Watson PM Reviews 76

This company applied an admin charge after they only provided a second reminder for a bill that never arrived. They tell me they sent out emails but I haven't received either of the first two. Any other company would have given the customer the benefit of the doubt and made apologies. This isn't an isolated incident but part of an ongoing problem with the management companies that deal with the apartments where I am a leaseholder. I don't have any choice, but I'd follow the advice in the previous comment and avoid this company if you can.

I think that Watson PM may be on its way out. They used to have a portal for Leaseholders called "My Watson" so you could see how Leaseholder funds were being spent. It has now been over a year since 1) it was updated and 2) they put up a message stating "Sorry. This page is closed for maintenance." This message has been up since October 2020. I have even offered to help and/or get other IT professionals to assist them. This is not the sign of a well-run company is it? If they cannot find anyone to help them maintain their portal, it is probably an indication of more substantial issues.

It would be good if Watson could explain what is (or is not) going on and why.

I have written to them for a year without even an attempt at a detailed reply.

I am a Leaseholder on an estate that dispensed with the services of Watson in early 2020. This followed an apartment building (Watermans Place) on the same estate also letting Watson go and appointing another company.

If you are looking for a property management company - I would recommend you look for a company that can give you full information on how your Leaseholder funds are spent.

VERY VERY VERY BAD
There are many better management companies out there, with more professionalism, quicker responsiveness, and all for much better value.

Everyone here regrets that WPM are in charge.
Service charge - very expensive
Staff - rude and abusive
HQ - cheap and nasty
Maintenance - non existent in many cases.

woeful and aweful and a mouthful of waffle

The director of WPM actually thinks the customer just likes to complain for a laugh - no, Mr Omant, its because your shoddy services are a rip-off.
How about actually getting the window cleaner to clean the windows or the roofer to fix the roof rather than making it worse.
No, youd rather threaten customers with the police.

Know your rights

J.H Watson Property Management Limited, trading as, WATSON, but also trading as Watson Property Management (WPM) are renowned for their:

- Poor Quality Service
- Lack of Communication
- Total Lack of Transparancy
and, more importantly,
- Skimming the accounts of Residents Property Management Companies (RPM's) and making false claims.

Please read your 'Property Lease' (available from your mortgage lender) AND the Articles of Association from your RPM (available from the Companies House website) VERY CAREFULLY, as WATSON will deviate in their favour.

Also read and understand the Service Charges - Summary of tenants' rights and ownership document.

In many cases, you can REFUSE to pay excessive Service Charges and alleged 'major works'. WATSON will threaten to sue you, and as in my case, take you court, however, the court ruling can be set aside (annulled) because WATSON will supply false documents.

Remember to always keep copies of your correspondence with WATSON, and preferably, CC: complaints at rics dot org and admin at tpos dot co dot uk

Note that WATSON use the 'divide' and 'conquer' approach to property management and will divide the tenants/shareholders/leaseholders to ensure their supremacy. It is, therefore, VERY IMPORTANT, to operate as a collective partnership against them.

Final notes, most of you should be aware that Deanne Stephanie Hall (RPM Company Secretary) and Stephanie Hall (associate director - WATSON) are, in fact, the same person.

If the accounts are audited by Brays Limited, on behalf of Watson Property Management, you can write and complain to the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales (ICAEW).

Check the accounts VERY CAREFULLY and demand to see ALL receipts and invoices.

YOU HAVE RIGHTS.

This review is dated 03/03/2021.

Salient details are:

(1). A relatively high service charge over consecutive years for the premises compared with other 'like for like' sites. Based on the same, WPM has been contacted & requested to provide a full detailed breakdown of building expenditure & supporting documentation. WPM did provide this for only a limited time frame & with no supporting documentation. A review of the same has resulted in additional concerns - see below.

(2). Concerns raised over declining service standards, building maintenance & other issues.

(3). The above two factors are impacting property values.

(4). A general lack of responsiveness & communication on the part of WPM as a Service Provider.

