THE owners of a building in Largs that was home to a nail bar that suddenly shut last week says the premises were being "occupied illegally".

And the people who were running the House of Nails salon have claimed they had been duped into signing a "fake contract" for the unit.

The House of Nails salon at 23 Main Street closed suddenly on Tuesday, February 6.

According to the Scottish Rates Assessors website, the building is owned by the George Stevenson Lockhart Discretionary Trust, with the tenants being The Nail Guys Limited. However, the business which was operating within the premises say they were given a 'fake contract' by a company who were masquerading as landlords of the property, and say they were duped.

A message, in broken English, was posted on the House of Nails Facebook page last week, which said they were sorry to tell all customers that when they bought the lease that they were given a "fake contract" and "I too believed them then I give them all money".

However, when the tenants contacted who they thought to be the landlords, they did not answer their calls, and 'hired two guys who come to salon to 'kick me out'."

The News contacted the bona fide landlords of the property, the George Stevenson Lockhart Discretionary Trust, to try and clarify the position.

A spokesperson said: "We can confirm that the tenant of the property vacated last year by agreement after the lease was terminated.

"In November last year the landlord noted the property was being occupied illegally, and whilst the current occupier states that he has a lease, this unfortunately is not genuine and was not granted by the Trust.

"The former occupier will have to decide whether to take any action against the person or persons who granted the lease.

"In the meantime the Trust confirms that the property is in the course of being sold."

Largs and Millport Weekly News:

According to Companies House, the tenants listed at the property, The Nail Guys Limited, were dissolved in February 2023.

The business was located in the Main Street premises formerly occupied by the TSB until the bank's branch in town was shut three years ago.

On the House of Nails Facebook page, a spokesperson also said they were "sorry to tell all customers" that the business had closed with immediate effect, and thanked the customers who had spent their money in the shop.

Responding to the news, one customer posted: "I'm so sorry to hear this. Good luck with your next venture."

Another customer said: " I'm sorry to hear this, you are both such lovely people who do amazing nails."