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Written by Rosalind Renshaw

Foxtons is to be sued by a landlord who claims that the London agents moved a Russian prostitute into one of her properties four years ago.

Karen Menzies alleges that Foxtons gave the 22-year-old call girl a reference after she moved into her Chelsea flat. She claims that the tenant – described by Foxtons as a ‘single professional female’ – had trashed her previous apartment.

She is seeking more than £16,000, claiming unpaid rent, damage to the property and loss of earnings caused by dealing with the problems.

Ms Menzies acknowledges that she handed over the keys to her new tenant before the references came through but claims she ‘acted in good faith’, having used Foxtons on seven previous occasions.

She told the London Evening Standard: “The first time I saw her, she was dressed in a cocktail dress and off her face. She said she had been to a 60th birthday party and not been to bed. I walked out of the door, down the road and told Foxtons about my concerns and said I was convinced she was a prostitute.”

Ms Menzies claimed the flat was badly damaged and that the tenant “worked unusual hours”. The tenant allegedly handed over a month’s rent in advance, but paid nothing further and was evicted after three months.

Ms Menzies says that at the flat, she found an inventory checklist of damage and unpaid rent from her tenant’s previous landlord that came to more than £6,000.

Ms Menzies said Foxtons had offered to refund its commission on the rental and contribute towards legal costs incurred in evicting her from the flat.

A Foxtons spokeswoman declined to comment.

Comments

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    hi sexy daring h r u

    • 02 March 2009 18:03 PM
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    I believe the tenancy agreement was £69 extra and a few more extras were offered!!

    • 06 February 2009 18:34 PM
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    Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

    Another great F%&K up by Foxtons.

    • 06 February 2009 17:08 PM
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    What does it matter what she did for a living or that she was Russian.A bad tennant is a bad tennant.This sort of racism is not acceptable.Why not just a prostitute.This is steriotypicalising Russian women.Also it does not matter if someone is a working girl providing she does not place herself in danger.Local authorities should work closely with agents in this respect.I praise Foxtons for giving her a chance even if she didn't cope very well whilst a tennant probably due to no support network or governmental financial assistance

    • 06 February 2009 16:42 PM
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    One supposes staff at Foxstons have been gagged?

    • 06 February 2009 16:11 PM
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    If there is any problem ALWAYS blame the Agent. I hate to also agree with Foxtons but the number of Landlords not prepared to accept responsibility for their own actions is ridiculous.

    • 06 February 2009 15:28 PM
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    Perhaps the new NFOPP should reconsider their new Professional Association which is to be known as "APIP" - where does the M for member go? (ie APIMP?). Was no one suspicious when the agent carried out their "routine inspections". I heard the Foxton's chap carried out an inspection once on Monday's,twice on Wednesday's, & last thing on each Friday afternoon!

    • 06 February 2009 12:34 PM
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    Thats what happens when you dont use the 'MANAGED BY' service from F***stons. I am a Surveyor and and can remember being called to do a DAMP Survey. I reported back 'Rising damp from the Middle, needs further probing, my damp meter was acting very strange, may need to second viewing'

    • 06 February 2009 12:09 PM
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    I don't normally agree with agree with foxtons but they were right , she single , female and a proffessional

    • 06 February 2009 11:58 AM
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    What's the address exactly? Kind a sounds familiar....

    • 06 February 2009 11:44 AM
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    She was real good.. and the flat was charming!

    • 06 February 2009 11:38 AM
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    Due diligence would have established if she was any good.

    • 06 February 2009 11:32 AM
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    Has any one questioned what other job this girl had... possibly a letting agent in her own right... she lay down, allowed people to walk all over her, make offers and then execute to completion.

    • 06 February 2009 11:26 AM
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    well she used fox-stoned 7 times before...she should be thankful it did'nt happen sooner! Besides, ladies of the night need a home too!

    • 06 February 2009 11:25 AM
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    Wasn't this story printed in the Evening Standard a week ago? So much for a news portal. Nevertheless, I'm glad that those pretentious ne'er-do-well's have been taken down a peg or two.

    • 06 February 2009 10:36 AM
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