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- Hotblack Desiato - Islington
Hotblack Desiato - Islington
314 Upper Street, Islington, N1 2XQ
We opened our first office on Upper Street since 1979. Our Camden office opened soon afterwards and Highbury followed but not until 2006. We offer competitive fees, a friendly, honest and transparent service and always go the extra mile for our clients, aiming to achieve the best possible price.
Please call for a free, no obligation market appraisal and to see what we can do for you.
Opening hours
- Monday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Tuesday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Wednesday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Thursday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Friday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Sunday Closed
View all details
Accreditations
Hotblack Desiato - Islington Reviews (47)
Have you used this agent?
79%
2%
2%
0%
17%
All (47)
Seller (15)
Buyer (9)
Landlord (2)
Tenant (10)
General (11)
R Mahmood
I recently worked with Charlie Sydee from Hotblack Desiato while renting my new place.
Charlie was the landlord’s agent, and honestly, he made the whole process way smoother and less stressful than I expected. He was calm but enthusiastic, super honest about the flat (even the less-than-perfect bits), and just really easy to deal with. Always early, always responsive, and even helped chase things up with the property management team after I moved in—which, from what I gather, isn’t usually part of the job.
Also, solid coffee recommendation—very appreciated.
All in all, the experience was great. Would definitely recommend Hotblack, and especially Charlie!
Tenant
11th Apr 2025 (30 days ago)
C Crighton
Rachel was an absolute star when it came to helping me find my apartment & went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for me moving in! Couldn’t recommend Hotblack enough ?
Tenant
13th Feb 2025 (12 weeks ago)
Takemethere
I stayed in a flat for 4 years and never missed a payment. I engaged a professional cleaner to do the end-of-tenancy cleaning. It was apparently not to HBD's standards and they wanted to charge me £400 for cleaning. I negotiated down to £250 on the basis they would return my deposit immediately. It took 3 weeks of chasing to get my money back. For these reasons, I gave them 3/5.
Other thank this, they were OK.
Tenant
23rd Aug 2024 (8 mo. ago)
S G
We have had awful experiences with HBD’s maintenance of the flat which we rent.
HBD manage the property and have left us without hot water and heating for 6 days and counting. They have not proposed any solution for the total lack of hot water and have ignored repeated requests for alternative temporary accommodation and a rent refund for the period.
It feels like the property manager lacks any empathy for us as they seems to have to no qualms with leaving a pregnant woman in a house indefinitely without hot water or proper heating.
Their attitude seems to be that it’s not their problem if parts need to be ordered and that the tenants are expected to live in horrific conditions while paying full rent. It’s truly shocking.
Tenant
22nd Apr 2024 (1 year ago)
R clare
This review is specifically about Elena who is just a completely excellent badass property manager for the place I'm renting. She sorts things out immediately, sends people who get the job done. No time is wasted. She doesn't hesitate to step in and sort out issues. She's the perfect person to have taking care of your place.
Tenant
21st Mar 2024 (1 year ago)
J Noble
I rented my flat through Hotblack Desiato and would highly recommend them. They provided invaluable advice in getting the flat ready, including connecting me to some top rate contractors. When it was ready they found great tenants within a couple of days.
Landlord
11th Mar 2024 (1 year ago)
Anonymous Home Buyer
This was the most dissapointing viewing experience ever. I would never try to do a business with this team as they have poor organisational skills and non of the members want to take responsibility for their mistakes. I thought I was being scammed when they failed to send me the confirmation email for the viewing three times despite me calling them to remind and still I wasn't sent the address details. They told me the wrong address on my last call 15mins prior to the viewing and sent me to another of their properties where I waited for 20 mins calling them repeatedly asking where the agent was. Their call agent was so incompetent that she stopped answering my calls when she realised that I was given the wrong address and had been waiting on the door with a confused landlord offering me to show the flat herself... What a nightmare. The same person answered when a called another line of theirs and told me that her "colleague" made a mistake with the address details. I went to the other flat immediatly and the agent told me off by saying he didn't even have my name on the list and was being very inconsiderate and unapologetic about the whole situation.. I never encountered such an unprofessional behavior by any real estate agency before in my life.
