A second Cornish letting agent featured in a BBC TV investigation is facing jail after admitting helping defraud landlords and tenants of £266,000 over an eight -year period.
Angela Treneer, 72, had originally denied four allegations of fraud but after discussions between her lawyer and the Crown Prosecution Service, she yesterday changed her plea.
The charge that she later admitted to at Truro Crown Court is fraud by dishonestly abusing her position as a letting agent and receiving £110,000 personal gain from the fraud.
Treneer is the mother of Elizabeth Treneer, 38. The pair co-owned Truro-based Premier Property Management (PPM) and Elizabeth has already admitted two counts of participating in a fraudulent business and perverting the course of justice.
BBC investigation
Premier Property Management was the subject of a BBC Inside Out investigation in late 2017 during which widespread abuses were highlighted by the mother and daughter including not returning deposits and failing to pay rent to landlords.
Before the BBC programme gave the pair’s activity widespread publicity, PPM was referred to The Property Ombudsman by several landlords over unreturned deposits totalling £20,600. It was initially expelled from the scheme for two years, which was later extended after more cases came to light.
Seven awards were eventually made by TPO against the company, none of which were ever paid and PPM was eventually struck off at Companies House.
Both Elizabeth and Angela Treneer are to return to court later this month for sentencing and have been told to expect custodial sentences.
Please note: This is a site for professional discussion. Comments will carry your full name and company.