Hobdens Property Management Ltd - Littlehampton

Dale B.

The Rossetti Gardens estate was previously managed by Sanders Property Management which was acquired by Hobdens Property Management. As a managing director for the estate it was apparent that Hobdens weren't up to the task, with limited staff resources causing delays to budgeting and invoicing, amongst a multitude of other things.

In early 2024 our property manager Josh soured the relationship due to the following -

1. Despite multiple requests for the 2024 budget in November 2023 a budget was not provided. This lead to the service charge invoices not being sent to residents in December 2023.

2. In January 2024 residents were informed that there was no reserves to pay for scheduled works in the estate. This information was false as there was over £5k of reserves available at the time. Due to this multiple residents were enraged and frankly made me feel unwelcome in my own home / neighbourhood. This ultimately resulted in myself and the other director resigning from our positions.

3. In the interim whilst there was no managing director in place, a budget and subsequent invoicing was sent out to all residents. In an AGM I questioned Josh and his manager Scott as to who approved this. Subsequently we learnt that this had not been agreed with anyone, allowing for Hobdens to increase their management fee for a frankly appalling service.

For the rest of 2024 with a new Managing Director in place it is apparent that the relationship with Hobdens and the Rossetti Gardens estate did not improve. Issues were either fixed or ignored (I assumed there was no reserve funds left due to this). Personally I feel that as a resident you should not have to approach a managing director to report issues, as the management company should address them. But Hobdens left no other alternative as information was not relayed. In any communications I did received from Hobdens the tone was one of utter disrespect and condensing which is unacceptable.

Rossetti Gardens terminated it's contract with Hobdens at the end of 2024. Despite putting in writing that they'd create a budget for 2025 they did not, I wasn't surprised by this.

I would not recommend Hobdens Property Management.

SOS M. C.

A worse managing agent is difficult to imagine. Absolutely no response from Hobdens to any enquiries from leaseholders. They allow slum like conditions to fester. Lift out of order for 8 weeks. Flooding of entire areas of the common parts due to lack of drain clearance. Another gravy train agent that is only interested in raking in money off a useless board of directors, in this case the pitiful board of MCFL. On top of all this Hobdens charge way over the average per flat for services not rendered. AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!

Sarah R.

My advice to other disgruntled lessees is to take Hobden's to the First Tier Property Tribunal - I have done this twice and won both times. The law is the law and if they refuse to comply with it, the law will enforce them to do what they should have done in the first place. Despite their comments below it is true. The debt only consists of contributions to reserves and therefore has zero effect on the day to day management. If that were the case, the debt owed by the freeholders would also have the same effect

Victoria B.

Still sending me notifications for my deceased relative which we no longer have a property for. So upsetting. I have also paid the existing balance twice. Hobdens are refusing the update their accounts and are not given me a refund for over payment.

Amy C.

My nan is having an awful experience with this company, their property has been charged over £33,000 ( plus service charge of 12.5k) and we can’t see where this money has been spent. Nobody will give her any answers so we are now considering going to the local papers. Thankfully my nan has kept track of everything over the years and has extensive proof of how badly things have been handled. The photos show the ‘freshly’ painted and repaired windows, and also the gate that my nan was told not to touch or restore as it didn’t belong to her…. All we want to know is where her money is going, and why this work has been carried out at such a low standard with the price charged.

Harry

Leaving trees overhanging onto my balcony on the sea front is unbearable. Everyday I’m removing needles and branches. Gardeners at the convalescent home will not communicate about this issue. Have a word please the tree will be in my living room come march. I’m at the martlets seafront end

Olegs K.

Abandoned car has been rotting on York Gardens communal car park since 2018. Hobdens promised they would remove it many times over the years but failed to do so. They refuse to action formal complaints and now refuse to communicate. Simply ignore emails and when you call them - they just promise to call you back and forget about you.
Reply from Hobdens below states that I have received a reply to complaints - that's a lie - I am still waiting for a response to stage 3 complaint.
Hobdens responder below calls residential car park - private land. This parking space is part of residential car park, not private parking space allocated to a specific flat.
12/12/23 Alison stated that car was not abandoned because of SORN. I raised stage 3 complaint. 09/01/24 Ellis stated that that was a communication error and that abandoned vehicle would be removed (but failed to remove it).
SORN is a tax status for vehicles parked off public road e.g. abandoned vehicles - Hobdens responder does not seem to be aware of that.
Thank you Hobdens for confirming that you consider tenants to be second-class residents.
This is the photo of the car that Hobdens considers as "not abandoned" since 2018.

Nick H.

This is the most unprofessional outfit I have come across in some time. They don’t maintain there properties properly and when they have an issue with mould due to there negligence they blame the tenant if I could give no star review I would