private landlord -scam?

smartie1

Hi all,

A colleague of mine is due to meet his new landlord on Monday to hand over a deposit, sign contracts and pick up keys to his new flat. He's incredibly nervous as he's off on hols the next day and due to return and move in for October 1st.

As he's never been via a private landlord before he's extremely nervous that he's about to hand over £2k + and then may return in a week or so's time to find the locks changed and the LL gone! Is there anything he can do except hope that this is not a scam artist?

BitterAndTwisted

Your pal could pay four quid and check ownership of the property on the Land Registry website and see whether those details confirm info they already have for the LL.

Have your pal hand over the deposit and sign the tenancy agreement after they've checked the property is still in good order. One hopes that there will be an inventory listing the contents and their condition. Once they have the keys they can change the barrels of the locks which is cheaper than replacing the whole locks. Depending on what kind of locks they are, they could only cost about a fiver and take about ten minutes to replace with a screwdriver. Your pal should retain the old barrels so they can be replaced when they vacate at the end of the tenancy.

tbs624

Are they meeting at the property or is it currently occupied by another T?

Ask the LL to provide photo ID, and ask whether he's a member of the local LL association/one of the national LL associations/the local Council's private LL accreditation scheme (if they have one). Check the LR site, as B&T has suggested.

Don't pay the deposit until he has thoroughly read through the tenancy agreement, don't pay in cash, get a receipt for the deposit. Note the car registration plate. Have a witness with him.

Is this solely a tenancy deposit or does some of it represent advance rent?

Ask the LL which tenancy deposit scheme will be used ( should be registered within 14 days of the LL receiving the deposit - Eng/Wales)

There are a couple of stickies up at the top of this board which your mate may find useful.

G_M

Check the LL owns the property here.

Check there is a (valid) address for the LL - it should be on the tenancy agreement. Check it is genuine (eg while checking the LL's ID - driving licence?)

When does the tenancy start? Monday? Change the lock before going on holiday.

theartfullodger

Agree with tbs & gm.. however re..

don't pay in cash, get a receipt for the deposit.

Completely agree about get a receipt [anyone who won't give a receipt? Walk away from them..] but it is the practice of some Landlords only to take cash for initial month & deposit as some of the alternatives (bank transfer, cheque..) can be reversed..

But yup, be wary, check: An honest LL would be happy (if surprised) to give such info . .. (but I've never been asked in 10+ years...)

Cheers!

Artful

N79

theartfullodger wrote: »

Agree with tbs & gm.. however re..



Completely agree about get a receipt [anyone who won't give a receipt? Walk away from them..] but it is the practice of some Landlords only to take cash for initial month & deposit as some of the alternatives (bank transfer, cheque..) can be reversed..

But yup, be wary, check: An honest LL would be happy (if surprised) to give such info . .. (but I've never been asked in 10+ years...)

Cheers!

Artful

Agreed, the first months rent and deposit need to be paid in cleared funds before the start of the tenancy. For that reason, if the tenancy is due to start immediately, cash may be the only option.

tbs624

N79 wrote: »

Agreed, the first months rent and deposit need to be paid in cleared funds before the start of the tenancy. For that reason, if the tenancy is due to start immediately, cash may be the only option.

I agree with you and Artful, if the tenancy starts before the OP goes away - I was (probably mistakenly) assuming that the tenancy wasn't actually starting until Oct 1st, in which case the LL *would* have time for funds to clear.

mchale

Also has the LL taken copies ID off your friend, has the LL asked all the correct questions etc, if its a scam you'll normally find the scammer wont do the checks a genuine LL would have done.

FraudBuster

Rental fraud happens when would-be tenants are tricked into paying an upfront fee to rent a property.

http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/fraud-az-rental-fraud

Ankatden

N79 wrote: »

Agreed, the first months rent and deposit need to be paid in cleared funds before the start of the tenancy. For that reason, if the tenancy is due to start immediately, cash may be the only option.

Nope as Tenant can pay money (Cash) directly into bank account of LL by meeting LL at a bank or getting account number rent will be paid into.

DH had a potential tenant like this so he met them at a local bank branch and he gave customer service Rep permission to tell ID infor as in yup LL has had account with bank for in excess of X years, yes that is his address, yes he has BTL mortgages with us and is fully up to date.

Potential Tenant still claiming "Oh I don't know blah blah blah" so DH said ok thank you for your time and walked away.

Person rang and shouted abuse and went with another LL and clearly did no checking but saved £25 a month. House they in repoed after 3 months as LL not paying mortgage, deposit not secured etc and they evicted with 1 weeks notice. They came back complaining and looking for a cheap deal claiming we should allow no deposit etc but we said thank you but no.