Harlequin threatens struggling investors with damages claims

Laura Miller
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Struggling investors unable to pump more money into troubled overseas property investment Harlequin have been told by the company they risk financial damages claims for breach of contract.

Harlequin is sending demands to investors holding contracts to the few properties it has actually built - 113 out of about 6,000 - that they pay the balance originally agreed to "complete". The company, subject to a Serious Fraud Office investigation into its unregulated property scheme, is giving investors a "reasonable period" of 49 days to pay balances of more than £100,000 by whatever means they can. Most investors are unlikely to be able to pay, having relied on "guaranteed 70% mortgages" promised by Harlequin when they signed up to the investment and paid their deposits. In o...

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