The widow of murdered landlord Mohammed Raja is claiming more than £300,000 damages from estate agents she claims have undervalued her late husband's properties.
Starbibi Raja is taking legal action in the High Court, as administrator of her late husband's estate, against Austin Gray estate agents and valuers in Dyke Road, Hove.
A writ has been filed claiming damages and interest arising out of the firm's alleged negligent property valuations.
Mr Raja was known as one of Brighton's most notorious slum landlords.
He was shot and stabbed by two masked assailants at his Surrey home in July 1999.
Stewart Gray, a partner at Austin Gray estate agents, said: "There is litigation which we are contesting and the matter will shortly come before the court."
The allegations involve 16 properties, including six in Brighton and Hove.
The local properties are in Walpole Terrace, St Michael's Place and Upper Lewes Road in Brighton and Goldstone Villas, Wilbury Road and Lorna Road in Hove.
Solicitors acting on behalf of Mrs Raja have issued a writ alleging Mr Raja lost sale proceeds of £374,000 because of the estate agents' negligence.
The writ alleges the properties were secured by a charge to Development Finance Ltd and in 1995 Austin Gray was instructed by the firm's administrative receivers to carry out detailed valuations.
According to the writ, the estate agents were informed the receivers proposed to sell the properties to discharge Mr Raja's borrowing.
The estate agents advised the receivers the open market value was between £411,500 and £435,000. The sale went through, except for three properties, for £245,000.
The writ alleges the valuations from Austin Gray were wrong. It claims the true market value was £657,000.
It alleges Austin Gray was in breach of its duties and failed to exercise the skill and care of a reasonably competent chartered surveyor.
It also claims the estate agents failed to make adequate inquiries into the rents received on the properties, which Mr Raja had informed the company amounted to about £100,000.
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