Appropiate action to be taken on a rental scam?

bigbun12

Hello,

I'm looking for some advice on the appropriate action to be taken after my partner was ripped off my an individual letting a room.

She visited a property and paid the individual £600 deposit via bank transfer, she received a make shift tenancy agreement along with the individuals passport, proof of address, and a move in date.

The move in date came, the individual sent a message stating the room is no longer available as the previous tenant has decided to stay and she could either wait a month for him to move out or her money back.

She provided her bank details and requested a date for the money to be returned. Initially the response was that "The landlord has the money and he is just waiting for it to be returned". A few weeks later responses dried up and the money has still not been returned.

I did some research into the individual, and found a CCJ against his name, I requested a copy of this and it turns out he did the exact same scam to a month before this to someone else who has taken out a CCJ against him.

So the question I have is apart from a CCJ are there any other avenues we need to explore to pursue this individual? Can a case for fraud also be made?

Many thanks,

stator

Yes, report it as fraud and sue.
Have you checked the land registry to see if this person really owns the house?

bigbun12

He doesn't own any properties as far as I can see, he didn't provide any assumption he did own the property I believe he is renting and subletting it. She was advised to report it via actionfraud is that correct?

Pixie5740

What a !!!!. Not only does this person owe your partner £600 but if tenancy agreements have already been signed there will be a breech of contract. The former your partner can take the person to Small Claims Court for, winning the judgement is one thing, enforcing the judgement is another. The latter your partner could also probably sue the person for too. Shelter would be in a better position to advise what your partner could do about the contract.

If it were me, since the £600 is probably long gone, I would explore other avenue to kick this person in the proverbial nuts. Such as checking to see if this person rents the property themselves, their own landlord might be interest to find out about the scam.

HouseBuyer77

Probably worth having a chat with the local police too, worst that can happen is they'll say they can't do anything.

thesaint

Is the person living at the address they were renting a room in?
If so, turn up at the property and politely ask for the money back.

How do you know they did the same scam previously?

Pixie5740

Where did your partner see this property advertised? Maybe your partner could alert whatever website it was to the scam so that the person could be blocked from posting future adverts.

csgohan4

gum tree? Probably?

theartfullodger

Report to taxman for all that income (fraudulent, but income) they are getting...
https://www.gov.uk/report-an-unregistered-trader-or-business

Report to benefits authorities for all that income (fraudulent, but income) they are getting...
https://www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud

Sorry it has happened: This "gentleman" needs a good kickin'....

bigbun12

thesaint wrote: »

Is the person living at the address they were renting a room in?
If so, turn up at the property and politely ask for the money back.

How do you know they did the same scam previously?

I did a check on him and found a CCJ so I got the particulars of claim off the court and it's the exact same story person pays deposit, move in date changed, individual goes awol no money returned, this was dated just a month before he did it to her. suspect he's done this to a few more people who haven't had the means to pursue him further too.

G_M

Action fraud is the appropriate place to report it, but sadly I doubt they'll do anything.

They tend to 'collate' frauds and if an individual/group have enough complaints against them, of a sufficient monetary value, then they investigate...

Local police (who may refer you to action fraud).

sue via civil courts, if
a) you have an address
b) you have enough evidence
c) the individual has resources with which to pay you back

Was this Gumtree?