An Employment Tribunal in Sheffield has dismissed an unfair dismissal claim brought by a former property manager who worked at a Selby lettings agency for over 28 years.
The case involved Jemma Wright, who had been employed at Harlequin Property Services since 1997, working alongside her sister for the company founded by their parents, Brian and Donna-Marie Douglas, in 1992.
Breakdown in attendance and duties
According to tribunal documents, Wright’s attendance and behaviour became problematic from January 2025. Her role included responsibility for financial affairs such as wages, tax, HMRC liaison, rental deposits, insurance matters, and communication between landlords and tenants.
The tribunal heard that Wright began neglecting her duties, either failing to attend work, arriving late, or leaving for extended periods. From early July 2025, she went on unauthorised leave.
On 22nd July 2025, Wright met with her mother and sister and requested her P45 to claim benefits, stating she would seek alternative employment through the Jobcentre. The company treated this as a resignation with immediate effect. Her P45 was issued on 23rd July 2025, with payment made up to 7th July 2025, her last working day.
Allegations of financial irregularities
The tribunal was informed that £21,956 had been taken improperly from the company’s bank account between March and July 2025. Additionally, tenants had reportedly been instructed to pay rent into a personal bank account. A criminal investigation into these allegations is ongoing.
Wright did not represent herself at the hearing and failed to respond to repeated attempts by the court to establish a video link for her attendance. The tribunal concluded: “The judgment of the tribunal is that the claimant was not dismissed. Bearing in mind what happened on 22nd July 2025, the claimant resigned with immediate effect. There is no evidence that she did so in circumstances entitling her to resign and bring a constructive unfair dismissal claim.”
Company closure
Harlequin Property Services is no longer trading. The company’s website has been offline since August 2025, its phone number is disconnected, and its Google listing shows the business as permanently closed.
The case highlights the complexities that can arise in property management operations, particularly in family-run businesses. While family involvement in property businesses is common in the sector, employment disputes can have significant operational consequences for lettings agencies and their clients.
The full tribunal judgment is available through the government’s employment tribunal decisions database.