Buyer
9th Mar 2024 (1 year ago)
I H
I recently completed on the sale of my flat (having purchased through Hotblack a few years ago). They did a wonderful job in terms of listing and viewing the property. I felt they were easy to communicate with and provided me with honest and valuable advice throughout. Selling a flat is inevitably stressful; the agents at Hotblack were perpetually positive and supportive. I am very grateful to everyone involved in the process, Mehdad and Charlie in particular.
Hotblack Desiato stand out for me (in comparison to other estate agents I have dealt with); they were calm and straightforward. I felt confident of a good outcome by choosing them.
Seller
12th Dec 2023 (1 year ago)
M McQuillan
Mehdad & Charlie were fantastic leaders, supporters, facilitators and fixers throughout the process of selling my flat. A perfect amount of consistent pressure & guidance applied wherever it was needed helped get it to completion. Their always-fast responses provided reassurance that I was in good hands. I would not hesitate to recommend and engage again.
Seller
27th Sep 2023 (1 year ago)
H Jackson
We had a fantastic experience with Mehdad at Hotblack when buying our flat. He was attentive and the communication was excellent throughout. When we had bumps in the journey he was really hands-on to try and fix them for us and without him the sale may not have gone through, so we are really grateful!
Buyer
17th Sep 2023 (1 year ago)
A Berlin
Terrible staff and management, avoid at all cost!
9th Aug 2023 (1 year ago)
S Branca
Really good experience with Maya from Hotblack Desiato while searching for a flat to rent. She always sent to me the kind of flats I was looking for. The process was smooth, from arranging the viewing to the offer process and the contract signing.
Thanks for your help and kindness.
Tenant
25th Jul 2023 (1 year ago)
K Beelen
We are thankful to Saskia and Mehdad from Hotblack Desiato for their outstanding assistance and professionalism during our flat purchase. Their expertise and dedication made the entire process very smooth. Thank you both for the positive experience!
Buyer
28th Jun 2023 (1 year ago)
P Skellen
First class service from Mehdad, Charlie and team. Selling a house is a major undertaking and it's essential to have good people with you who know their business and are sensitive to the fact that normal life has to carry on alongside viewings etc. Five stars on all of it ????
Seller
22nd Jun 2023 (1 year ago)
L Moore
All sweetness on light when trying to get you on board and promise the earth. When you’ve not had one viewing in nearly two weeks they rewrite history, are rude, refuse to speak to you and proceed to hang up on you, and crucially don’t cancel the contract when you expressly ask them to. They pretend your only option is to give 2 weeks notice instead. You can cancel any contract within 14 days. It’s the law. Don’t let them bully you. I wouldn’t touch them again with a barge pole.
21st Jun 2023 (1 year ago)
J C
Just completed on a purchase as a first time buyer and Hotblack Desiato Islington went above and beyond to ensure the process was as smooth as possible.
In particular, I want to give an immense thank you to Charlie for his outstanding dedication and to Mehdad for his exceptional expertise.
As an American new to the UK real estate market, it could have been daunting, but Charlie was communicative, reassuring, and meticulous every step of the way - he not only recommended a great broker who then facilitated a solicitor, but he also liaised with the seller to make sure additional works and enquiries were addressed in due time.
It has been an absolute joy working with Charlie and I wholeheartedly recommend him when buying your next property!
Buyer
6th Jun 2023 (1 year ago)
T R
I worked with Hotblack Desiato's Matteo G. to buy my property recently and was happy with the service I received.
Buyer
14th Apr 2023 (2 years ago)
M A.
Horrible experience. The agents are extremely rude when you come to end your tenancy. I rented a flat with Hotblack Desiato about 9 months ago and have now decided to end my tenancy (because of issues with the flat which cannot be fixed) and that is when I received shocking treatment from the agents, particularly Jessica Pinnick, over wanting clarity as to the exact date of when my tenancy ends (i.e, is it the day on which I hand back my keys or the day after). This is a basic question on my end that should be confirmed and clarified (if there’s confusion) by the agents without me having to chase for an answer and especially without receiving a rude phone call from Jessica.
Tenant
19th Jan 2023 (2 years ago)
Anonymous Home Buyer
Can’t believe how helpful this Estate Agents are. Stuart was so very helpful to me and always answered my queries. If I choose to move again, I wouldn’t hesitate to use them.
