CityRise Avis 

I reserved an investment property through CityRise and, based on my experience, I would strongly urge prospective buyers to carry out extremely thorough independent due diligence before committing any funds.

In my case, I paid a reservation fee of £11,095 following strong assurances that extensive due diligence and background checks had already been completed and that the process would be “smooth and simple.”

I was also given 24 hours to sign the reservation agreement, which created significant time pressure at a point where material information had not yet been fully disclosed or independently verified.

However, once my independent solicitor and mortgage broker reviewed the transaction, a number of material legal and commercial concerns emerged that had not been clearly disclosed at the point I was encouraged to commit funds.

Legal and structural issues raised during conveyancing included:
• Absence of a Building Regulations completion certificate
• Title and covenant-related matters requiring further legal consideration
• The need for indemnity protection in relation to title matters
• A required deed of variation to the lease
• Right of access/right of way considerations affecting the property
• Mortgageability concerns following a significant down valuation

These were not minor technical points — they were matters my professional advisers considered sufficiently material to advise against exchange until resolved.

The property was marketed to me as securely tenanted and presented as a ready-made income-producing investment. However, when I later requested evidence of rental payments and confirmation of the tenant’s deposit protection, I was informed that the tenant was willing to move into another flat.

This was materially different from the secure, in-place tenancy that had been presented during the sales process and significantly altered the investment risk profile.

I also raised specific questions about parking and external areas. The marketing indicated parking was included, whereas the lease documentation stated that the property does not include a right to park unless expressly granted. This distinction is important for both rental desirability and resale value.

Based on my review of the company information available to me, the developer appears to be connected to the building’s management company structure. This is a material factor for investors because it can affect service charge control, future costs, and mortgage lender appetite. This relationship was not clearly explained to me at the point of reservation.

Although the development was described to me as effectively complete with only finishing touches remaining, ongoing snagging and condition concerns were still present when reviewed. Parking appeared not as described along with other material information such as the garden areas.

Buyers should also be aware that important sales conversations may take place by phone. In my case, the original sales call was not retained within the records later provided to me, despite the transaction value being substantial. I would strongly recommend that buyers keep their own independent records of all conversations.

I also experienced strong encouragement to use recommended brokers and solicitors on the basis that they had already “done the background work,” which contributed to the overall impression that key risks had largely been addressed.

When I later raised substantive concerns based on professional advice, the property was remarketed and the full reservation fee currently retained, despite the seller cancelling the transaction/re-listing I am currently in dispute and trying to resolve through the ombudsman and I plan to make a further complaint to trading standards and ICO.

Do not rely on marketing summaries or verbal reassurances. Before signing any reservation agreement or transferring funds, ensure that:

• your own independent solicitor has reviewed the full legal pack
• Building Regulations and title position are confirmed in writing
• mortgageability is independently verified
• tenancy evidence (including deposit protection) is documented
• parking rights are legally confirmed
• management company structure is understood
• snagging and completion status are evidenced

This review reflects my personal experience of the process and the issues that arose. Prospective buyers should ensure they obtain fully independent legal and financial advice and satisfy themselves on all material matters before proceeding.

My experience with cityrise has been my worse nightmare.The property has been delayed for almost 3 years. We were constantly reassured all was in hand and made to reapply for mortgage 3 times. Each time i paid over £1000 for valuation in preparation for competition that was postpone on numerous occasions and never progressed. Now the property is under Receivers due to financial default by the Developer.Cityrise have informed they do not have permission to make any communication with investors. I had my doubts from earlier on and i questioned. I was informed by Cityrise they were familiar with the developer as they had worked with them on orher projects and all was in hand, i should trust the process . Getting a mortgage for a property under receivership is extremely difficult which means my deposit is compromised which has been a nightmare, causing me a-lot of duress and sleepless nights . If you do not want to risk your hard earned money and your health/wellbeing as a result of stress, think twice before investing with City Rise.I trusted the reviews on their website and made a big mistake.

The staffs and service was top notch, the communication was smooth and quick response via email, my only frustration was the so many paperwork which I could understand the legal process but things can be simplified. Apart from that could have rated them a 5ster

Fran helped me throughout the whole application process she made things go as smoothly as possible and kept me updated on my whole application and the process of how everything works. I could not have asked for a better agent to help me with my first apartment.

