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A letting agency is facing serious allegations involving the failure to return deposits to over 100 tenants. The firm, Morgan, Payne & Knightly (MPK), headed by Tony Singh—whose full name is Amun Singh Judge—operates branches in Birmingham, Telford, and Wolverhampton. Alongside tenant complaints, several landlords accuse Singh of withholding rent payments due to them. Both Singh and MPK have been subject to county court judgments linked to unpaid sums, and they have been reported to Trading Standards.
A BBC investigation has revealed the extent of the financial losses being suffered by both tenants and landlords, with hundreds of thousands of pounds reportedly unreturned. Some individuals worry that their money may never be recovered. The BBC made multiple attempts to reach Singh through email, phone calls, social media, and even hand-delivered letters to his home and place of work, but he did not respond.
One affected tenant, Raman Kaur, and her family rented through MPK until 2025, after which they bought their own home. They are still awaiting the refund of their £900 deposit, having discovered it was not placed in a government-authorized deposit protection scheme. Kaur described the situation as unfair and stressful, especially given current financial hardships. When she tried to resolve the issue by visiting MPK’s West Bromwich office, she found the branch had closed. Persistent attempts to contact Singh and his staff by phone have also been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, an unnamed landlord, referred to as Vikram, claimed MPK falsely stated their use of a deposit protection scheme and said he is owed £700. He reported his concerns to Trading Standards. Sandwell Council confirmed that neither Singh nor MPK currently operates in that borough, although they continue operating elsewhere in the West Midlands.
Another landlord, Mike Heighway, who owns four properties in Telford, revealed that since July 2024 he has experienced missing rent payments from MPK. After months without receiving rent, he instructed tenants to pay him directly. Mike said he is owed around £16,000 and has made countless attempts to contact Singh over two years without success, eventually engaging a debt collection agency. He warns against using unregulated letting agents. It is important to note that in England, letting agents are not legally required to be regulated, though agents must place tenant deposits into regulated schemes under UK law. Local authorities have confirmed cases where MPK failed to comply with this requirement.
Reports have also emerged of properties managed by MPK suffering severe damage. One property in Oldbury was found to have been used as a cannabis farm, causing extensive destruction including cut ceilings, damaged walls, and the need for complete re-flooring and redecoration. West Midlands Police confirmed the discovery but noted the occupants were missing. The property owner, referred to as Dave, grew suspicious when rent payments stopped. After failing to contact Singh, Dave inspected the property himself and was shocked by the condition. He later learned that the electricity meters had been forcibly removed due to unpaid bills. Repairs have cost Dave £32,000, and he is owed an additional £12,000 in rent. Moreover, gas and electrical safety checks had not been carried out, leaving him exposed to potential legal and insurance issues. Dave’s sister, who also rented out a property through MPK, experienced similar problems with rent arrears and unreturned deposits, alongside unresponsive management from Singh.
The BBC has presented Singh with the allegations and asked about tenant checks at the property used as a drug farm, but he has not responded. Evidence gathered by the BBC indicates Singh is still actively trading as Morgan, Payne & Knightly, continues to collect rent from tenants, and remains in contact with landlords seeking payments. There are at least eight county court judgments recorded against Singh and MPK concerning unpaid deposits, rent, and staff wages. Former employees have claimed they are owed substantial sums in unpaid wages and benefits, including pension, sickness, and maternity pay.
Additionally, MPK’s former West Bromwich branch was fined £2,150 in 2025 for breaches of the UK’s money laundering regulations. In April 2026, a county court ruled that MPK unfairly dismissed a member of staff at the Sandwell branch, failed to pay her minimum wage, and withheld £1,726 in tax and national insurance payments. Despite these rulings, many affected individuals express frustration at the lack of resolution. “He continues to get away with it,” said Tilly, a complainant, lamenting that their concerns appear to be ignored
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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