No police action over letting agency closure with loss of £130,000

No action is to be taken over a lettings agency which has closed leaving landlords and tenants with a reported combined loss of £130,000.

The Bexhill-on-Sea Observer reports that more than 100 people were affected when Abbey Gates - a Battle-based agency - shut unexpectedly precisely a year ago.

However, Sussex Police has told the newspaper that “no evidence of dishonest intent” was discovered and that no further action would be taken.

The police statement reads:

“Over the past year police have been investigating the circumstances in which Abbey Gate Lettings, of High Street, Battle, ceased to trade.

“More than 100 clients and landlords had been reliant on this agency, which was an unlimited company, to manage the lettings of their properties, and incurred a loss totalling some £130,000.

“Detectives from Hastings CID and the force’s Economic Crime Unit, supported by a police financial investigator, have thoroughly investigated the matter, considering the possibility that the moneys were taken by theft, and have now concluded that there is no evidence of dishonest intent by the owners of the business, although they may well have acted incorrectly in their management.

“Officers therefore wrote to the complainants at the beginning of March 2016 to advise them that no further action will be taken.

“They have also advised the complainants that it is open to them to consider civil action against the owners, and have supplied details for Citizens Advice who can give advice on how to go about doing so.”