Buyer
31st Aug 2022 (2 years ago)
K Hutchins
We have used Hotblack for a number of years and they have always been very helpful and professional. They have managed a couple of our properties and have assisted us with a recent sale. They always go the extra mile and no task seems too tricky!
Seller
30th Aug 2022 (2 years ago)
A Garcia
extremely poor experience. I was booked for a viewing and they send me the information thinking it will be fast and nice service. i was wrong. they send me the wrong address, i was waiting 10 minutes outside before i called the office. the man who responded me seemed really he didn’t care at all i was waiting outside with 37 degrees. he said i send him a message saying you were outside, didn’t even ask me where i was. btw; they didn’t send me any phone number of the person who i was doing the viewing with.
then another 10 minutes. again 37 degrees outside. I call again as no one have come to pick me up, and same man answers. i tell him again, i am standing outside waiting. He sounds like he can’t be bother and says he will give the phone of the person. i call to the person, no answer. I finally called one more time to the office. same one answers and i am frustrated this time. when i sounded angry, he finally asks me where i was. and then is like, oh you are probably in the wrong address.
I left of course as I was dying of the heat. Bad experience, no help.
18th Jul 2022 (2 years ago)
B ward
Just sold my house with these guys, I liased with Stuart for the most part, I was updated throughout and found them to be very professional, it was a difficult sale as a potential buyer pulled out and then re entered later alongside another interested party. I left it with them and a fair process was followed to ensure both parties had an equal opportunity to bid for the property, Many thanks
7th Jun 2022 (2 years ago)
R Clegg
Made things relatively easy. My flat was unfurnished -- they added a 3d mock up of what it might look like furnished which helped buyers visualise.
Seller
21st Jan 2022 (3 years ago)
H Wright
If I could give zero stars I would.
14th Jan 2022 (3 years ago)
P Bogan
Excellent service from this firm. Stuart Shiers gave sensible, straightforward and insightful advice concerning the appropriate marketing of the property. This was followed by expert handling of the subsequent negotiations for its sale.
Seller
8th Dec 2021 (3 years ago)
J O'Loughlin
Stuart was extremely helpful through my move. He stayed in regular contact and helped to support me through the whole process. As it was the first property I have purchased he was a real asset and helped to simplify and keep the purchase on track. Highly recommend!
Buyer
12th Jul 2021 (3 years ago)
K Pletscher
We have just bought a flat through Hotblack Desiato, and could not be happier with the way they handled our purchase. Stuart Shiers, our agent, was very responsive to calls and emails, and went above and beyond to answer our queries and resolve issues with the seller. He and others at the company were helpful and collaborative when it came to viewings and information regarding the flat.
It was not an easy transaction (for reasons outside of Hotblack's control), but Stuart worked extremely hard to help us sort out the problems. We are now the proud owners of a beautiful flat in no small part due to Hotblack Desiato's professionalism and commitment. We are delighted, and can thoroughly recommend them as an estate agency.
Buyer
1st Jul 2021 (3 years ago)
S Newton
Great estate agents!
25th Jun 2021 (3 years ago)
P Bradbury
Hotblack have found new tenants for my properties for 10 years or so. I have always found them to be at the top of their game and the quality of tenants, the best that one could possibly expect.
Landlord
13th Jun 2021 (3 years ago)
X (Ella)
We rented with Hotblack Desiato back in 2014 for 2 years, and I’d just like to say a belated thank you to Paulina, Jane and Zehra who were helping us throughout the two years as tenants. They were very professional, very responsive, and so kind and helpful from start viewing the flat to after we checked out / returning deposit.
I would highly recommend them!
Tenant
2nd Jun 2021 (3 years ago)
M Coulter
Just bought from Stuart and Rafe.
Stuart is higly responsive and dedicated to the mission of getting to exchange and getting it done.
Rafe is charming.
It hard to find good agents, I have used several over the years and can recommend these guys.
