TRADING Standards officers are investigating an estate agent over complaints involving Home Information Packs (Hips).

Stuart Edwards’ customers in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, say the firm has taken payments for Hips but failed to deliver them.

The Newton Aycliffe branch closed earlier this year and sales were transferred to the Bishop Auckland branch.

Concerns were raised, however, when that branch closed two weeks ago and a note appeared in the door blaming staff illness.

It has since emerged that the company – which also has branches in Darlington, Shildon and Crook – has gone into liquidation. The Durham City branch, which is under separate ownership, is not thought to be affected.

Lee Smurthwaite, 35, bought the rights to trade as Stuart Edwards about five years ago, and owns the affected Stuart Edwards branches.

He said: “There is nothing malicious or criminal going on whatsoever. I have just become another victim of the recession.

“Any payments for Hips were taken in good faith and all but a very small percentage of them are in varying stages of completion.

“After the liquidation and now the Trading Standards investigation, my hands are tied to a certain degree, but I will do my best to personally complete the outstanding Hips and get them out to the customers.”

Stephen Kennedy, 39, put his home in Bramham Chase, Newton Aycliffe, up for sale last November, paying £350 for a Hip from Stuart Edwards.

“I was told by Stuart Edwards I’d be better waiting until the market picks up for my Hip because they only last for a year,” he said.

“Now I’m not so sure and I wonder if they knew they were in difficulties and it was a delaying tactic.”

Alan Hindmarch, 55, discovered a problem when he tried to transfer the sale of his home in Watson Road, Newton Aycliffe, to another agent.

“I paid for the survey in November and then about six weeks later someone came out to the house, but when the Aycliffe branch closed and I asked for the survey I just got fobbed off,” he said.

A spokesman for Durham County Council’s Trading Standards department said: “We are making inquiries.

They are at an early