The sentencing of an agent to jail after he stole tenants’ deposits worth more than £200,000 has been welcomed by the National Approved Letting Scheme.

Keith Ranson, who had run R House in Plymouth where he helped himself to the money before attempting to start a new life in Lincolnshire as a branch manager for WH Brown, was given two years in prison last Friday.

In a statement, NALS said: “NALS welcomes the sentence given to Keith Ranson and this recognition at last that stealing clients’ money is a crime worthy of a custodial sentence. We commend the police for their tenacious pursual of this complicated case.

“The firm was a NALS agent until May 2010 and we have recompensed consumers through the NALS Client Money Protection Scheme where loss has been evidenced.
 
“NALS was also involved in the preparation of the case against Ranson and we sincerely hope this sentence serves as a warning that stealing clients’ money will not be tolerated.”

The TDS also confirmed that it has been involved in compensating defrauded tenants of R House, which went into liquidation. A spokesman said that 227 tenants had been repaid their deposits.