SIGNS naming and shaming those who have fallen behind with their rent will be put up outside dozens of homes across Merseyside in the next few weeks as landlords feel the bite of the credit crunch.

Two homes have so far had the signs – which say “rent dodger lives here” and have a shadowy image of a man running away – put up high on the houses, and more are expected to follow.

The agents behind the scheme, Sutton Estates, based in Anfield, say the move is born out of frustration with those falling behind with their payments.

But Neil Heffey, a partner in the estate agency, said he was sick and tired of being “avoided” by those who refused to pay for their living accommodation, provided by or through his company.

He said: “They can avoid us, but not their neighbours. Now, every time they walk in and out of their door, the neigh-bours will be laughing at them.”

He said those avoiding pay-ing their rent were “taking the food off my children’s plates”, but he insisted genuine cases of hardship would not be targeted.

Sutton Estates has around 70 properties across Birkenhead, with many more in Liverpool, around the County Road area, and also acts on behalf of 80 other landlords, renting out homes.

One of the landlords who rents through Sutton Estates, Pat Slattery, from Ireland, said safe-guards would ensure only those who abused the system would face the signs being put on the properties where they lived.

He said: “It’s not a medieval witch-hunt. The signs will not apply to hardship cases, but there are people who take the rent paid to them by the Government and do not pass it on.