

Harcourts
Based on recent customer reviews, Harcourts receives sharply divided feedback across its branches. Customers consistently praise individual agents who demonstrate professionalism, patience, and genuine care during sales and rental journeys, with several singling out exceptional personal service. However, a recurring theme is frustration around rental deposit refunds, with clients reporting unexplained deductions, withheld funds, and a lack of supporting documentation. Poor communication, unanswered queries, mismanaged viewings, and inconsistent handovers between branches and management entities also feature prominently, alongside concerns about agent conduct and accountability at certain branches.
Replied to 88% of negative reviews
Reply time on negative reviews: 59h 20m
TrustIndex
3.5
Ranking
#30
in Real Estate
Reply Time
51h 34m
Replied to 88% of negative reviews
Reply time on negative reviews: 59h 20m
Jul '25 - Jun '26
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your Experience1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Kas Pillay from Harcourt's Pinetown was extremely unprofessional and the branch manager Courtney sides with he's agents and is very rude. Buying a property supposed to be a joyful time but Harcourt's have made this an extremely stressful time for my family. From poor communication skills to dropping appointments last minute please stay away from this agency if you want a smooth sale please look elsewhere. These people don't even deserve 1 star
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Kas Pillay from Harcourt's Pinetown was extremely unprofessional and the branch manager Courtney sides with he's agents and is very rude. Buying a property supposed to be a joyful time but Harcourt's have made this an extremely stressful time for my family. From poor communication skills to dropping appointments last minute please stay away from this agency if you want a smooth sale please look elsewhere. These people don't even deserve 1 star
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
on the 12 Feb 2026 we received a notice of Change of rental management from Tergro to Harcourts. On the 20th of Feb 2026 i requested a confirmation letter regarding my deposit amount and the safety thereof, fast forward to the 5th of May 2026 i still have not received any communication except excuses why it is still not done. Today, 8th of May i decided to call the the Harcourts Alberton branch to follow up on my request, i spoke to Lynne Spruit, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks, stating that she cannot help me, only the CEO can type the letter as is the only one who works with the deposits, she was very rude, and talked over me while i was talking, when i could get in a word, i asked to speak to Justin Christison, and Lynne rep**** that he was in a meeting. so i went online to search for this CEO and got a hold of his cellphone number. i phoned him and got exactly the same response, very rude person, does not allow clients to speak, and accused me of being rude when i said the letter could take him 2 minutes. he even yelled at me asking if i know who he was. No sir, i don't know who you are, but your character is poor. He even said that my request is weird, imagine that.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
on the 12 Feb 2026 we received a notice of Change of rental management from Tergro to Harcourts. On the 20th of Feb 2026 i requested a confirmation letter regarding my deposit amount and the safety thereof, fast forward to the 5th of May 2026 i still have not received any communication except excuses why it is still not done. Today, 8th of May i decided to call the the Harcourts Alberton branch to follow up on my request, i spoke to Lynne Spruit, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks, stating that she cannot help me, only the CEO can type the letter as is the only one who works with the deposits, she was very rude, and talked over me while i was talking, when i could get in a word, i asked to speak to Justin Christison, and Lynne rep**** that he was in a meeting. so i went online to search for this CEO and got a hold of his cellphone number. i phoned him and got exactly the same response, very rude person, does not allow clients to speak, and accused me of being rude when i said the letter could take him 2 minutes. he even yelled at me asking if i know who he was. No sir, i don't know who you are, but your character is poor. He even said that my request is weird, imagine that.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I’d like to sincerely thank our estate agent, Karen Daly from the Deneysville Branch, for her incredible support, kindness, and patience shown throughout our journey. Even though we ultimately decided to take our property off the market for now, her professionalism and willingness to go above and beyond never wavered. She was always available to assist, offered honest guidance, and made what can be a stressful process feel much more manageable. Her dedication and genuine care did not go unnoticed, and we truly appreciate the effort she put into helping us. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for an agent who is not only knowledgeable, but also compassionate and committed to her clients.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I’d like to sincerely thank our estate agent, Karen Daly from the Deneysville Branch, for her incredible support, kindness, and patience shown throughout our journey. Even though we ultimately decided to take our property off the market for now, her professionalism and willingness to go above and beyond never wavered. She was always available to assist, offered honest guidance, and made what can be a stressful process feel much more manageable. Her dedication and genuine care did not go unnoticed, and we truly appreciate the effort she put into helping us. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for an agent who is not only knowledgeable, but also compassionate and committed to her clients.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Harcourts Brackenfell is the the worst company I have ever dealt with. Communication is terrible and service I cannot rate as there is none. I will never ever rent any property through them They are impossible to get hold of. After moving out of a rented property they wanted us to pay for fixing of things that were damaged or broken when we moved into the property. Unbelievable bad experience
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Harcourts Brackenfell is the the worst company I have ever dealt with. Communication is terrible and service I cannot rate as there is none. I will never ever rent any property through them They are impossible to get hold of. After moving out of a rented property they wanted us to pay for fixing of things that were damaged or broken when we moved into the property. Unbelievable bad experience
