Housing Solicitors

Barnet Council in Greater London has prosecuted a letting agent who defrauded dozens of tenants and landlords out of more than £220,000 in rents and deposits.

Martin Marcus, 52, of Ashfield Avenue in Bushey, Hertfordshire pleaded guilty to the charges seven days into his trial and was jailed for four-and-a-half years in jail at Harrow Crown Court.

The court heard how Marcus fronted a string of letting agencies and used numerous aliases between 2009 and 2015 to pocket £221,000 from more than 60 tenants and landlords.

The court heard impact statements from some of the victims describing how Marcus’ scam had left some tens of thousands of pounds out of pocket, some without a home, and others unable to care for ill relatives.

Marcus had repeatedly offered tenants properties he had no right to let out, took deposits from multiple tenants for the same property, moved in different tenants from those promised – and used a variety of methods and excuses to hold on to thousands of pounds in deposits and rents.

Marcus used a number of company names, including JMG Residential Ltd, Interlocate, Corporate Relocation and Churchill Residential – and used aliases, including the names Jeffrey Lewis, Martin Champ and Robert Martin when carrying out the deception.

Requests from landlords and tenants for their money to be returned were met with excuses – and, in many cases, cheques which bounced, despite landlords and tenants having been reassured that their money was held in a “ring fenced client account”.

Analysis of bank accounts revealed that Marcus was in financial trouble, with bank records showing that he had taken out multiple payday loans.

Sentencing Marcus at Harrow Crown Court, Judge Newbery said:

“When taken all together, this was quite an elaborate con trick, which you used over and over.

“There was a significant human cost to what you did, with a considerable amount of stress involved for people trying to get their money back – and this is something which has to be taken into account when sentencing you.”

Four other defendants – Nadim Khan, Michael Page, James Day and Stacey Heffernan – were found not guilty of the same charges following a six-week trial.

Martin Marcus’ wife, Corinne Marcus, was acquitted of a charge of money laundering.

Leader of Barnet Council, Councillor Richard Cornelius, said:

“This trial follows a long and very complex investigation led by the council’s Trading Standards team into a fraud which left a great many people out of pocket.

“I am glad that Martin Marcus has been brought before the courts and jailed for what he has done and for the distress he has caused.

“This prosecution – and sentence handed down by the court – will, I’m sure, send out a very clear message to anyone else contemplating carrying out this kind of fraud that they will face the full force of the law.”

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise on a wide range of housing law, including advising on private sector and public sector rented accommodation, advising on landlords’ obligations under the Housing Act, advising on landlord and tenant disputes.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across the UK and our housing team are also able to advise on:

• Conveyancing services
• Debt management for homeowners
• Disrepair of rented property
• Housing Benefit
• Housing possession
• Lease extensions
• Local Authority housing
• Mortgage repossession
• Notice to quit
• Nuisance neighbours
• Right to Buy
• Right to Rent checks
• Tenancy agreements
• Unlawful eviction.

For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.