A number of firms could be struck off as deposit fears grow for estate agency customers

Wednesday 22 August 2018

An estate agency which has seemingly shut up shop has been marked as "Strike Off Listed" on the Guernsey Registry website along with a number of other companies believed to all be linked.

Sarnia Estate Agency's listing was updated yesterday when the strike off was listed with the island's registrar of companies.

That happens when a company fails to pay its fee for its annual validation. In this case that would have cost Sarnia £250.

A spokeswoman for the Guernsey Registry told Express that Sarnia had filed its paperwork for its annual validation earlier this year as normal but it has failed to make a payment since then, despite reminders.

The company now has two months to make a payment before moves will be made to disolve its registration. The spokeswoman said it is a sign to the world that this company is in bad standing, although it is currently legally allowed to continue to trade. That situation will change on the 22 October unless either a registration payment is made or if third parties involved can prove they are owed money and they ask for Sarnia Estate Agency to be allowed to continue trading so they can make a claim against it.

Pictured: Sarnia Estate Agency's listing on the Guernsey Registry website was updated during the day on Tuesday 21 August

Sarnia Estate Agent was one of 20 companies to have "Strike Off Listed" against them yesterday. The Guernsey Registry said this happens in phases throughout the year as companies are chased for payments and the systems are updated.

A number of the other companies with "Strike Off Listed" posted against their registrations are believed to be owned by a businessman called Quentin Hubbard, who is also believed to own shares in Sarnia Estate Agency.

The businesses listed include, but were not limited to, Ricochet Ltd, Charroterie Developments, Quay Trading (Guernsey) Ltd, Q Guernsey Ltd and GSY Media Ltd. 

This does not mean these companies have been struck off yet, or are in liquidation, but they could be if the firm's validation fees are not paid by 22 October, or if the registered owners ask for their registrations to be disolved prior to that. 

Pictured: One of the companies linked with Quentin Hubbard which was "Strike Off Listed" yesterday 

This development came quickly on the heels of revelations of missing money which had been paid to Sarnia Estate Agency by a woman who wanted to rent a studio apartment through them.

Lottie Barnes said she had made three payments totalling just under £2,000 to Sarnia, which included a deposit and her first month's rent. She had been unable to contact the company to confirm they had received her payments or to arrange to collect the keys to her new home which she was supposed to move into yesterday.

Thank you it’s going to take me a long time to get back on my feet. But grateful that I have a roof over my head. This should not be able to happen. It’s not ok.

— Lottie Barnes (@lottie_barnes) August 21, 2018

Ms Barnes told Express she wanted to go public because she had been left at risk of being made homeless by their failure to contact her. Using another estate agent she was able to track down the landlord who confirmed he hadn't received any of her money and said she would have to make new payments to secure the rental. Her current landlord has said she can stay in her existing home but she needs to find the money to pay her rent there too.

In the meantime she has not been able to contact Sarnia by email or by phone and has been left out of pocket. She also thinks other people must have been affected.

"I cannot afford to lose £2,000," she said. "I'm hoping by going public more people will come forward, or they will reply to me. How is this not public knowledge? There must be more people affected than just me."

By 23:00 on Tuesday night a number of other people were asking questions on social media concerned about their own deposits, rental payments, tenancy agreements or spare keys held by Sarnia to gain access to their homes. 

Express has made numerous attempts to contact Sarnia Estate Agency which have been unsuccessful so far.