3^rd Jun 2019

Ipswich MP, Sandy Martin, has pledged to undertake an investigation with the local police force about the number of claims made by tenants and landlords about a lettings agency that went bankrupt in August 2018.

The local newspaper reported that the MP will discuss with police chiefs, his major concerns over deposits paid to the agents which have apparently 'vanished into thin air'.

Pauline Scott Property Management (PSPM), in the wake of the agents voluntary liquidation, took over the management of the properties, has since confirmed that there is no trace of the missing deposits, which were supposed to have been paid into deposit schemes.

The MP says he will be holding talks concerning the case with Ipswich's chief superintendent of police, and will be raising a question with the Home Secretary Sajid Javid asking that he gives Action Fraud far greater powers to take on these types of cases.

The Ipswich Star reports that the landlords and tenants were first told of the missing deposits last autumn when the new management company contacted them.

PSPM told the newspaper that when it took over the management of the properties last year in September it quickly found out that "at least £30,000" was unaccounted for that should have deposited.

A spokesperson for the company, said:"Someone at Jonathan Waters has not paid that money in as they should have done.

"It's been a total shambles - there were boxes and boxes of paperwork.”

Action Fraud said that the case is now undergoing investigation by the City of London Police's National Fraud Intelligence Bureau to see if further enquiries should be undertaken.

The Star reported that Companies House had a statement of affairs filed in September that shows the company was in debt to creditors by more than £552,000, seventeen ended up losing their jobs.


News Archive »