Residents have been left £30,000 out of pocket after the sudden disappearance of the estate agents who manage their homes.

Customers have been unable to contact Property Solutions and its sister firm Hamilton Luke since their offices closed in February.

Three tenants in Sutherland Road had been charged £28,295.04 by the firm for essential building works last year.

However, only part of the work had been done before they lost contact with their agents, who they have been unable to trace.

The three residents have won two Brighton County Court judgments demanding company director Peter Luke pay them £31,260.81, including legal costs and interest.

However, they have been unable to serve the judgments.

Staff at Packwood Property Services (PPS), which took over some of the company's accounts and rental portfolio of the firms, are also baffled as to 49-year-old Mr Luke's whereabouts.

Charles Seymour, an associate director of PPS in Hove Street, Hove, said: "Mr Luke approached us asking if we wanted to take over his company.

"We said we would have a look at the accounts and then simply received a load of filing cabinets and paperwork and told to get on with it.

"A lot of information we needed was missing.

"Our accountants spent about eight weeks going through the books and files but weren't able to throw much light on things. We haven't heard from Mr Luke since February."

He said PPS had taken over the management of some properties, but some freeholders had taken their custom elsewhere while there was not enough available information to trace others.

Brian Wellard, one of the Sutherland Road residents owed money, said: "This is a lot of money to lose and it looks like we'll have to spend it all over again to actually get the work done.

"There may well be other people in similar situations, who are owed money too."

He has made a statement to Sussex police, who are investigating whether any action can be taken.

Another former client claiming he is owed money is 20-year-old Anthony Garrioch, who lost his £550 deposit for a flat in Stoneham Road, Hove.

He said: "When we moved out we phoned the agent and said I needed the cheque.

"They said I would have it the next day but it never arrived."

Companies House records revealed Mr Luke, of The Glen, Worthing, was disqualified from being a director last July. The ban lasts until July 2006.

Neighbours in The Glen said Mr Luke's house had been empty for most of the year.

He also rented an office above Bonchurch Garage in Bonchurch Road, Brighton, but mechanics there said they had not seen him for about a year.

Simon Tugwood, who runs the garage, said: "We keep getting letters from Companies House threatening to strike off his firm and fine him.

"But there is nothing we can do. There has been no sign of him for a long time."

The firm's offices in Elm Grove, Brighton, and Brighton Road, Worthing, were closed, with signs referring all inquiries to PPS.

Company House records also show Hamilton Luke Limited, registered to Elm Grove, Brighton, has still to submit its annual accounts, which were due last October.

There is a proposal to strike off Hamilton Luke Lettings Limited, at Bonchurch Road, Brighton.

Hamilton Luke Management Limited, based in Chesham Road, Brighton, was forcibly wound up last February, while Hamilton Luke (Worthing) Limited was dissolved in May.

The Argus revealed earlier this year how clients of Youngs Owen letting agents, in Western Road, Hove, complained they were owed thousands of pounds after that firm suddenly closed.

The case prompted calls for estate agents to be more tightly regulated, to ensure they set up separate accounts protecting their clients' payments.

Thursday September 4, 2003