Concerns as agent appears to have quit owing money to landlords and tenants

A local agent has disappeared, apparently owing money.

Frank Smart, who ran Smart Residential in Newmarket, is said by the local paper not to have been seen since July.

The paper claims that he owes rent to some landlords, while tenants are concerned that their deposits do not appear to have been protected.

Smart had run his business in Wellington Street for over ten years, but registered a change of address for Pivotal Homes – the company through which some landlords received their rent – in July at Companies House.

When the Wellington Street office closed, a notice said that a move to new premises had been “delayed due to unforeseen circumstances”.

On social media, Smart has said: “Yes I am still alive and no, I have not gone on a cruise (sadly).

“However, I had no choice but to close the office due to a major glitch with the planned move to the new office premises.”

A Facebook group has been set up by customers, one of whom told the local paper that they had paid a £700 deposit, which they cannot trace, and are due to leave the property shortly.

The tenant believes they will have to leave the key with the police.

Police are said to be urging anyone owed money to contact Action Fraud.

https://www.newmarketjournal.co.uk/news/newmarket-lettings-agent-frank-smart-missing-owing-landlords-thousands-of-pounds-in-rent-9043709/

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One Comment

  1. CountryLass

    Terrible. It is individuals like this that make people question and distrust Letting Agents.

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