A high-profile property investor who says she has been a victim of fraud has accused an agent of “despicable” behaviour.
Nicole Bremner has used social media to complain about Your Move, in Rochester, Kent.
She said that she and her children are facing homelessness after the branch told her that a prospective landlord “had a better offer” on a property she says she wanted to rent.
She claimed: “I’ve always been an advocate of renting. I felt that it gave the renter flexibility to live where they wanted, shorter term to try out an area before committing.
“But that was before I became a renter and then became effectively homeless with my three children due to Your Move Rochester.
“My tale of woe started when I put down a holding deposit three weeks ago, naively believing the property was mine, and gave notice on my current property.
“I called Your Move yesterday to confirm collecting the keys and sensed something was going on. This evening they called to say the landlord had decided to rent to someone else. The exact words “yeah it’s terrible, heartbreaking…” without a hint of concern. Despicable.”
However, a spokesperson for Your Move said: “We understand Ms Bremner’s disappointment but we are obliged to put forward all tenant applications to the landlord and it is ultimately their decision who they rent to.
“The other party had viewed and offered previously and, in this instance, no tenancy agreement had been signed by Ms Bremner.”
Meanwhile Bremner says she is is to launch a new podcast series to warn others about the property industry which she says is “rife with charlatans”.
She is appealing on social media: “If you have been a victim and wish to tell your story as a warning to others, please get in touch . . . I hope no one ever experiences what I have been through.”
Bremner, who describes herself as an investor and author who provides real estate services, including marketing, property management and appraisals, has given no details as to what has gone wrong.
Last September, Bremner featured in EYE, offering a “large cheque” to anyone who could sell a South Kensington property on the market at £4.25m, which had failed to sell for two years.
She also said at the time that she had another 100 flats for sale.
So how would YOU sell this property asks desperate owner of flat that hasn’t sold in two years
Comments (14)
“A high-profile property investor who says she has been a victim of fraud has accused an agent of “despicable” behaviour.”
1. Who?
2. No fraud and should retract statement.
3. As a so called (experienced) property investor she must be fully aware of the due process
4. She jumped the gun with no tenancy confirmed …. winging because of her own foolishness.
“My tale of woe started when I put down a holding deposit three weeks ago, naively believing the property was mine, and gave notice on my current property.”
Yup naive!
Must be quite nice to think that having put down a holding deposit on that fabulous penthouse overlooking the harbour that the landlord is just going to hand over the keys 3 weeks later! i THINK i’LL TRY IT MYSELF.
The implication is that she had made no contact during that 3 week period, the agent however must have made some contact after 15 days re the holding deposit?
Something tells me we are not getting the full story here from either side, the only thing for sure is that this lady should be avoided as far as advice on property is concerned!
Who ?
The Agent is in a lose:lose situation here. Their client made the decision to rent THEIR property to someone else – that the Agent had to then convey that news to the prospective tenant. That news was never going to be gratefully accepted – and in this instance neither was it graciously accepted.
Today’s article explains a post I spotted on Twitter nearly 3 weeks ago, which started:
“Sadly I am a victim of fraud in property…”
A rather bold statement – and one which could potentially become the teeth that bites her on the sitty-down bit if YourMove were to feel that way inclined.
I sincerely hope that the lady and her family secured a property – it would seem that the week she had left has now expired if the timeline of events is reliable – but as a landlord one hundred times over surely she should appreciate how the rental system works and that UK property Law is still Subject to Contract in every event?
Displaying her naivety in this manner certainly doesn’t encourage me to spend time on YouTube digesting all of her apparent expert guides on the subject of property, I’m afraid…
I sincerely hope that the lady and her family secured a property.
She certainly did:
From her website: I’ve finally got around to posting my new home redecoration. In October 2019 I moved to Rochester, Kent, from Hackney. I’ve rented a tired but cozy house a short walk from the historic centre, and importantly, a short roll out of bed to the children’s school. I left with little more than our clothes and have completely started from scratch Given that this is a rental until I can find my dream home, I just wanted to make it homely and comfortable for me and my three children. I set myself the task of spending just £15,000 on everything (including TVs, fridge etc) and all (except the aforementioned items) from Ikea. It took five IKEA deliveries and three trips to the Greenwich store, including £1,100 in returns for things that didn’t fit. The result, in my opinion, is a warm, serene (when the kids aren’t here) home I’m proud of and comfortable in. Even if this house is home for a few years rather than months, I’m happy with that. What do you think? Curious if you can see the value in how I’ve apportioned the funds and if you think it’s good, bad or about right for £15,000.
King, new clothes, nothing to see here, move on.
That’s one blog we should all avoid.
Appreciate the reaction, whoever you are.
Care to have the ‘nads to explain exactly which part of my post you deem ‘dislikeable’?
Another fake it till you make it BS.
so called property investor who doesn’t know the standard protocol for renting? She seriously thought renting involved a holding deposit then she rocks up and asks for the keys? No reference checks no signing forms no deposit?
worth £120m and rents?
Yeah right, there’s another self titled millionaire ‘property expert’ out there, who’s bluffed her way to the top. She’s just moved out of her £300,000 flat – that’s the extent of her property empire.
These people have gaping flaws in their stories/LinkedIn profiles
Nicole?
We are victims too, witnessing your blatant attempt to hijack self publicity. You should be ashamed of yourself/your actions
By all means make a living however don’t do so in such a manipulative way
For balance, if you were Nicholas, not Nicole, my comments would be the same, plus 50%!
Headline should read – Shameful manipulation by Nicole Bremner – Self Publicist!
Frankly I am sick n’ tired of these Manipulative Social Media Self Publicists however in the spirt of goodwill Nicole I am delighted to award you the inaugural MSMSP Award – Congratulations!
She claims to have over 100 flats and nowhere to live?
Various cliches coming to mind here involving people in glasshouses and pots and kettles.
‘she is is to launch a new podcast series’
Is that perhaps the real reason for this story?
I don’t understand how someone fêted in the media as worth £120m is renting a house and may actually become homeless ?
As a “property investor” surely she is familiar with “subject to contract” – she didn’t ensure she had a contract signed before committing to other actions. Why does she then consider her own failings are the fault of someone else?
“but we are obliged to put forward all tenant applications to the landlord and it is ultimately their decision who they rent to.”