A MERSEYSIDE estate agent who began putting signs outside the homes of “rent dodgers” has attracted new landlords, it was revealed last night.

The Daily Post reported this week how Anfield-based Sutton Estates had employed the contro-versial new tactic as a way of dealing with “serial non-payers”.

And although they have courted controversy Neil Heffey, a partner in the estate agents, said he plans to continue the hardline tactic.

Merseyside TUC has taken up the case and employed a solicitor to investigate the legality of the signs being used by the company.

And a former tenant has now come forward claiming the agents had failed to maintain their prop-erty on Winslow Street, Walton, which is one of only two to have had the signs put up on it so far.

The signs have caused a furore after the Daily Post revealed the tactics were being used by desper-ate landlords faced with serial “rent dodgers”.

Similar to For Sale and To Let signs, they say “rent dodger lives here” and have an image of a shadowy man running. They are intended to embarrass the tenant into either paying up or moving, but legal experts say the agents could be opening themselves up to possible legal action.