Confusion as Holmes estate agents shuts Black Country branches

Holmes estate agents, which has branches in Market Street, Kingswinford, and Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton, closed without any prior warning – leaving clients confused and frustrated.

Its website describes them as a ‘trusted’ estate agents, but landlords are claiming they are owed thousands of pounds in rent from the firm, and confused tenants are desperately trying to get their deposits back.

A Facebook group called ‘Justice for Holmes estate agents victims’ has since been set up so people who are affected can receive support and advice on their situation.

Local MPs are taking the matter to Parliament.

A Kingswinford mother, who asked not to be named, said she rented a property with Holmes for five years. “My deposit was originally paid by my parents to help me,” she said.

“We all trusted them with the money. I left the property I was renting in November 2018 after they sold it while I was still a tenant with four children.

“It took me until March 2019 to get my deposit back after four months of cheques bouncing and a load of stress as it wasn’t my money they had, it was my parents’.

“At the time I reported them to the council and Companies House and was ignored by both.

“So glad this is now in the open and I wasn’t fighting them alone.”

MP for Dudley South Mike Wood said he has had multiple calls from his constituents about the problem.

He said: “This has clearly come as a huge shock and I have the greatest sympathy for all those affected.

“If these allegations are true then it constitutes a serious crime and should be fully investigated.

“I have already spoken to the Housing Minister about this and I will be having further meetings in Parliament this week while trying to get to the bottom of just how many people in the local area have been affected.”

Holmes estate agents did not respond to the Express & Star’s request for comment.