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An estate agent was accused of cashing in on human misery today by TREBLING charges in the wake of the floods.

Cumbrian Properties in Carlisle opened its offices on Sunday morning as thousands of people were left homeless as a result of Storm Desmond .

But an embarrassed member of staff told callers the 'admin charge' for new tenants had gone up from £110 per customer – plus a £90 'check in fee' - to £600 overnight.

Electrician David Thomas, 54, called on behalf of a friend and was staggered to be quoted the sky high price hike.

He later rang around five other local estate agents who had all kept their flat fee for new tenants at £110.

He accused Cumbrian Properties, its directors David and Julia Hogarth, and David's brother Adrian, who is the firm's managing director, of 'rank exploitation'.

He said: “I hope by naming and shaming them they might change their minds.

“There is no excuse in my view, it is disgusting.

“There are people who are desperate and they will take out loans and get into debt to try and get a home.”

He added: “I felt the lady at Cumbrian Properties was embarrassed by the price rise, you could tell that on the phone.

“She was uncomfortable explaining it. It was taking advantage of people who were desperate in an area where the average wage is not very high.”

(Image: Getty Images)

Mum-of-two Kerrie Redfern, 43, (c) of Carlisle, spoke with Cumbrian Properties on Sunday and was quoted the £600 'admin' fee.

She said: “They wanted £600 for a three bedroom house, with £675-a-month rent and another month up front.

“I was shocked especially as they are a local company. There were flood victims going to them first because they were the only firm that was open.

“Obviously it is cashing in on people's misery, and I think that is disgusting. We have local businesses doing stuff for free and then you get this.”

Kerrie, who lives with partner James Claydon, 38, a council worker, and children Alex, 13, and Mya, ten, found a bungalow for her family and her parents – who were also hit by floods – at £900-a-month.

Adrian Hogarth admitted he had 'made a mistake' and he had agreed to refund those new tenants charged the fee.

He said: “I made an error of judgement. I had staff who worked 12-hour shifts on Sunday.

"I made a decision to increase tenancy fees to cover the cost of staffing to get people into properties.

“I realised on Monday that I should not have done that, and we have donated £2,500 to the Cumbrian flood appeal, and have reduced the fees to £200 per property.

“We apologise for the bad feeling this has caused.”

He added some customers had been happy to pay the charges in order to find a home because his staff had worked so hard.