Buy to let landlords who have been using a lettings agency based in Stafford are concerned that their rental income could be in jeopardy.
Confusion appears to surround exactly what has happened to GDH Property Management Services, which it is feared has gone into administration.
In an interview with the Staffordshire Newsletter, David Hartley, who is the new owner of the lettings company, attempted to alleviate the concerns of his landlord and tenant customers by claiming GDH Property Management Services was not in administration, but that Jupita Ltd, the company which originally owned GDH, was.
Hartley, who is based in North Wales and took over GDH last week, said he could not comment on what had happened at GDH in the past 10 years.
He told the newsletter: “Jupita Ltd, the company that was trading on the premises of GDH, has gone into liquidation.”
“I set up GDH in 1987, in partnership with my father. I sold it to Jupita Ltd 10 years ago but now I have recovered it from the ashes. I am hoping to restore the business. When I previously owned it, it was doing fine.”
The Newsletter reported that one landlord had four months’ rent of more than £2,000 still outstanding. Another landlord had moved his properties to a new letting agent but was still owed money by the lettings company.
• Another council has created a Landlords Forum with the aim of providing advice and guidance to landlords about developments in the private rented sector.
Torridge District Council in Devon held its first meeting at Bideford Fire Station when speakers from Torridge's Housing Team gave advice on housing options, empty homes and deposit bond schemes.
Kate Wiltshire from Wessex Reinvestment Trust gave a talk on landlord loans, Kevin Parfitt from the Devon and Somerset Fire Service covered fire safety, and PC Dick Rowlands spoke from the police.
Cllr David Lausen, Torridge's lead member for Housing Services, said: “There were around 20 landlords at the event and the feedback from them was excellent. It was a real joint effort with different partner agencies all working together.
“Future Forums should develop the joint goals of providing inclusive, stable, safe, secure, quality tenancies. Together the individual agencies can provide a better service than apart and we hope that tenants and landlords benefit from all the services that each agency can provide.
“Landlords are not seen simply as the users of the various service providers but as part of a larger partnership encompassing the Council, Police and Fire Service.”
PC Dick Rowlands added: “This forum will allow these partners to continue with the improvements that have been brought to date in the provision of housing stock in the area and the reductions in anti social behaviour that has been evidenced in recent years.”
More forums are planned but landlords who didn’t attend the first forum and would like to receive an information pack are being encouraged to contact Torridge District Council.
