Landlords have been left feeling “betrayed and cheated” after the abrupt closure of a New Malden estate agent left them heavily out of pocket.

Police are investigating Giraffe Residential, in Coombe Road, over allegations of theft after the company closed without warning in December.

A letter from Giraffe director Chandra Patel to customers said the company had to “cease trading due to large financial difficulties”.

The letter added: “No payments can be made as unfortunately there are no funds or assets and the company is now taking steps to be dissolved.”

Landlords who used Giraffe to secure their tenants’ deposits said the money had disappeared – and legally, they are left to foot the bill.

One such landlord is Kal Khera, who said: “It’s ridiculous. I’m now responsible for the £1,280 my tenant paid with little chance of getting the money back.

“I was assured my tenant’s deposit was held securely by a deposit holding company.

“Having talked to some other landlords that used Giraffe I have realised that there are several unfortunate people in my position.”

Dawn Downs also rents out a property in New Malden and when Giraffe closed she found she was liable to pay almost £2,000 to her tenant.

She said: “They are basically non-existent now and have disappeared with £1,740, which I am liable for as it is kept by them for my tenant.

“I am in my 60s with a heart problem and I am unable to afford a solicitor to fight my case. The loss of my tenant’s money is a huge problem for me.

“It is the Government who insist all tenancy deposits are kept by agents, but then do nothing to assist the landlord when these deposits disappear if the agent goes out of business.”

Trading standards and police are currently investigating the company. A Kingston Council spokesman said: “We are aware and are currently investigating to see whether there are breaches of the law that need enforcing.”

The Comet has been unable to contact Mr Patel despite several attempts.

Giraffe is the latest King-ston estate agent to go bust, leaving landlords hundreds and thousands of pounds out of pocket.

In 2009, both ABM Compass and Kim’s Lettings closed without returning hundreds of tenants’ deposits.

And in 2012, Kingston Hill estate agent JeJe Barons shut unexpectedly with an estimated £500,000 worth of deposits going missing.