Providence Properties update
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In November, Watchdog ran a report on Tariq Zaman, one-time director of Providence Properties, a student lettings agency in Leeds. Tariq left students thousands of pounds out of pocket when he refused to refund their deposits. And his staff shared the same extraordinary attitude. Following further complaints to Watchdog we went back to see if anything had changed.
Since November none of the people we met have had their money back. Understandably they're furious.
Students Kate Hattersley and Rick Lord took Tariq to court and won. But there's still no sign of their deposits.
Kate and Rick resorted to using bailiffs to try and get the money back the court says they're owed. But the bailiffs couldn't find anything registered in Tariq's name to seize.
Kate said "I want my money back. I just want my money back. I know it's been a long time but it's still a lot of money."
It seems incredible that even with the law behind them, these students still haven't had their money back. We've now heard from plenty more people who say they haven't had their deposit back either. We needed answers from Tariq who has now resigned from Providence Properties Ltd, and were determined to track him down. When we finally did catch up with him he wasn't too keen to talk.
Eventually Tariq did agree to speak but despite the judgements against him he refused to accept he should give the money back.
Tariq said: "A lot of students, they want nice houses, but they just totally abuse them. I made a mistake, every time I received a county court judgement, because the tenant has been wrong, and I have not challenged them. Every single case I am going to reopen them and challenge every single case."
We've seen evidence that properties weren't damaged at all. But warming to his theme Tariq decides to show us exactly how students treat his houses.
We decided at Watchdog to take him up on the offer but were surprised when he took us to one that even he had to admit was in perfect nick.
He's keen to show us more but we don't bother, and we're no closer to knowing why he's still holding on to tenants' money.
Following our meeting with Tariq Zaman in Leeds, he sent us the following statement:
"I am a landlord involved in the student lettings market which, at times, can be a contentious business to be in. Often, student houses are vacated in a less than satisfactory condition and works are often required to rectify damage or losses at the houses. This is why deposits are taken in the first place.
"You will note that after being interviewed, I offered Mr Campbell the opportunity to visit some student properties that I own and operate.
"I offered Mr Campbell this opportunity to show the wide spectrum of student accommodation and the varying conditions in which it can be left.
"I note that Mr Campbell and his camera crew declined the opportunity to do so. For the sake of balanced reporting I would request that this point is made very clear in your broadcast.
"You will undoubtedly appreciate that there are cases where deposit money has to be used to rectify damage or losses then this can often result in a contentious situation.
"I wish to point out that all of my deposits are now lodged in compliance with the statutory tenancy deposit scheme.
"I am aware that there have been several County Court judgments against me. I stand by my comments that having County Court judgments against you does not make you a criminal. CCJs are purely a civil matter.
"For the avoidance of doubt, I am not aware of any current or previous criminal investigations involving me.
"I also stand by my comments that having a County Court judgment against someone does not mean that you will get your money back. There are many situations in which having a County Court judgement against someone does not mean you will get your money back including (for example) a situation where you get a judgment against someone but they don't have the money to pay the judgment; that is, enforcement action is unsuccessful. Another situation is where a judgment is obtained and no enforcement action is taken.
"I would suggest that this is not a question of my opinion, it is a fact.
"Having carefully reviewed my own records, I have noted that the judgments against me were granted, in the main, because I failed to defend the court actions being brought against me and therefore judgments were awarded in default. I do not recall an occasion where I actually attended court to present my side of the story. I should, of course, have attended court and defended the County Court actions, but running my business did not allow me the time to do so.
"I do now intend to seek appropriate professional advice to look at those judgments made against me."
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This reminds me of the Watchdog story from earlier this year regarding a Leeds landlord who similarly withheld deposits from students.
As a former tenant I've still, nor expect, to see a penny of my £250 deposit, and it seems even the Watchdog publicity hasn't helped many people in my situation.
But I wish you Providence folk the best of luck!
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CCJs may be a civil judgement, but the plaintiffs have the right to askthe court to enforce them using a bailiff.
I am _very_ surpriosed this hasn't happened already.
Additionally his comments would easily constitute contempt of court, if brought to the attention of the judges who have made the orders - and that's anything but a civil charge.
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i couldnt believe my eyes whilst watching the show last night. every time nicky said tariq had 17 CCJ's against him i shouted at the tv 'ITS 18!!' i had to write in. i am owed over £300 from tariq. i have gone throught the courts and won my case. but feel even though i have done the correct thing i will not see my money again.
i however was not a student whilst renting but working full time.
how can this man get away with this? what can be done?
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As a former Providence Properties tenant of 2 years, during which time I had a workable but often difficult relationship with the agency, it unfortunately came as little surprise to me when my deposit was not returned on time, and has so far still not been returned.
I am, however, dismayed to find that despite numerous CCJ's against Mr. Zaman and the Providence Poperties letting agency that they are now defying the law, and that no outstanding deposits have been returned and no satisfatory explanations have been given as to why not.
Despite this I will myself be going ahead with a formal complaint and if neccessary will once again take Mr. Zaman to court in the hope that I may be refunded the money I am owed or may be given a satisfactory explanation to the contrary.
For Mr. Zamans own sake I hope he soon complys with the courts directions as I envisage a situation where a criminal conviction is secured and a custodial sentance becomes unavoidable.
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Tariq Zaman has no self respect for what, he has done and is doing.
Zaman you may go and hide behind your mommy's washing line, but we want our money.
SHAMLESS
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For a second there the whole 'I made a mistake' line was almost credible. Except then I remembered my experiences and all the other stories I've heard that chronicle all his and his associates' deceitful and aggressive behaviour.
He is a very clever man and has obviously realised that he needs to put on his 'nice honest landlord' public face.
In my opinion that report merely scratched the surface of the ongoing saga.
Even without the whole deposit issue, I would still advise anyone to give Providence and any associated companies a wide berth.
Not one member of staff in Providence Properties treated me in the way I would expect to be treated as a paying client. I saw a man being screamed at and thrown out of the office (in a similar way to Will and by the same man) because he was having a dispute with them over a washing machine. I myself was shouted at ("why are you ringing me?")for ringing them twice in one day about the same repair. I just wanted to know if/when it would be done. I was sorry I asked!
They have gotten away with trading in this way for too long and must be boycotted by the student population.
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I watched the programme last night and was glad that Tariq Zaman chose to speak to Watchdog and speak up for himself. He has been hounded for long enough by this programme and the university union and other landlords/agencies who have jumped on the bandwagon and written false reports. This moved on from being a true issue about deposits a long time ago and it is just now all senseless drivel. Many sites have been set up which have created this into a major issue (which lets face it is often a problem which tenants all over the country experience not just tenants of Tariq Zaman) and became a personal vendetta against him and his family, to the point of the Police having to intervene due to threats and actions against Tariq and his family. Its ridiculous I have followed the postings and the comments that have been written have obviously been nothing to do with deposit issues. It is all a total farce. I hope that Tariq's Solicitor ABSOLUTELY goes after every single person who has been part of this vendetta, prejudice and victimisation. I hope Tariq defends all the claims against him and wins because I have seen what tenants have done to his houses and believe me that man works hard to provide students with the best houses and its unbelievable the damage they cause, but in all honesty with all these lies and the prejudice against him how can he ever win. The deposit issue is now a thing of the past no tenant is at risk of losing a penny and Watchdog never got round to interviewing any of the tenants who did get their deposits back and there are plenty of them! But that doesn't make good viewing. Tariq will carry on doing what he does best letting excellent houses the only thing I would recommend to him is that he is a bit more careful with the tenants he puts into them as in the past his judgment could have been better judging by some of the senseless fools he has previously let properties to, tenants who, smashed in brand new fire doors which needed replacing, used a brand new £500 fridge freezer for pellet gun target practice; stole brand new beds and then brought them back and dumped them in the garden in the rain (you know who you are!!!); trashed a house and were then investigated for possession of illegal substances and then moaned they have not been put into a brand new refurbished property to name a few. Then he faced a newsagent who never even paid a deposit but jumped on the bandwagon in a massive way just to settle a personal grudge and published a lot of personal untruths under the alias of a student and rival agencies who made up untruths to assist their failing businesses. A student paper that continually writes articles which are not factually correct -to name just a few. Like I say what may have been a sensible issue has become an idiotic laughable farce. I hope the tenants get their money back if they deserve it, but this has all become a massive deviation from the initial subject matter to a point of hysteria. Its unbelievable and not a step away from mob rule. All the best for 2009 Tariq.
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OK twinSarah [Personal details removed by Moderator] Saying "tenants getting their deposits back doesn't make good TV" is ridiculous - because the number of unreturned deposits is appalling, however many were returned. Do you really think it's excusable to owe thousands and thousands of pounds and respond with, "hey, but some people got their money back, let's focus on them..."?!
Granted, some students don't take care of their properties. But we had zero balance owed letters from all utility companies etc, and a letter signed by the landlord saying we were to receive our full deposit. And in our case, it was our landlord that was in charge of maintaining the property, NOT Providence - it was entirely his decision, and once the paperwork had been submitted their was nothing Providence needed to interfer with or delay.
Besides, it was a slimy trick of Tariq to attempt to show "how students live" to try and make out he deserves to keep the money, and I'm glad it backfired. We lived in a house of 7 in a small terrace and OK, sometimes the house does get quite untidy and looks a state. But we spend a lot of time and effort cleaning everything up to how it was when we moved in - in many instances, we've left it cleaner - so a random "check" of day to day student untidiness says nothing about how the house will be left once vacated.
If nothing else Sarah, how do you defend the total lack of communication given by Providence? [Company details removed by Moderator]
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We rented a 6 bedroom house from providence properties from 07/08 paying a total of 1200 pounds deposit which we are yet to see or even hear anything about over 6 months after our tenancy has ended, we too were given the providence lets pie off but have heard nothing back from them,
through out our tenancy providence were very poor starting off by not letting us have the house we had agreed on (finding a new one on move-in day) and not responding to a single complaint about serious poor living conditions.
300 quid might not sound like too much but it is to me, a poor student, and how someone can blatently steal 1200 pounds and seem to get away with it is appaling.
great effort was taken to ensure our house was in the condition it was when we moved in but we are still yet to see a penny and doubt be will....what can we do about this????? nothing apparently
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