MYSTERY today surrounds the sudden closure of a Southampton letting agency that has left worried tenants fearing for their accommodation.

Customers are desperately trying to find out what has happened to their deposits and tenancy fees for newly arranged accommodation that was paid out to C2 Sales and Lettings.

Since the Portswood Road office, pictured, closed last week many have been turning up to be met by a typewritten sign saying it is now closed for business.

However, the notice adds that all contracts are ready for collection and an email address is given for prospective tenants to arrange to pick them up.

People who are in the middle of completing their tenancy agreements are also advised to get in contact by email. The letting agency says in the notice that all completed files, first month’s rent and deposits are with the landlords and that it is “very sorry” for the inconvenience.

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No explanation is given for the sudden closure.

Grant Cadger, a first year student at the University of Southampton, and seven others were initially left in the dark after each paying out a £120 tenancy fee and £515 deposit to C2.

However, they have since discovered that the deposits had been given to their landlord.

Sophie Paterson, welfare vicepresident at Southampton University’s Student Union, said students affected by the agency’s closure could seek advice from the union’s housing advisor.

“C2 is in a very central location so many students might be affected.

Our housing advisor is keeping on top of the situation. We usually get people referred to us and I think it is still a panic situation.”

The Daily Echo understands that C2 Sales and Lettings, which was previously an off-licence, had been in business for just under a year and was run by a married couple.

It still has 40 studios, flats and houses displayed in its window for sales and lettings and its website states that the business is one of the “fastest growing”

independent sales and lettings agencies in Southampton and “revered” for providing a “professional yet friendly” service.

No one was available for comment when the Daily Echo tried to contact the company.