Colchester: Couple fear loss of £500

9:15am Wednesday 16th April 2008

A couple in their 80s fear they have lost nearly £500 - handed over as a deposit to a letting agency which has suddenly closed.

Mervin and Lavinia Wright agreed a deal with Hot Lets to move to a property opposite their current home in Clarendon Way, Colchester.

They fear they may not see the cash again after the firm went into liquidation, owing hundreds of pounds to landlords and tenants.

Aged 80 and 81, they also face a race to find somewhere to live, as they have handed in their notice to their existing landlord.

Mrs Wright said: "We wanted to move as the place we are in is a bit too big, and the flat we found seemed ideal as it is just across the street.

"The deposit was £495, which might not be a lot to some people, but it is when you're a pensioner.

"At the time, the lady asked if we wanted to pay a bit more money to get ahead with the rent - now they have shut, I'm glad we didn't."

A number of Hot Lets' clients are out-of-pocket after the company closed last week.

Liquidators have called a creditors' meeting for next month.

Companies' House records show the firm was owed £34,197 by its directors on August 31, 2004.

A year later the debt had risen to £43,220 and accounts signed off in February this year reveal the total owed stood at £122,450 on August 31, 2006.