Five fraudulent letting agents who exploited newcomers to the UK have been sentenced to prison in one of the longest and most complex Trading Standards prosecutions in British history.
The sentences, handed down at Southwark Crown Court on Monday March 24 and yesterday range from four months to over three years.
The investigation, led by Tower Hamlets Council’s Trading Standards officers, exposed an elaborate scheme targeting students and workers unfamiliar with the UK rental market.
The rogue agents operated under multiple company names, using deceptive tactics to exploit tenants.
UNLAWFUL PRACTICES
Their unlawful practices included failing to return deposits, falsely advertising properties, and issuing misleading tenancy agreements that stripped tenants of their legal rights.
Among the most egregious scams was the use of “bait and switch” advertising – luring tenants with attractive listings, only to place them in substandard accommodations upon arrival. In many cases, victims arrived in London with nowhere else to go, left stranded and out of pocket.
SENTANCES HANDED DOWN
Mohammed Moynul Haque: Sentenced to three years and five months in prison and a 10-year director disqualification for multiple counts of fraudulent trading. Evidence showed Haque funneled large sums through personal and business accounts, running multiple fraudulent letting companies.
Fatima Begum: Received a four-month suspended sentence, a three-month curfew, and a two-year disqualification for fraudulent trading.
Gonzalo Gomez Egea: Sentenced to two years (suspended for two years), 180 hours of unpaid work, and a four-year disqualification for fraudulent trading.
Razaur Rahman Oli: Given a nine-month suspended sentence, a three-month curfew, and a four-year disqualification for fraudulent trading.
Nozir Ahmed: Sentenced to four months (suspended for 12 months), 150 hours of unpaid work, and a two-year disqualification for violations under consumer protection laws.
COUNCIL AND INDUSTRY REACTION
Tower Hamlets Executive Mayor, Lutfur Rahman, praised the convictions and says: “This sentencing sends a clear message – rogue letting agents will not be tolerated. Our Trading Standards officers worked tirelessly to bring these fraudsters to justice. If you exploit tenants, you will be held accountable.”
SpareRoom Communications Director Matt Hutchinson adds: “While we are proud to have assisted in this prosecution, there are no winners.
“The victims endured financial loss, emotional distress, and homelessness. Today’s ruling, however, is a step toward restoring trust in the rental market.”
FRAUD HISTORY
The criminal operation spanned years, with the fraudsters repeatedly setting up new companies under different names to evade detection.
Complaints first surfaced in 2017 about Citiside Properties Ltd., operated by Haque. When complaints mounted, Haque simply rebranded under a new name, Flintons, continuing his deceptive practices.
By 2018, Flintons was at the center of a major investigation, triggering national media attention.
Tower Hamlets Council raided its offices in 2019, seizing crucial evidence that later linked the operation to additional fraudulent agencies, including Barrons London Ltd. and Roomshare Ltd.
VICTIMS SPEAK OUT
Dozens of victims testified about the devastating impact of these scams.
One tenant, Nicolae Cristinel-Stan, described his ordeal: “I came home to find my room emptied without warning – I was suddenly homeless. I suffered financial loss and mental distress, relying on friends for emergency accommodation. This experience left me deeply disillusioned.”
Another victim, Gibril Saine, shared: “They left me homeless and out of pocket. I lost my place on a college course because I had no fixed address. A whole year of my life, gone.”
ROGUE LANDLORD WARNING
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, emphasized the importance of vigilance and says: “International students and workers were deliberately targeted and trapped in fraudulent contracts. This case highlights the critical need for stronger enforcement and tenant protections.”
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