Letting agent guilty of fraud

A Harlow lettings agent pleaded guilty to 10 offences at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Sanjit Alangh, 26 was a director of Rent Team Ltd, a letting agency based in the West Gate area of Harlow pleaded guilty to 'engaging in unfair commercial practice between November 12, 2011 and April 15, 2013' and one offence of 'Fraudulent Trading between November 12, 2011 and June 21, 2013'.

The court heard how the letting agency boss had "knowingly or recklessly engaged in a commercial practice which contravened the requirements of professional diligence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and which materially distorted or was likely to materially distort the economic behaviour of the average consumer with regard to a product."

The offences included defrauding creditors by obtaining lettings deposits and other payments.

Alangh was ordered to pay compensation of £11,000 to 11 victims, £5,000 costs and given 120 hours of unpaid community work.

The case underlines the difficulty in picking which letting agent to manage your properties.

Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance rates