PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
Watchdog/Brendan Kiely

princeofpounds
Posts: 10,396 Forumite


Anyone see watchdog last night? About the letting agents that were taking multiple 'application fees/reservation fees/holding deposits' for the same property and then retaining them when the letting ineevitably fell through for all the applicants?
It made me feel very sad, particularly when they did the segment at the LA owner's house, which was some god-awful footballers wives style mansion. Horrid to think how many deposits might need to be stolen to build a place like that.
From my own experience, this sort of thing (and associated scams) is endemic, if not always so extreme, particularly at the poorer end of the market where people are desperate to secure accomodation.
In my opinion, the guy and half his staff should be in prison, but unfortunately each and every case of this will just be dealt with as a 'civil issue' (or most likely not dealt with at all as it requires the victims to have a fair bit of legal knowledge and persistence to recover the money) this never happens. Despite the fact that there has been clear and systematic fraud. :mad:
It made me feel very sad, particularly when they did the segment at the LA owner's house, which was some god-awful footballers wives style mansion. Horrid to think how many deposits might need to be stolen to build a place like that.
From my own experience, this sort of thing (and associated scams) is endemic, if not always so extreme, particularly at the poorer end of the market where people are desperate to secure accomodation.
In my opinion, the guy and half his staff should be in prison, but unfortunately each and every case of this will just be dealt with as a 'civil issue' (or most likely not dealt with at all as it requires the victims to have a fair bit of legal knowledge and persistence to recover the money) this never happens. Despite the fact that there has been clear and systematic fraud. :mad:
0
Comments
-
The rich never got rich by playing by the rules.....
Clearly several criminal offences were committed by the letting agent but will he face charges?
I doubt it!!
There will however be enough of a firewall between this agent and Kiely for him to get away with it!!0 -
There will however be enough of a firewall between this agent and Kiely for him to get away with it!!
True, it's the old !!!!! trick where the fraud cannot be traced from the agent who took the deposit to the boss. After all, the agent might have just taken it for himself (although I doubt that).
(weird... the well known italian crime syndicate beginning with M seems to be a censored word!)0 -
Every once in a while we get a tenant or landlord on here saying how great their letting agent is.
So refreshing.
Just a shame it's so rare.0 -
princeofpounds wrote: »
(weird... the well known italian crime syndicate beginning with M seems to be a censored word!)
You mean the Cosa Nostra?MSE understand that we are just simple business men and dislike our name being used,- it makes us unhappy....this way we do our thing, and they do theirs, Capiche?.
Stop! Think. Read the small print. Trust nothing and assume that it is your responsibility. That way it rarely goes wrong.
Actively hunting down the person who invented the imaginary tenure, "share freehold"; if you can show me one I will produce my daughter's unicorn0 -
princeofpounds wrote: »...........
(weird... the well known italian crime syndicate beginning with M seems to be a censored word!)
You mean the M@fia???0 -
if all estate and letting agents were required to be a member of a professional body this would not happen. It is always agents that are not part of bodies that make the whole industry look bad0
-
I know this puts me at odds but why do we need every little step legislated for us? Theft and fraud are one thing....
Buying or renting a house is a big commitment, and I don't understand why so little value is placed on research and understanding, expecting instead that a detailed process is turned into a smoothie? It is especially sad that this is because people would rather be tweeting.
I hope people deal with me fairly, but we have no real right to that.
When registering with an agent applicants should be asking for details of any or all charges in writing.
And make an educated choice with whom they deal with.Stop! Think. Read the small print. Trust nothing and assume that it is your responsibility. That way it rarely goes wrong.
Actively hunting down the person who invented the imaginary tenure, "share freehold"; if you can show me one I will produce my daughter's unicorn0 -
I didn't see the programme. Which is a pity.
Where were these shyster agents/criminals based?
Part of the issue as I see it is that prospective tenants aren't educated about the process which makes them ripe for being ripped off. Perhaps now they've broadcast that clip there may be fewer of them. I do hope so0 -
If you need a house they have you over a barrel. You pay them or it goes to someone else. Sometimes even if you pay them it goes to someone else.
I once put £300 on a property I was assured would be cleared of all the cluttered landlords furniture and possessions apart from white goods before we moved in. We handed in notice on our old flat, booked movers, all ready to go, called LA again who denied ever saying any such thing.
We could dump our own furniture, put it in storage, or go whistle. That left us with 5 working days to find another place and down £300. The LA were very smug about it.
It did work out for the best and our new LAs were lovely. But most of them are dishonest at best.0 -
if all estate and letting agents were required to be a member of a professional body this would not happen. It is always agents that are not part of bodies that make the whole industry look bad
This isn't fully true though. At the end of the day their are criminals in every profession. Regulation would certainly tidy the industry up, but at the end of the day you will never stop a lifelong criminal, which exactly what this guy is in the headline.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 348.2K Banking & Borrowing
- 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 452.3K Spending & Discounts
- 240.8K Work, Benefits & Business
- 617K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 175.6K Life & Family
- 254K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards