A Norwich-based letting agent has been arrested and questioned by police, accused of running off with tens of thousands of pounds of rent money owed to landlords.
The woman in her 40s, from the Norwich area, was arrested following reports of fraudulent activity linked to letting agency TIILI, which was originally called Abode Estate Agency (Norwich) before switching to Brik Agency Ltd in 2020.
TIILI ceased trading at the end of last year and is now being placed into liquidation.
The letting agent has also been accused by landlords of failing to hold their tenants’ deposits in secure deposit schemes, claiming the money has now gone missing.
She has been released on police bail until April 8 2025.
Propertymark terminated TIILI’s membership in June last year and said an internal investigation into the letting agent is ongoing.
TIILI Ltd is still listed as an active company on Companies House, with its registered offices at Waterloo House, in Norwich’s Waterloo Road.
Steven Barker, the company’s founder and sole director, declined to comment when approached by the press.
Norwich Evening News reports that property owners were told that their point of contact at TIILI was Amy Kennedy, who was appointed as a director in May last year, but resigned in November.
Right now, there is a worrying lack of domain knowledge and care when it comes to safeguarding clients’ money. The people who truly understand client cash ledger accounting are retiring in increasing numbers, and with them, critical experience and knowledge are disappearing—not just from day-to-day agency operations, but also from training, support, system analysis, and even the coding of software designed to help agents handle client money properly.
I’ve been asked to consult. I’ve been asked for help. It’s clear to me that client cash accounting is in crisis.
As I’ve said before, it’s not necessarily the agents who are at fault. The real issue often lies with the systems, training, and support agents rely on—flaws in these can be fatal.
Ask the postmasters.
If any agent feels their system is doing things they haven’t done and needs someone on their side, they’ll find an open mind and an experienced ear in me.
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While, I completely agree. The burden placed on letting agents today is frankly ridiculous. They are no longer just responsible for property management and tenant relations; they are expected to wear multiple hats, including finance officers, compliance advisors, health and safety experts, immigration enforcers, licensing officers, and even security agents.
Their responsibilities continue to expand, often without the necessary support or resources. The sheer volume of regulatory requirements can make it incredibly challenging to focus on their core role.
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Shouldn’t any company/person/organisation who handles or holds client cash be registered with Financial Conduct Authority?
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Thats not the way to break the news or raise a grievance. it puts Eye (and you) in a difficult spot
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