Expensive and not up to scratch: Tenants lament Brixton experience at hands of property firm Lexadon
By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter
A man claims his experience renting from a landlord was so bad it made him move back to the US.
Ricardo Rauseo paid 12 months’ rent upfront (£21,000) to secure a one-bedroom flat in Brixton from landlord Lexadon in 2022, after starting a master’s degree at the London School of Economics.
Equivalent to £1,750 a month, the property’s online advert boasted of ‘modern fittings’ and showed a smart communal roof terrace lined with potted plants, while Lexadon was described as providing a ‘unique and fresh approach to renting’.
But the 28-year-old claims that upon being handed the keys, the flat failed to live up to the promises of the original listing.
Mr Rauseo said he and his partner were left shivering due to a living room window that wouldn’t close, while faulty bedroom lights resulted in them having to use a torch to see at night.
Pictures shared by Mr Rauseo of the roof terrace show a single dying potted plant and rubbish discarded on the decking.
Mr Rauseo, who now lives in New York, said: “Knowing it was expensive, we expected some professionalism.
“We didn’t understand how we could pay so much for a flat and there be no sense of accountability. It was like, if this is the most I can afford and this is how I am treated, what would the situation be in a cheaper flat?
“It was so destabilising that me and my partner decided to move out of London and back to the USA. I’m sure there are other landlords who aren’t as incompetent, but it affected us so much. A hundred per cent we would have remained in the UK if this hadn’t happened.”
Mr Rauseo emailed Lexadon 15 times over seven months about repairs needed to the windows. Lexadon told Mr Rauseo he would have to pay the bill for a contractor the landlord sent out to resolve issues with lights in the property.
Mr Rauseo added: “The renting experience was a culture shock. I thought it would be similar to the USA with housing and it just was not. In New York the housing market is very competitive. It’s incredibly difficult and the rent is expensive, but there’s an expectation of a certain level of standards. That was just not the case here.”
Chas Ochalek, who rented a £1,547 per month one-bedroom flat in the same apartment block in Coldharbour Lane between July 2022 and October 2023, described her experience with Lexadon as ‘frustrating’.
The 38-year-old said: “The front door to the building was always stiff. Frequently you wouldn’t be able to get in. We had to buzz other people in the building and hope somebody would let you in.”
Ms Ochalek claimed that eventually the door was left unlocked by Lexadon, which resulted in strangers coming and loitering in the hallway of the building.
Vito Moloney Burke, who paid £630 per month to share with four others in Brixton between September 2020 and September 2022, claimed Lexadon were ‘unpleasant’ to deal with.
He said: “In the first few months one of my housemates was sat around and the kitchen chair just collapsed under her. We got in touch with Lexadon to sort out some new chairs and they came back and accused us of using force to cause the damage so we were liable.”
Lexadon have been approached for comment, but have not responded.
Pictured top: Ricardo Rauseo (Picture: Ricardo Rauseo)