rental deposit

anniej

Hi everyone, I've found a great house to rent on a local fb page, with a private landlord. After some tooing & froing I've agreed to take it but am being asked for the deposit the day before signing the contract. Usually it's all done same day? but I've only ever experienced agents before.

I'm stressing it's all a scam &there'll be no keys no house no money the next day!

Is this normal?

Thanks

tom9980

anniej wrote: »

Hi everyone, I've found a great house to rent on a local fb page, with a private landlord. After some tooing & froing I've agreed to take it but am being asked for the deposit the day before signing the contract. Usually it's all done same day? but I've only ever experienced agents before.

I'm stressing it's all a scam &there'll be no keys no house no money the next day!

Is this normal?

Thanks

You can check the landlord owns the property by purchasing a copy of the title register for £3 here https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry

anniej

I'll do that thanks Tom

anniej

Could it be an 'insured' deposit, the info suggests paperwork is given immediately rather then sent on like usual (custodial).

Is that right? Has anyone experienced insured deposits before?

tom9980

anniej wrote: »

Could it be an 'insured' deposit, the info suggests paperwork is given immediately rather then sent on like usual (custodial).

Is that right? Has anyone experienced insured deposits before?

Yes that is normal I use the tds insured scheme, the tenant gives the landlord the deposit and the landlord registers with a deposit scheme, the insured scheme means the landlord can hold the deposit by paying a fee of approx £20 to insure the tenants deposit. The landlord can then print the deposit certificate and prescribed information and pass this to the tenan, this must be done within 30 days.

anniej

But would you ask for the deposit in advance though? As there's 30 days to register it.

tom9980

Yes, i only accept funds cleared into my bank account before I hand the keys over and we sign the paperwork. There is a risk a tenant could bounce a cheque, give fake bank notes or refuse to pay the deposit as agreed if you do it after key hand over.

anniej

Thank you Tom, that has made me feel better, that it's a regular process. Like I say I've never come across it before.

I feel better asking the ll for a bit of clarification now knowing a bit of background myself. Thanks very much

Cakeguts

Just to say that there was a thread on here recently where someone did get scammed by a landlord through fb so you need to be very careful.

Red flags are the property being let is owned by a different family member not the person letting it. No internal photos on the advert only photos of the outside. The price is lower than you would expect for a property in that condition, that size and that area. It is seems to be good value. These are all indications of a scam especially the one where you appear to be getting a very good property for less than you would have expected to pay. Landlords never let nice properties for less than they are worth.

Marvel1

Have you viewed the property?

What's the condition?

anniej

Yes, this is the concern, sigh! I'm sure it was never this hard when I was younger (& more confident!)