Clients of a property agency claim they have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket after the firm’s closure.

Sweet Property Services has ceased operating from its Rochester High Street offices with callers greeted by a “notice of forfeiture” sign on the door.

Anger has come from all sides, with landlords claiming rent has not been passed on, and from tenants.

The Property Ombudsman (TPO), of which the independent estate and letting agency was a member, confirmed it had received a number of complaints about Richard Sweet’s High Street agency, which was more recently known as My Sweet Property.

A spokesman said: “The TPO has been informed that the agent has gone out of business and are in possession of the administrator details. It is assisting complainants in progressing their complaints.”

"My father had dementia, so I had to rent the family home to pay for his care. I complained on numerous occasions and took them on their word that they would sort things out, but I have been left distraught and am owed at least four months’ rent..." - landlord David Newton

Tenant Vikki Gilham, from Warren Wood, said she had been trying to contact company boss Mr Sweet and his daughter Courteney for more than a month, without success.

She said: “I, like other tenants, have been emailing these agents for confirmation that my deposit has been lodged with the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS) and to question why some of my rent has not been paid to my landlord and about the sudden name change. Every time I was answered with ‘everything is fine and the paperwork is in the post’.

“It now looks as though Sweet is offering a new online service and this needs to be looked into. Firms should not simply be able to set up shop again.”

Her landlord David Newton claims he is £5,000 out of pocket after turning to the company to take care of arrangements after his father went in to care.

He said: “My father had dementia, so I had to rent the family home to pay for his care.

“I complained on numerous occasions and took them on their word that they would sort things out, but I have been left distraught and am owed at least four months’ rent.”

Another landlord, Luke Potts, 26, also rented his house in Chattenden through the agency after moving to Sheffield. He calculates that missing rental payments from the agent amount to around £2,000.

He now receives his rent direct from his tenant, but says a question mark hangs over his tenant’s deposit.

The Medway Messenger’s email to the estate and letting agency was returned and the company’s phone number was not in service when we tried.

However, Mr Sweet’s company website continues to promote his online service, “professional team” and “very best in service and value fees”.

Walter and Randall, chartered surveyors in Rochester, said this week it had repossessed the High Street property used by Sweet Estate Agents Ltd on behalf of the owner.

It is understood the landlord was also owed money.

Peter Huane, from agent Belvoir Rochester, a member of the Deposit Protection Service, has been contacted by several previous clients of Sweet Property Services and is offering help to others who wish to discuss their situation.

He said agencies such as these gave the industry “a bad name”.