(5). A review of the expenditure details provided has highlighted further concerns, including a possible lack of cost control & good faith.

Several Lease Holders have subsequently written to WPM to constructively express concerns, invite feed-back on any action plans going forward & challenge this year's Service Charge.

All concerned look forward to a positive & constructive dialogue with the Service Provider & hope this can be reflected in an improved rating.

As of the above date, I have awarded WPM TWO STARS - I believe this is fair in light of the above issues.

After reviewing some of the more favourable reviews on Google, it soon becomes clear that they are either from Sub-Contractors or persons appointing WPM on their behalf. Sadly, the more unfavourable reviews seem to be from normal Lease Holders & reflective of my experience with WPM. I would encourage WPM to perhaps pay a little more attention to the Client/Service Provider relationship & understand that WE are also your Clients & the Service Charge is OUR money.

This review will be updated periodically to reflect any changes (positive or negative) & it is hoped that any reply from the Service Provider to this review will be a little more constructive than the usual rhetoric posted on their part.

Incompetent and negligent - Emma from Watsons Property Management deliberately failed to respond to messages and calls then lied about not knowing we were trying to get hold of her (funny, a director of the board/resident told you I could not get any response from you). Watson Property Management left a serious leak which is flooding the apartment for months - ongoing issue for several years and they just let water run into the apartment which has trashed everything and the place is uninhabitable and 'incompetent' Emma now said the repairs to the flat will start imminently and it has been cleaned up despite being sent images of a 'water fall' flowing in and water everywhere. Liaising with the residents board / other residents to get this management company sacked at the upcoming review. Legal action coming your way Watson Property management. management being a joke, these clowns could not even manage their own underpants let alone a block of apartments.

Their contractors left urine stains all over the toilet area and dirt debris and water all over the bathroom, the flood damage is so extensive that flat cannot be lived in or let out and despite this ongoing issue I was ignored and no one would return my calls.

Their contractors also used MY apartment to store 'crap' belonging to other apartments which was mouldy and dirty and incompetent 'Emma' keeps stating that these were 'materials' despite being sent images... Watson Property Management/contractors also unlawfully shut off the water to a domestic dwelling (it was not causing a leak when they knew the flood was coming in from the roof which had been negligently patched up by cheap and incompetent contractors they employ). Complete 1di@ts - avoid this company. Level of damages means this will be a high court case - bring it on, this is WAR. I SUGGEST YOU DESIST FROM WASTING MY TIME AND RESPOND TO MESSAGES - everything in writing you bunch of clowns.

Watson PM attempted to fine my daughter £234 for breaking a lift during her tenancy at Candle House by overloading a lift with a divan bed despite the fact she was in the bed at the time recovering from major surgery.
Then they attempted to charge for disposal of the same bed 3 months later, and at the same time as the lift fine when she moved out. Absolute jokers, they had absolutely no evidence, tried bully boy tactics on us to get JLL to recover it from her deposit. Where were the witness statements you vehemently claimed you could produce in court? Nowhere, as they don't exist, just like your CCTV footage! You lost in the adjudication, unfortunately the poor landlord stumped up your fake charges, you should be ashamed and refund him if you had any kind of conscience.
The lifts are always broken and well you know it, try putting all the apartment numbers back in the bowl and pick another innocent victim for your money-clawing scam, you failed on this attempt.
Also attempted to extort a further £70 to prove they used a waste contractor with a valid licence, when the information is available in the public domain for free. No sustainability awareness or green ethics, rude and obnoxious staff who refuse to answer reasonable questions. FYI an invoice does not constitute proof!

No communication with their leaseholders. They allow overspend on major budgeted work with no explanation or justification. They do not keep to their own complaints procedure.

Watson Property Management has allowed the communal spaces in our building, which they manage, to deteriorate during the course of their management. There are rats in the courtyard, mice in the buildings, piles of rubbish left in the courtyard, peeling paint, stained carpets and an intercom system that does not work. In addition, we used to have the use of a communal roof, which is now deemed unsafe as a result of years of no maintenance.