McHugh & Co. Reviews 43

Sadly Unable to sell property bought through McHughs due to negligent legal work

Hidden fee's contained in an updated addendum pack for a small premises released just before an upcoming auction meant the hidden fee's contained in the terms were likely to be more than the cost of the purchase. Told this was normal by member of their team when I queried, but I can definetely say this is not the norm and lends one to be reminded of say 'let buyer beware' when purchased at their auctions.

Great company. Really good website

Like other reviewers, hidden fees on small print. How can you charge £1200 buyers fee and other solicitors fees on the main page around £2000 in regards to legal pack/searches.

Then hidden all the way in the end of the ‘special condition’ charge £3600 for sellers solicitors fees and £3900 for buyers premium?? And not provided invoices. A total scam!

I found my dream home through McHugh & Co’s auction. James and the team provided exceptional service every step of the way—professional, attentive, and supportive throughout the entire process. I highly recommend anyone looking to purchase a property to explore McHugh & Co’s listings.

Valuation 50% of red book
I had an offer of 100% more than the valuation they gave and I had a red book valuation that agreed ,Sharks

I found the online auction unreliable. I suspect internal manipulation in the bidding process. For example, I once bought an overpriced house and had to bid for the garage that reached £38,000. However, I eventually pulled out of the contract and lost my deposit of £5000, as I suspect foul play. Later, the same garage was sold at the next auction for almost half the price. This was a painful experience on 15/10/2020
I do not trust this website for property purchases, so please be cautious when bidding online to buy through McHugh.
Also, carefully check their special conditions of sales because extra charges are carefully hidden away and written in words instead of numbers that could have been easily noticed when going through the documents.
Get a solicitor when reviewing the legal packs, or take your time to thoroughly review the documents.

I recently bid on a property through McHugh & Co Auctions, and the experience was a lesson in how easily buyers can be misled by carefully crafted property descriptions.

The auction listing prominently advertised the property as having approximately 142 years unexpired on the lease, which led me to believe it was a long lease, suitable for mortgage lending. However, after winning the bid and instructing my solicitor, I discovered that the lease was actually only 52 years unexpired at the time of the auction, with the remaining years contingent on a lease extension that would only be granted post-completion.

This critical information was not clearly stated in the main property listing but was buried deep in the special conditions of the legal pack. It was only flagged to me by my solicitor one working day before the scheduled completion, after the deposit had been paid and there was little time to act.

This practice of presenting the best-case scenario in the auction catalogue while concealing fundamental issues in the legal pack seems to be a recurring theme in other reviews as well. Such tactics can easily mislead buyers into overpaying for properties under false pretenses, especially when dealing with significant leasehold issues that can severely impact value and mortgage eligibility.

Despite this clear misrepresentation, McHugh & Co has refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing, and the seller’s solicitor is now threatening to enforce completion based on misleading information. This raises serious concerns about the transparency and ethics of McHugh & Co’s auction practices.

If you are considering bidding in one of their auctions, be extremely cautious:

Request the legal pack well in advance and scrutinize every document carefully.
Be aware that the headline lease information may not reflect the actual legal status, especially if a lease extension is mentioned.
Expect significant additional costs, as the auctioneer may demand fees even if the transaction collapses due to misrepresentation.
Consider instructing a solicitor to review the legal pack before bidding — not after — as key facts may be deliberately downplayed or buried.
My experience has been stressful, costly, and disappointing. I hope this review alerts other potential buyers to proceed with extreme caution when dealing with McHugh & Co. Auctions.

I’m writing this as a close friend of the buyer involved in a recent property auction handled by McHugh & Co., regarding Lot 35A – 301 Shirland Road, Maida Vale, W9.
The facts are very clear — your public auction listing explicitly stated:
“Leasehold. Approximately 142 years unexpired.”
There was no mention that the actual lease at the time was only 52 years, and that the extension to 142 years would happen after completion, and only if certain legal steps were completed.
Had this crucial information been clearly and transparently disclosed in the main listing, my friend would never have bid on the property.
McHugh & Co. has since responded by referring to the “special conditions” buried in the legal pack. But as an auctioneer, you must know that the headline lease term shown on your listing is the most relied-upon piece of information by buyers. Hiding contradictory lease terms in the fine print — without clear reference in the main advert — is misleading at best, and negligent at worst.
Let’s be clear:
The listing said: 142 years lease unexpired

The actual lease at time of auction: only 52 years

The lease extension: not completed, and subject to post-sale legal work

This is exactly why we believe this was a case of material misrepresentation. We stand by the original review and this statement. It is based on facts, supported by screenshots and solicitor correspondence.
⚠️ If you are considering bidding through McHugh & Co., please do your own legal checks early. Do not assume that the listing reflects the true legal condition of the property.

My sister purchased a flat in Maida Vale, W9, through an auction held by McHugh & Co. The auction catalogue and online listing clearly stated that the property had a lease term of “approximately 142 years unexpired.” Based on this information, she bid on and won the property, paying a 10% deposit and auction fees.
However, after the auction, we discovered that the actual lease was only 52 years at the time of bidding, and any lease extension would only take place after completion—subject to further legal formalities. None of this was mentioned clearly in the auction listing or marketing material. This information was buried in legal documents that were not easily accessible before bidding.
When we raised concerns, McHugh & Co. refused to take responsibility, referring us to the “special conditions” and disclaimers in the legal pack. But this is not acceptable: when a listing says “142 years unexpired,” it implies the lease already exists—not that it might happen later.
We’ve since filed formal complaints with The Property Ombudsman, Trading Standards, and the Solicitors Regulation Authority regarding the misrepresentation and the conduct of the seller's solicitor.
⚠️ If you're considering bidding with McHugh & Co., be extremely careful. Their listings may not reflect the true legal position of the property, and you risk losing a substantial deposit based on misleading information.

Brought a house from these people was very happy and very quick in turning it around for me very happy

I just sold my property with McHugh & Co, and I couldn’t be happier! They exceeded my expectations and got me a fantastic price. I highly recommend them!

First class during and after

First time house buyer. Easy to understand legal pack. Kept informed and up to date throughout the entire process.

Excellent company, great auction platform and staff are extremely helpful with auction process, highly recommend.

Always find a great selection of stock on offer at McHugh & Co auctions. One of the catalogues i most look forward to browsing. Although i didn't win a lot at their recent auction, i hope to me more successful at their next event. Keep up the good work guys!

Friendly team, great service
Thanks!

Great experience throughout. The knowledge of the team is impeccable and they were able to guide me through the process of bid and sale.
They offer great selection of lots and when asked any questions regarding fees etc these were very clearly explained which is great!
I am a first time bidder and would definitely recommend! :)

Great, very professional. Friendly team

Sadly the earlier review regarding government row in enfield was removed - very shoddy listing that resulted in lots of bargain hunters breaking into the garden and the listing was very misleading - not a trustworthy company sadly as they then went to have the review removed rather than deal with it