Avoiding scams

Scam warning signs:

1. Very low rent

2. Deposit before viewing

3. 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. 

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.

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.

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