Letsense Reference Insurance to Close

Letsense which was launched by chief executive Peter Knowles and Brian Turney, former managing director of Letsure in October 2008, has put its 12 staff on notice.

HomeLet's Managing Director John Boyle has offered a lifeline for LetSense agents who have were advised on the 9th November 09 that their referencing provider is to close on the 7th December 2009.

In a statement issued by LetSense to its customers the firm stated: “We have reluctantly had to take the decision to cease trading with effect from Monday 7th December as we have been unable to secure continued backing for our operations.”

A number of LetSense customers concerned about the closure have already been in contact with HomeLet. John Boyle of HomeLet said" “At HomeLet we support a network of around 4,000 letting agents and regularly reference in excess of 1,500 prospective tenants every day,”

“We’re confident that we can easily cope with any additional references generated by letting agents who currently use LetSense, whilst continuing to provide a seamless service for every agent.”

“Our New Agent Team has set up a hotline for concerned Letsense agents, and we have a team of people ready to process any applications from agents. We will guarantee to set any affected letting agent up as a HomeLet customer, so they can transact their references and guarantee their landlords’ rent through us, before the closure date of 7th December,”

“A delayed reference can mean the loss of a tenant which in turn could lead to a landlord choosing a different letting agent. At a time when competition is still very fierce on the high street, clearly this is not a good time for letting agents to let their customer standards service drop.”

HomeLet currently supports a network of around 4,000 letting agents and regularly reference in excess of 1,500 prospective tenants every day.

The company recently announced that 91% of references are completed within 72 hours and 78% within six working hours.

The firm has guaranteed that it will set up new customer accounts and allow LetSense agents to transact their references and protect their landlords’ rents, before the closure date of 7th December.