Rental fraud happens when would-be tenants are tricked into paying an upfront fee to rent a property. In reality, the property does not exist, has already been rented out, or has been rented to multiple victims at the same time.
Rental fraudsters often target students looking for university accommodation.
Scam warning signs:
- Very low rent
- Deposit before viewing
- Money transfer services
Make sure the price is realistic
A sign of a fraudulent advertisement is often the price; scammers will usually advertise a great sounding deal at a way-too-good-to-be-true price to lure tenants in, especially students. Do your research on average rent prices by searching online to see what local letting agents are charging.
Don't pay anything or send documents before viewing
Sometimes the person posing as a landlord will try to convince you that they live abroad, or have been let down before, so ask you to prove that you’re serious by paying a deposit before viewing. They might also start asking for your identity documents before you’ve even met. These could be used to carry out more serious identity fraud.
Often the flats that are advertised don’t exist, or belong to an unaware property owner. We strongly advise against paying or signing anything before viewing a property in person. A quick Land Registry search will cost you £3 and will tell you who owns the property.
Beware using money transfer services
If they're asking you to use money transfer services such as Western Union or Moneygram to make payments, it could be a scam. Transactions through these services is often untraceable.
Tips to protect yourself from rental fraud:
- Use established rental websites that offer user reviews and have secure payment systems. If the listing is suspicious or too good to be true, don’t use it.
- Do not send money to anyone advertising rental properties online until you are certain the advertiser is genuine.
- If you need to secure accommodation in the UK from overseas get a friend, contact or relative to check the property exists and is available.
- Do not pay any money until you or a reliable contact has visited the property with an agent or the landlord.
- Ask for copies of tenancy agreements and any safety certificates such as Gas Electricity or HMO Licence.
- Do not be pressurised into transferring large sums of money. Transfer funds to a bank account having obtained the details by contacting the landlord or agent directly after the above steps have been followed. Be sceptical if you’re asked to transfer any money via a money transfer service like Western Union.
If fraud has been committed, report it to Action Fraud.
Check with our Advice Team if you’re unsure
If you’re unsure about whether an advertisement is a scam, we'll look into it for you.
Contact our Advice Team