A business appears to have closed down – with claims that a director has disappeared and that there may be money missing.
Local Trading Standards last night said it was aware of the case.
A Google review for CHQ Properties in Shepshed, Loughborough, apparently placed by a landlord in the last few days, says: “Darren has took a load of money and ran away abroad. His nephew who ran it for him Dan has deserted the now empty office, not replying to emails or phone calls, the office phone has been disconnected as well. The two young people have new jobs.
“All the while they are still meant to be managing properties such as mine and subsequently now owe thousands to landlords. Very unprofessional.”
An email has now gone out from CHQ Properties, which says the business has closed.
It says:
“Dear all,
“We regret to inform you that CHQ Properties are experiencing major financial difficulties and have been left with no alternative other than to close down the business.
“The managing director, Darren Hickman, has abandoned the company and fled the country cutting off all communications with anyone in the UK.
“Since doing so, it has recently been brought to our attention that a number of tenants deposits have not been lodged into the correct schemes. As Darren was the only person to know about this debt, we believe this is one of the reasons he has decided to disappear.
“Due to the nature of the events taken place, we urge all of our landlords to find another suitable letting agent to manage your properties. Following this email, any rental transactions between tenant, CHQ and landlord will be commission free to ensure a swift agent transfer.
“We offer our sincerest apologies to anyone that has been affected by this terrible situation and will do our upmost to make sure that the missing money is replaced. We really hope that we can resolve this problem as soon as possible and thank you for your patience during this difficult time. Please do not hesitate to respond to this email with any queries you may have.
“Kind Regards
“Lettings at CHQ Properties”
One local agent in the area said that he was approached some months ago by a landlord claiming to be dissatisfied after not receiving rent.
It emerged that the tenants had also allegedly not received their deposits back. The agent gave them advice, resulting in the tenants physically sitting in the CHQ Properties offices until their money was returned to them.
Another local agent told EYE that in the last few days he had been to the offices of CHQ and left literature offering to help any tenants or agents. He described the office as deserted with the computers removed. He said he thought that the firm had been chiefly involved in sales, and may have had a relatively small portfolio.
On a Facebook page for Shepshed, there is a post appealing for “victims including landlords and tenants” to contact Action Fraud.
A Facebook thread has a number of people expressing concerns:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2229367414/permalink/10155251942237415
A spokesperson for the Deposit Protection Service told EYE that CHQ Properties had registered less than 15 deposits with the scheme overall, with ten of them still active.
According to Companies House, the company was incorporated in June 2015. Its directors are named as Daniel Hickman, who came on board in May last year, and Darren Hickman. Another director, Harry Bicknell, quit on September 1.
According to Companies House, there was a First Gazette notice for compulsory strike-off on May 2 this year, but this was discontinued a day later.
EYE has made repeated attempts to contact CHQ Properties but with no success. The business’s phone system appears to be down and the website is not working.
We will of course update you with their side of the story when we can.
Yesterday evening, a spokesperson for Leicestershire Trading Standards said: “We’re aware of concerns about the company and we’d encourage people to report concerns to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06.”
Below, the screengrab taken yesterday shows how one landlord has voiced his concerns on Google
Here we go!!!
Definitely, it’s time for Online estate and letting agent.
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Ha ha,
How do you come to that conclusion from this story? – Surely that’s even worse! – An online agent has not even got an office you can visit to question why you did not receive your money.
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AgentVX17 probably also believes the Earth is flat! Hopefully the landlords and tenants manage to sort things out. Were they NAEA PropertyMark Protected by any chance?
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Funny you ask that!
Can’t find them on the Register – but that means nowt.
Maybe the guy was one of those carrying the ‘Trust us’ signs on the ad.
No doubt he’ll be back in the U S of A laughing his ‘nads off at the almighty mess he’s left behind.
Or – better still – they spontaneously combust.
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I wonder if they had CMP…
I’ll just leave that here!
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Terrible for those landlords and tenants affected.
I see that the firm was only started June 2015 – so only 2 years ago. Not putting the blame on the Landlords but I wish landlords would at least try and choose a Letting Agency that has been established and has a good reputation in their location. Some due dilligence.
Wonder what their fees were? Perhaps too cheap? Shame the ones that lost out will be Purple in their face now.It sounds like fraud which is very hard to stop if someone is out to de-fraud people. Did it belong to any bodies? NARLS/ARLA etc? Client money protection?
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A little harsh? not all new agents are corrupt. We started this year, have all the licences CMP/ARLA/NAEA/POS……(not that they are any value). We have set up to ensure everything is done properly with morals and a long term plan. A Landlord / Agent relationship is built on Trust, reputation comes as the business grows. Surely at some point many years ago you started your new business and built it from nothing, or were you simply given a silver platter to manage.
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due dilliagence is important and yes you are right most new business are not fraudulent or corrup I would imagin.
But I would also guess that if a business is going to fail its more likely in its early years.
If As a landlord if I had the option of 3 letting agents to choose from;
1x independant with 40+ years and a good reputation normal fees nice owners running it
1x chain/franchise so/so 15 years+ so/so reputation and niceish staff running it
1x 24 mth old new business with limited reputation but nice guys running it perhaps cheap fees or even normal fees.
I would suggest it would be more risky to go with the new business from a landlords pov as there is very little track record of reputation and history. So as a new business yes you are right you will need to work your socks off and talk the talk to build up that reputation. Thats why it is very hard in starting a new letting business from scratch. I wish you sucess and apologise if my comment appeared too harsh.
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Accepted. Thank you, we are building the letting side slowly, so thankfully with the market as it is and landlords scarce we don’t have to rely on it as a business.
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Fraudulent activity rife on this one…I bet he isn’t overseas, he’ll be trying to form a new company elsewhere. Love the thorough investigations being conducted by Trading Standards; ring Citizens Advice who will filter the complaint for them and then put a call out on social media. lol
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Their listings have been removed fro Rightmove – but are still showing on Zoopla.
Why is this no surprise…?
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I can’t see it on either?
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WOW! that was quick!
The power and reach of EYE is incredible…
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Here’s the cached page – from the 11th:
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:zI1oq_EV-1sJ:https://www.zoopla.co.uk/find-agents/branch/chq-properties-limited-loughborough-70255/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk
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My word you are desperate. Tell me, how to people find out things without being told or reading it? No doubt both RM and Zoopla read it on here.
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