If you can do so, I would suggest avoiding Aston Properties. If you cannot, then I strongly suggest that you (a) learn your rights as a tenant, and (b) be very careful about documenting *any* damage to the property or furnishings that's already present when you move in. There are several reasons I say this.
The inventory report that they gave me to fill out at the beginning of the tenancy was extremely bare bones, with no mention of any substantial damage anywhere. (There was substantial damage throughout the property, which I had to fill in myself.) At other places I've rented, the inventory report that the agent provides you with at the start has always listed any prior damage, and certainly at least mentions any substantial damage---not so for this place. There's usually a reason why letting agents do this, and it's not good.
Upon leaving, I was hit with a bill for repairs and cleaning. The repairs were for damage to the carpeting that was already there when I moved in, *and* which I had clearly and explicitly marked down in the inventory report at the beginning of my tenancy. If they had done any kind of vaguely thorough inspection of the place before I moved in, they would have seen this very substantial damage and noted it down themselves. I mean, this was *not* a small thing that could have been easily missed.
They also tried to charge me to "replace" some mattresses that were stained, which (again) were stained from before I moved in. After I insisted on seeing receipts to prove that they actually bought new mattresses, they removed the charge and said that *actually* from the photos they took before I moved in the stains were probably already there, so they eventually dropped that charge. I was never sent any receipts for the repairs or for the cleaning, despite requests. They said they would send me the receipts soon, but never did. Funny that.
The place was cleaned thoroughly before I moved out. When I asked for proof that cleaning was required, and a receipt from the cleaners, I was sent only three photos. Eg, one was of some extremely minor rust marks in the kitchen sink that came from leaving some cutlery in there the night before I moved out; i.e., the sort of thing that would be cleaned with a cursory wipe. Another was for some damage to the floor in the living room which, again, was there from the beginning of my tenancy and *also* mentioned in the inventory report.
Finally, they insisted that they had the right to enter my building whenever they gave me 24 hours notice even if I didn't want them to. This is false, they do not have that right. I had to call them and explain the law.
I should note: All of the claims I've made above can be supported with evidence; e.g., emails, phone records, inventory reports, etc. The other reviews here have suggested that Aston Properties has threatened to sue for damaging reviews, so: come at me.
Aston Properties engages in, let's just say 'unprofessional', practices, and I recommend avoiding them.
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