LANDLORDS and tenants are being urged not to pay any money to a struck-off estate agent suspected of owing thousands of pounds in rent and deposits.

Lancashire County Council’s trading standards department have said tenants who had rented properties through Wayne Saxton’s letting agency, Saxton’s Residential Lettings, should pay money directly to their landlords.

Landlords, who relied on Saxton’s Letting Agency to collect rent, are also being told to deal with their tenants themselves.

Earlier this month, trading standards said they were investigating claims from around 20 landlords that Mr Saxton’s firm owed them a collective amount of around £35,000 in unpaid rent.

But they have now revealed that hundreds of tenants and landlords could be owed cash.

Julian Edwards, a senior trading standards officer for Lancashire County Council, said: “We have been striving to make contact with Mr Saxton, but have been unsuccessful so far.

“We understand he has around 300 rented properties on his books and we have had about 50 queries where people have raised issues of concern, so there are still a lot who may not be aware of the significance.”

He added: “We are now warning tenants to be careful about making payments and advising them to contact landlords directly to make sure their rent is properly received.

“We are asking landlords to make sure they make contact directly with tenants, to ensure rent and deposits are properly secured.”

Saxton’s Residential Letting, in Burnley Road, Bacup, closed without warning in August with just a telephone number put up in the window for enquiries.

Companies House, the official UK government register of businesses, said that Saxton’s Residential Lettings is to be dissolved due to the ‘overdue’ submission of annual accounts, which is required by law.

Mr Saxton previously ran estate agents in Burnley Road, Crawshawbooth and Kay Street, Rawtenstall, which sold properties across Rossendale and Burnley.

But Companies House said both estate agencies were also dissolved due to the overdue submission of accounts. Mr Saxton’s membership of the National Association of Estate Agents was terminated due to unpaid fines.

Lancashire County Council’s investigation is ongoing. In the event of a criminal law being breached, the trading standards department has the authority to either enforce the law or refer the case to police.

Mr Saxton was unavailable for comment.

• Landlords are holding a public meeting at the Old Cobblers Inn, New Hall Hey, Rawtenstall at 8pm on Wednesday September 24.