Good Customer Support, Questionable Organisation
The customer care in my experience is very responsive during the opening hours. I am not sure of who exactly handled my booking, but the lady was very nice, answered all of my questions (and I had many) and ultimately helped to guide me through the booking process. If you are her supervisor, please give her a bonus or something.
However, the elephant in the room is the booking process and the organisation itself. It is very strict and the information you can find about it is not all clear or easily accessible. You need to do your homework and to double check all of your information if you are renting through this company. A lot of people pay 85 euros to apply, then spell their name wrong or put one number wrong for their phone number and end up having to pay 85 again.
For me, the administrative fees are quite high, not sure if they are legal. They do offer some explanations as to why, up to you if you find it convincing. This said, you be as lucky as me in having such a kind person handle your booking, then they can be lenient and process any last minute changes to your application.
I think overall this is an expensive option for international students who are desperate for a house, because nobody normally pays 40 euros for internet or has weekly cleaning/laundry that costs 140+ a month. They do this for 2 reasons. Obviously it is a revenue stream, but also to ensure the landlord has their place kept in peak condition to be rented out again.
This company does a lot of 'insurance' in this regard. People are coming into your house weekly & monthly to check things and to clean. You must have liability and home goods insurance to complete a booking. Your guarantors must send 6 months of bank statements or pay a deposit that matches your security deposit if they are from outside the EU. Some of this info could be made more readily available at the start of the booking process in my opinion.
The 1 star reviews calling it a scam are not entirely wrong. While this is a legitimate organisation with real houses, it is designed to take as much money from you as possible within the confines of the law and the conditions of your contract. DO NOT get the 'welcome to NL package'. 1200 Euros is NOT something you should pay to see a contract. Many of the properties listed do not have this offer. It is way too much money.
I cannot say anything about the houses themselves, as this is an issue between tenants and landlords (be they corporate or human). I have heard a lot about how the inspectors will exaggerate the condition of the place so that the deposit can be kept. IDK. I didn't get a place. Someone else got the place before me and I haven't received my 85 euros back as is stated on their website if someone completes their booking before you.
EDIT: got my 85 euros back, customer service rocks, highly responsive.
So:
customer support <3, 5/5 stars. Very understanding and helpful.
SHTH < / 3, 3/5 stars. A wolf that warns you that it will bite you that then bites you.

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