Buyer
4th May 2021 (4 years ago)
K Andy
We were very pleased with the professional and effective service we received from Stuart Sheirs and his team in the sale of our flat in Islington. Stuart marketed it well, responded promptly to queries and kept us informed. There was no 'hard sell' and he was patient and understanding when we did not get the price we wanted initially and took it off the market, returning to him for a successful sale two years later.
Seller
21st Mar 2021 (4 years ago)
C Baum
We were delighted with the service that we received from Stuart Shiers and all of his colleagues. We found them to be very helpful and responsive and we would not hesitate to recommend them. Thanks again and well done.
22nd Jan 2021 (4 years ago)
M Herman
Excellent service. Stuart Shiers especially did a truly great job on a difficult sale hindered by two lockdowns.
Seller
27th Nov 2020 (4 years ago)
J Fanshawe
We are very grateful to Stuart Shiers and Rafe Neiman for their professionalism and courtesy in helping us sell our flat during the coronavirus pandemic. They were always responsive and always helpful in managing things during these difficult times. They helped secure a very good sale for us, and we would warmly recommend them to anyone buying or selling property in Islington.
Seller
18th Nov 2020 (4 years ago)
W Williams
Pleasant & helpful.
27th Aug 2020 (4 years ago)
R Doubal
Brilliant experience of letting and selling.
1st Aug 2020 (4 years ago)
E Davis
in all my years of renting in central north london, this has been the most professional and competent agency i have been through. highly recommend! James was patient and professional.
Tenant
29th Jul 2020 (4 years ago)
J Greenshields
Stuart and Rafe worked tirelessly to find us the best buyer, keep us in the loop and ensure that a fast paced sale was achieved before lockdown kicked in. My family would have been stranded without them pulling the whole chain over the line.
Deffo recommend - thanks guys!
Seller
14th May 2020 (4 years ago)
H E
Thanks to Stuart, and Jake and the team, selling our house both times was a stress free experience. They’re good people and don’t mess you around. They know the market and don’t talk rubbish to get your business. We trusted them 100% and I’d recommend them without hesitation.
Seller
28th Jan 2020 (5 years ago)
J Higham
We instructed Hotblack Desiato (Stuart Shiers) to sell our Grade 2 Listed Canonbury home. It had already been on the market for over 6 months with a well-known national and international agency. Stuart succeeded in finding a buyer at an acceptable price within 6 weeks of being instructed. At all times he was professional, helpful and a pleasure to deal with. He also dealt with the overly aggressive former agents who were unwilling to take my word that the purchaser was not someone who they had introduced. Hotblacks seemed to us to be a traditional agency whose priority was to sell our property at the best obtainable price, rather than offering potential buyers a host of other services, with all the obvious conflicts of interest that involves. I certainly wish we had instructed Stuart when we first placed our home on the market but in the event everything turned out well. I have no hesitation in recommending Hotblacks to other sellers in the areas covered by them.
Seller
21st Dec 2019 (5 years ago)
N Bushell
Helped me through a tricky drawn out sale, pleasant to deal with and went the extra mile in mediating between all parties
Seller
2nd Dec 2019 (5 years ago)
E Howard
Absolutely useless. Will try and take as much money off you as possible.
29th Jul 2019 (5 years ago)
T Bennett
We worked with Hotblack Desiato to sell our flat in Islington and secured a quick sale at our desired asking price.
They were friendly, responsive, professional, had a good understanding of our local market and managed our expectations well rather than trying to hook us with promises they couldn’t deliver against.
We would use them again in future.
Seller
28th May 2019 (5 years ago)
M Graham
I can't recommend Stuart enough. He was attentive, hard working and thoroughly professional throughout. He's always willing to spend as much time as necessary to explain situations in detail. The price was good and I'm very happy with the sale ... I believe we made the right choice out of the four agents we approached.
Seller
27th Mar 2019 (6 years ago)
C Watkinson
Stephen and Daniel made the process of renting our new home a quick and happy process. They were both attentive, friendly and encouraging and we would happily use their service again.
We rented a 1bed in Islington (plus cat). Fees are very reasonable compared to other estate agents. Email comms not the best, but you can get them on the phone very easily.
Tenant
2nd Apr 2017 (8 years ago)
M Demetriou
Special thanks to Paulina for being very friendly and very professional. x
8th Jun 2016 (8 years ago)
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