Jailed letting agent case highlights lack of controls in industry

A letting agent has been jailed for two years after stealing £140,000. The 43 victims included people who were his friends.

Robert Stagg pocketed rents and deposits paid by tenants which should have been handed over to landlords.

He had earlier been spared jail after promising to start paying the money back. But he had failed to do so and has now been sent to prison.

The case highlights the fundamental lack of controls on letting agents, which allows them to handle client money without having to ring-fence the amounts in separate accounts or to have client money protection insurance. There is also nothing to stop Stagg re-entering the lettings industry and, should he do so, he would not have to sign up to an ombudsman scheme.

Another agent pleads guilty to withholding rents and deposits

Thursday 8th September 2011

A lettings agent pleaded guilty to withholding thousands of pounds in deposits and rent from tenants and landlords.

Zulfiqar Hussain, 43, who traded as Charles Lawson Lettings, pleaded guilty to eight charges at Oxford Crown Court yesterday for offences committed between December 2007 and October 2009.

He admitted seven counts of engaging in unfair commercial practice and one count of transferring criminal property.

The seven charges relate to not returning deposits to tenants or not passing on rent to landlords.

Oxfordshire trading standards, which brought the case to court, initially said Hussain had transferred £157,000 of illegally obtained money out of the business. But the figure was amended to “not less than £33,000” after both sides disagreed about the true amount.

Hussain said his business had hit difficulty in 2007 and he had used the deposits and rent money to keep it afloat. Prosecutor Nigel Lickley said the county council disputed the claim and believed the money had gone missing.

The sentencing judge will be asked to decide the issue. Sentencing is due to take place later this month.

Oxfordshire trading standards officer Ian Marriott warned that he did not think the case was a on-off.

He said: “I do not think this is exceptional.

“There is a large amount of rented property in Oxford, particularly for students, and it is difficult for people to go on recommendations because of the high turnover of students.

“That gives an environment where something like this could carry on for quite some time.

“Letting agencies handle an awful lot of money and the cashflow is enormous.”

In the long-running case, the premises of Charles Lawson (Lettings) and another agent were raided by police and trading standards in November 2009.

As well as Hussain, two other letting agents are awaiting sentencing in unrelated cases.

Estate agent faces jail after masterminding property scam

Wednesday 14th September 2011

An estate agent who was an undischarged bankrupt is awaiting sentencing after masterminding a property scam worth over £1m.

One of his accomplices was a mortgage adviser.

Both Raymond Abramson, 68, and Mark Jopson, 52, who ran Mark Jopson Financial Services, admitted conning investors into buying 21 homes in Lancashire.

The values of the properties being sold were inflated on the promises of guaranteed tenancies, rental income and refurbishments that didn’t materialise.

The investors were from Ireland, with the frauds taking place between January 2005 and September 2008.

The two men, together with a third accomplice, John Edwards, 43, were originally charged in October 2009 after an investigation by Greater Manchester Police’s fraud unit, and had been due to face a lengthy trial but changed their pleas at the last moment.

Prosecutor Andrew Nuttall QC told Manchester Crown Court how investors from Ireland were tempted with the promise of purchasing properties with guaranteed rental income. The offences related to 21 properties out of 31 on the defendants’ books.

Abramson masterminded the scam, using the pseudonym Trevor Smith so that he could prevent investors from finding out that he was trading illegally as a bankrupt. He recruited Jopson to arrange the mortgages, bringing in Edwards to help.

The three men all admitted conspiracy to defraud, and are due to be sentenced on November 28.

Medical reports will be sought for Abramson, who is said to have a number of medical difficulties, and a psychiatric report will be compiled on Edwards.

The defendants will also face Proceeds of Crime Act hearings following their sentencing.

Jeffrey Samuels QC, defending Abramson, said it was understood by the defendants that they were at risk of receiving custodial sentences.

Considering a rental from Philip James Lettings Didsbury?? BEWARE!!

Considering a rental from Philip James Lettings Didsbury?? BEWARE!!

You should always choose your letting agent with care. My experience with this company has been horrendous. Trying to extort money for "admin" (£150) this was to ring someone to clean a cupboard, although they haven't replied to my letter.


The staff in Didsbury - namely Danielle Beswick and her angry sidekick Nadia Fortune appear to be in control of the illegal withholding of deposits.

This story will continue until they repay my stolen money.

There is  much more to come and leaflets are being prepared as a handout at their offices and through the doors of their available properties. In the meantime, choose you rental with great care.


Students in Manchester are particularly vulnerable to poor practice. If you have had a similar experience with this firm please post comments or contact me.

Here is some advice from shelter:

What if there is a dispute about getting my deposit back?
Your landlord or agent is only entitled to keep all or part of your deposit if they can show that they have lost out financially because of your actions, for example, if you have caused damage to the property or you owe rent. Ask your landlord or agent for a breakdown of the specific costs that they are taking out of your deposit. Your landlord or agent cannot keep your deposit to cover putting right normal wear and tear. There are rules on what costs can be deducted from your deposit.
if you cannot agree, the dispute will usually go to the county court.

Manchester Students and landlords are being targetted by Philip James

By Philip James - the self proclaimed lettings and estate agents of choice. The company is promoting itself via e mail, declaring how well it is doing on the behalf of students and landlords.

As usual with this type of unsolicited trumpet blowing you should probably stick it in your blocked senders and spam folder.

For landlords considering using this firm you should read this blog very carefully. The landlord of the property I had the Miss Fortune to rent from is named as a joint defendant on the current lawsuit. He probably did nothing wrong, however it is highly likely he will be called to court to give evidence.

At the moment landlords can probably get a great deal from most letting agents in Didsbury, Withington and the surrounding areas. Claims such as these (below) should be treated with caution - for example:


Laura Kilbride, Student Lettings Manager, Withington: “Properties managed by us have been flying out the door this year -  in the first six weeks of 2011 we’ve successfully let over 50% of our managed properties.


Can be interpreted as "in the first six weeks of 2011 - half of our managed properties are empty"  and as for properties "flying out of the door" could be interpreted as ----- Well you work it out.


Stay careful out there there are many perils and sharks trying to fleece you.

The complaints keep coming in about Philip james Didsbury

Even over the holidays we have been amazed by the number of people who have contacted us. Because of the sheer volume we are dedicating more staff and resources to assist you all. We are in the process of designing two brand new websites: trottersville.co.uk and philipjamesrentals.co.uk.

We aim to get these live as soon as possible, but in the meanwhile, please keep coming back here and using the "comments" section to get in touch. Some of your complaints have been forwarded direct to the relevant authorities.
For those of you with problems with Philip James, we hope to be having a "surgery" with our solicitor shortly.

Stay safe and take care

Philip James and Didsbury Police

I have been contacted again today by the Police at Didsbury. The officer was very polite and once again confirmed that the ongoing dispute I have with this agent is a civil matter.

I did apologise on behalf of Philip James staff for wasting Police time. They appear to be complaining that I am bullying them. May I suggest they stop harassing the Police who have far more important things to do.

They should either refund my stolen deposit money, or issue the injunction and have me imprisoned as they threatened previously.

Otherwise, please grow up!!