Excellent and outstanding service - tenant organized within a week of completion.

Fran from Citywise was fantastic really attentive and helpful, made what should be a fairly stressful situation very easy and simple. City wise as a whole we're brilliant and I would definitely recommend them to anybody.

Things didn’t exactly start off with City Rise on the right foot when they kept changing agents on me until Mikael onboarded the team and reassured me that would not happen again. It actually feels surreal now as I just ended up purchasing a property through them after nearly a year of searching. Mikael has handled the sales and initial parts of the purchasing process very professionally and I’m really happy with my experience so far. Totally recommend!

Sophie Brookes is a very knowledgeable property investment advisor and I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone who want to start or expand his/her portfolio. She is a genuine partner in the journey, putting the extra mile to find and present tailored proposals according to your needs and not only just showing the pipeline of available properties.
Unfortunately my investment fell through but I will most definitely work with Sophie in the future.

Excellent in communication and wanting to see am The house agent was professional and welcoming throughout the viewing. They showed us around the property thoroughly, and explained the key features clearly. They were knowledgeable about the area and answered all our questions honestly, giving us enough time to look around without any pressure. Overall, the experience was smooth, pleasant, and well-organised.

Demee was great and very helpful during the sales period. Would highly recommend

From the start Kieran was friendly, honest and reliable. I called initially about a property id seen on right move but after multiple phone calls because im indecisive kieran helped me secure a great investment property. He was open and honest throughout. Never tried to lead me down a path and has been a great support throughout. 10/10

Great communication. Demee provided clear answers to my questions and directed me to other experts when required. This was very reassuring as we progressed through the purchase process.

Had an amazing experience so far, looking forward to completing the purchase. Demee has been really helpful and made a huge effort to answer all my queries even outside of working hours! She has been there throughout the whole process and couldn’t have done it without her. 🙌

I am a newly-born property investor, stepping into the market with a lot of enthusiasm but also understandable caution. From the very first meeting, Demee Elliott at Cityrise Property Investment Consultants was nothing short of outstanding.

Demee immediately put me at ease. Her communication was a perfect blend of confidence, clarity, and genuine patience, expertly tailored to someone starting their investment journey. She never assumed prior knowledge and took the time to ensure every concept was understood.

What truly impressed me was the meticulous detail in which she explained the entire process: from identifying the right opportunities, through the payment schedule, and into their comprehensive property investment and management services. No question was too small, and every answer was thorough and focused on my long-term benefit.

Building trust was clearly a priority for Demee and Cityrise. She didn't just present options; she built a foundation of credibility. This was powerfully reinforced when the Managing Director joined our discussion. This personal touch was incredibly valuable, as it showcased the company's collective expertise and deep, insightful understanding of the current state market. It gave me immense confidence that I wasn't just dealing with a consultant, but with an entire firm dedicated to strategic, well-researched investment.

In summary, Demee Elliott and the team at Cityrise provided a masterclass in client service and professional guidance. For any new investor looking for a partner who combines detailed market knowledge with transparent processes and a genuine commitment to your success, I cannot recommend Demee and Cityrise highly enough. They have turned a complex journey into a clear and confident path forward.

Thank you, Demee and team!

This was my first investment with CityRise, and it has been an excellent experience from initial contact through to completion. Oliver was instrumental in sourcing a suitable property, while Laura provided invaluable aftersales support, ensuring everything stayed on track for a timely completion. Ross then assisted with preparing the property for rental, and finally Fran secured a suitable tenant within just a week of the flat being ready, responding promptly to any questions or concerns I had.
Throughout the process, the entire team was friendly, helpful, and highly professional, making the journey smooth from start to finish.

Fran was extremely quick to respond to emails, the documentation was completed promptly, and the property was very nice

Kieran was consistently good at communicating, even calling me about an opportunity which we had previously discussed, and were then able to move quickly on. Early days but so far I'd highly recommend CityRise and Kieran

When dealing with CityRise, Fran was always friendly and professional. She responded quickly to any questions and worked hard to find us the right tenant. Her help was much appreciated.

The service and information I receive is quick snd accurate

As always it’s a pleasure working with CityRise, they never let you down. Fran is such a delight to work with as she always keeps you updated with what’s happening. Fran always gives 100% and gets your property on the market asap, thank you so much for making the right decisions in such a professional and friendly manner. We look forward to great times ahead.