Police open investigation into sudden closure of property firm Clear Lets
Hundreds of tenants and landlords across Fife have been left out of pocket after a lettings firm closed suddenly.
The whitewashed windows of the former Clear Lets office in Whytescauseway, Kirkcaldy.
- By Claire Warrender
- Published in the Courier : 09.02.12
- Published online : 09.02.12 @ 08.54am
Police have begun an inquiry into Clear Lets of Kirkcaldy after being flooded by complaints from angry members of the public. It has been alleged that some landlords have not received rent money owed to them since September.
Meanwhile, tenants are desperately trying to track down the firm's directors in a bid to claw back hundreds of pounds paid in deposits and rents which have not reached their homes' owners.
Clear Lets, a franchise of the Clear Group owned by businessman Tahar Ali, opened an office in Whytescauseway, just off the High Street, when it took over Kingdom Properties two years ago.
Although the office is now closed and the windows whitewashed, the firm's website was still up and running, complete with the boast: ''We always deliver on our promises.''
An entry on the Companies House website described Clear Lets Ltd as dissolved.
Mr Ali, who describes himself as a business mentor, guru, motivational expert and philanthropist, could not be contacted.
One desperate tenant who contacted The Courier said he paid Clear Lets £450 towards his first month's rent as recently as January 23. That was on top of the £600 he paid as a deposit towards securing the two-bedroom home in Dalgety Bay he shares with his wife and baby.
The first he knew there was a problem was Monday of this week when his landlord told him she had not received the money due to her and that Clear Lets no longer existed.
''She had not had any money we had paid as a deposit and for rent,'' said the man, who asked to remain anonymous. ''We've since been told the firm has been sold to an Edinburgh-based company which didn't want the staff or the building. All they wanted was the property portfolios.
''That was apparently two weeks ago, which is when we signed our contract. They obviously knew at that point they weren't going to exist any more.''
The Courier was also contacted by two landlords, one of whom said she had not received payment from Clear Lets for over four months.
A police spokesman said that, while the issue was essentially a civil matter, an inquiry had been opened into the Clear Lets issue due to the volume of complaints.
''Everyone who contacts us now will have a statement taken from them,'' he said.
08.24am - 14.02.2012 Doug - Dunfermline, UK Report This
Spoke to my landlord last night - they were completely unaware that Clearlets has disappeared. Just paid £300 to them to cover repairs. They hold a £500 deposit of mine.
10.09am - 14.02.2012 Andy - dunfermline, uk Report This
I have no details of my landlord, only their name on my contract. They also hold my deposit and i have no idea if the bank account i paid was the landlord or clearlets. police are taking a statement tonight.
07.56pm - 14.02.2012 Michael Coffey - Ratingen, Germany Report This
How is it a "civil matter" as the police describe it when Clear Lets have clearly stolen money from us?
09.09am - 15.02.2012 John - Dunfermline, UK Report This
I've contacted The Property Omdudsman and 2 of the 3 recommended deposit schemes aren't holding my deposit so it doesn't look good. Does anyone have contact details for the police inquire? Looks as if the secretary/director of Clear Lets has recently changed also to someone who is known to Mr Ali?
05.58pm - 15.02.2012 John - Dunfermline, UK Report This
Third recommended deposit scheme has just come back with a negative so where have these deposits, etc been held?????? Might try to see if trading standards know anything?????
05.08pm - 16.02.2012 Grant Davies - Kirkcaldy, Scotland Report This
Im a tenant in a Kirkcaldy property and my landlord has changed agency due to the closure. Where do I stand in terms off a deposit? Should I pay or not?
08.20am - 17.02.2012 Val MacDonald - Dunfermline, UK Report This
I have no idea who my landlord is or where my deposit is. I made a statement to police last night who said it is now being investigated by the fraud squad. I now have to wait for the landlord getting in touch but apparently he lives in south Africa.
10.37am - 17.02.2012 Stewart Riddell - Bathgate, Scotland Report This
Was dealing with Glasgow Office also closed down suddenly. Wondering how I get deopsit back. Still living as tennant at moment however how safe is your contents, how many sets of keys in circulatuion. Feel sorry for landlord. Heard this crew are up and running again under a different name already
02.06pm - 17.02.2012 Gerry - Largo, Scotland Report This
As a landlord, I chose this company because they appeared so helpful and friendly. I presume it was a shock for the staff as well? It's disgusting the way this company just did a bunk without warning. I guess I've lost the deposit they hold from the tenant.
05.10pm - 17.02.2012 M - Jersey, Channel Islands Report This
I'm an overseas landlord and have just found out about this from another letting agency! I had no idea. Just realized I haven't received rent for Feb... I can't access my property as I'm overseas therefore no idea who currently has the keys as a tenant transfer was supposed to have happened mid-Jan.
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