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I rented an apartment in De Velde through an agent named Donita on a 10-month lease. Throughout my stay I had no issues on my side as a tenant, however there were several issues during the tenancy which I was often told to resolve myself. At the beginning of the lease I paid a total deposit of R35,000, with interest expected as per standard rental practice. When my lease ended, a joint exit inspection was conducted. During this inspection the following items were identified: • Painting the unit • Repairing 2 blinds and 1 blackout blind • Garden maintenance • Repairing approximately 8 holes in the wall • Cleaning after repairs These are relatively minor repair items which realistically take about 7 days to complete and should not reasonably exceed approximately R10,000 in actual cost. However, after the repair period passed and I requested my refund, the situation changed significantly. Instead of providing a clear breakdown, I was only refunded R14,000 of the R35,000 deposit. The remaining R21,000 was withheld and described as costs related to “wear and tear.” I strongly dispute this amount. The damages identified during the joint inspection do not appear to justify R21,000 in deductions. I have repeatedly requested transparency regarding the deductions, including: • Inspection photographs showing the condition of the property • A full breakdown of the deductions • Invoices, quotations, or receipts showing the actual repair costs None of this documentation has been provided to me. Communication then became extremely difficult. The agent Donita eventually blocked further communication. I also attempted to contact colleagues within the agency, including Angie and the person presented as Donita’s superior, but my requests have been ignored. What concerns me most is that explanations have changed multiple times and statements have been made that I can factually dispute, which raises serious concerns about the professionalism and transparency of how this matter has been handled. My legal representative is currently disputing R11,000 of the withheld amount, as the damages do not reasonably justify the total deduction being claimed. I am requesting the following: • A full breakdown of the deductions made from the R21,000 • Copies of the inspection reports and photographs • Invoices or receipts showing the actual repair costs • Payment of the remaining balance that cannot be justified by legitimate damages Should this matter remain unresolved, I will proceed with escalation through the Rental Housing Tribunal for formal review of the deductions and the handling of my deposit.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
I rented an apartment in De Velde through an agent named Donita on a 10-month lease. Throughout my stay I had no issues on my side as a tenant, however there were several issues during the tenancy which I was often told to resolve myself. At the beginning of the lease I paid a total deposit of R35,000, with interest expected as per standard rental practice. When my lease ended, a joint exit inspection was conducted. During this inspection the following items were identified: • Painting the unit • Repairing 2 blinds and 1 blackout blind • Garden maintenance • Repairing approximately 8 holes in the wall • Cleaning after repairs These are relatively minor repair items which realistically take about 7 days to complete and should not reasonably exceed approximately R10,000 in actual cost. However, after the repair period passed and I requested my refund, the situation changed significantly. Instead of providing a clear breakdown, I was only refunded R14,000 of the R35,000 deposit. The remaining R21,000 was withheld and described as costs related to “wear and tear.” I strongly dispute this amount. The damages identified during the joint inspection do not appear to justify R21,000 in deductions. I have repeatedly requested transparency regarding the deductions, including: • Inspection photographs showing the condition of the property • A full breakdown of the deductions • Invoices, quotations, or receipts showing the actual repair costs None of this documentation has been provided to me. Communication then became extremely difficult. The agent Donita eventually blocked further communication. I also attempted to contact colleagues within the agency, including Angie and the person presented as Donita’s superior, but my requests have been ignored. What concerns me most is that explanations have changed multiple times and statements have been made that I can factually dispute, which raises serious concerns about the professionalism and transparency of how this matter has been handled. My legal representative is currently disputing R11,000 of the withheld amount, as the damages do not reasonably justify the total deduction being claimed. I am requesting the following: • A full breakdown of the deductions made from the R21,000 • Copies of the inspection reports and photographs • Invoices or receipts showing the actual repair costs • Payment of the remaining balance that cannot be justified by legitimate damages Should this matter remain unresolved, I will proceed with escalation through the Rental Housing Tribunal for formal review of the deductions and the handling of my deposit.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
In February 2024, I entrusted my property to one of your agents, confirming it was free of municipal debt at that time. Subsequently, I discovered an outstanding municipal balance exceeding R13,000. Despite my attempts to communicate and visit the branch, I have not received a clear explanation or resolution regarding this discrepancy. My efforts to address this issue have been met with a lack of substantive support. I am not receiving the necessary assistance concerning these municipal payments.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
In February 2024, I entrusted my property to one of your agents, confirming it was free of municipal debt at that time. Subsequently, I discovered an outstanding municipal balance exceeding R13,000. Despite my attempts to communicate and visit the branch, I have not received a clear explanation or resolution regarding this discrepancy. My efforts to address this issue have been met with a lack of substantive support. I am not receiving the necessary assistance concerning these municipal payments.
Based on recent customer reviews, Harcourts receives sharply divided feedback across its branches. Customers consistently praise individual agents who demonstrate professionalism, patience, and genuine care during sales and rental journeys, with several singling out exceptional personal service. However, a recurring theme is frustration around rental deposit refunds, with clients reporting unexplained deductions, withheld funds, and a lack of supporting documentation. Poor communication, unanswered queries, mismanaged viewings, and inconsistent handovers between branches and management entities also feature prominently, alongside concerns about agent conduct and accountability at certain branches.
Harcourts has a TrustIndex of 3.5 out of 10 on Hellopeter, based on 20 reviews in the last 12 months. They reply to 88% of negative reviews, typically within 59 hours 20 min. Hellopeter has tracked Harcourts across 433 total reviews. How is the TrustIndex calculated? →