Administrators have been appointed at a short lets firm which closed without warning at the end of last month.

Paul Zalkin and Maxine Reid, of business advisory firm Quantuma, have been appointed as joint administrators of Brighton Holiday Homes.

They say that their appointment follows action taken by a major creditor after the business closed unexpectedly.

As a short lets business, the firm was unregulated and did not need to offer redress. A number of people who had paid upfront for their stays in private properties have complained that they are out of pocket.

The firm arranged short lets for business people and contractors, as well as holiday makers, and was said to be one of the biggest organisers of hen parties in the UK.

Zalkin said: “Our immediate focus will be to contact the company’s directors so they can assist us in managing communications with customers who have been left out of pocket, with no explanation as to what has happened to their bookings.

“We will robustly investigate the company’s financial affairs and the circumstances leading up to its failure.

“At this early stage the situation is uncertain, but we will endeavour to secure the most positive outcome possible under difficult circumstances.”