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Letting agent disappears owing landlords thousands of pounds in rent

A letting agent in Newmarket has disappeared owing landlords thousands of pounds in rent.

The head of Smart Residential, Frank Smart, was last seen in July and is, according to reports in the local press, not responding to calls from clients, some of whom he owes several months of rent from properties he manages on their behalf.

Some tenants who have rented property through Smart have also expressed concern at the fact that their deposits do not appear to have been put in a government-backed tenancy deposit scheme.

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The office in Wellington Street closed in July, without prior notice, with a sign on the door informing people that a move to new premises had been ‘delayed due to unforeseen circumstances’.

According to the Newport Journal, Smart took to social media to let customers know that he is “still alive”.

He wrote: “Yes I am still alive and no I have not gone on a cruise (sadly). However, I have had no choice but to close the office this week due to a major glitch with the planned move to the new office premises.”

But with Smart not responding to any efforts to contact him, a Facebook group, which has more than 40 members, has been set up by the agent’s clients, many of which are also concerned that aside from owe them money, he still has keys to their properties and personal information relating to tenants.

One landlord, who had two properties with Smart, told the Journal: “He owes me nearly three months’ rent on one and a month’s rent on the other.

“I have now switched my properties to another agent and don’t hold out much hope of getting any of my money back.

“As landlord I could also be liable for any deposits paid by tenants which have disappeared.”

Want to comment on this story? If so...if any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on any basis, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.

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    surely after just 1 month's non payment wouldn't you visit the tenant and advise them to pay their rent direct or move the property to another agent, after all it's the agent who has broken the contract. i expect the agent is a limited company so no chance of any money there then

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    Police informed? sounds like potential fraud

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    I have suffered at the hands of Mr Frank Smart for many years!


    He managed an apartment above my property and allowed his clients tenants to flood it seven times!


    When I once queried whether his clients gas certificates were up-to-date he showed me a certificate whereby the address had been crossed out and replaced.


    If I were you I would strongly publish this alerting affected landlords to have their gas appliances checked. If not then they could find themselves in a whole world of pain (and prison) if their tenants suffer or die from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning!


    If these landlords and tenants cannot get the Police to apply fraud charges then they can get him on a 'pre-meditated manslaughter' charge which carries a much heftier sentence than fraud.


    Frank Smart is intolerable, deceitful and abhorrent...he needs to be found, investigated and sentenced!

  • icon

    I have suffered at the hands of Mr Frank Smart for many years!


    He managed an apartment above my property and allowed his clients tenants to flood it seven times!


    When I once queried whether his clients gas certificates were up-to-date he showed me a certificate whereby the address had been crossed out and replaced.


    If I were you I would strongly publish this alerting affected landlords to have their gas appliances checked. If not then they could find themselves in a whole world of pain (and prison) if their tenants suffer or die from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning!


    If these landlords and tenants cannot get the Police to apply fraud charges then they can get him on a 'pre-meditated manslaughter' charge which carries a much heftier sentence than fraud.


    Frank Smart is intolerable, deceitful and abhorrent...he needs to be found, investigated and sentenced!

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