SMMC?)

Communal gardens and landscaping - out of control - and works and planting that were promised as far back as 2018 - we still wait with interest and concern. In one case, landscaping and maintenance work has been so neglected that a ground floor window is completely obscured by overgrown shrubbery, etc. Still being "pondered upon - possibly?

A temporary wire fence was removed in 2022 with no replacement and a spike of wire dangerously protruding from a fence post has still not been clipped back after constant reminders. Constant alerts regarding the total lack of security at the rear of the property. A three foot high fence affords no security whatsoever.

Why did SMMC recommend BNS to the shareholders? Is it possible that SMMC either do not have confidence in BNS, or are they reluctant to spend our management fees on routine repair and maintenance? Are our management fees gathering dust or interest?

Nil pointe!

2 July, 2024 - two man gardening crew sent out to clear shrubbery that was very evident and in clear view when driving down the cul de sac. It was totally out of control, obstructing a ground floor window, and immediately adjacent to council land. Comment by team leader that they were leaving the shrubbery that bordered a high boundary brick wall (about 10') higher against the wall so that "the little s----s do not jump over it")! The same ethos, apparently, does not apply to the rear of the property - a three foot high fence and no security anywhere. CCTV prohibited! Constant vandalism and theft. (Doc.)

Management claim that they did not know that this area was their responsibility to maintain. Surely, SMMC knew this! There is an architectural plan that was in the possession of the original salesman, and should be in the possession of BNS/SMMC. Despite my repeated alerts, this too, was ignored. I produced a copy of the plan several years ago when additional planting was being put in. Laughed at and ignored. SMMC chairman refers to me as "it" as in "it has raised its ugly head..." Response to a leak from floor above. (Doc.)

Much needed maintenance put off until August 2024. No mention of repair to damaged guttering.

Usual generic response from BNS on this site. Interesting, that! Until just the last couple of days, my alerts have been systematically ignored, and I have addressed this with BNS. And now, suddenly, a reaction!

On new development in Wiltshire which BNS took over in April 2024, still waiting for response about grass cutting for over a month. Yet they were so quick to send an invoice. Very disappointed and improvement needed.