Rental Scam? Please help.

akaleon

Hi,

This is a little embarrassing.

I believe I may have fallen for a rental scam in London. Essentially, I have been looking for a place to live in London on spareroom for the past couple of months. I found an advert on spareroom that matched my needs, spoke to the tenant currently living their via the message service provided on the platform. I then went to view it on a Saturday, he showed me around the apartment and I met his current "tenant" who told me he was moving out to be with his girlfriend. I agreed via whatsapp to take the room and he sent me a photo of his passport along with his bank details (the name on which matched his passport). Stupidly, I agreed to sign the tenancy agreement on move in date (next weekend). He told me when I viewed the property that he would put the money in DPS.

Since this happened I have been asking him to provide me with a utility bill and proof that he has put the money into DPS (6 weeks rent). He then told me that he tried to do it via the DPS website, but has since realized he can't do it as it was a lodgers agreement? Obviously at this point, too late I might add, I became even more suspicious. In regards to the utility bill, he has told me that he has no physical bills (but he's asked for one from BT), but I asked for a digital one, to which he has yet to provide. Each time I have contacted him he's been away with work, or at a friends.

I have since asked for my deposit back, at least until I move in, however he has ignored that and only replied to certain messages.

I'm not entirely sure what I should do. He hasn't blocked me on whatsapp and replies, albeit slowly. I'm supposed to move in this weekend and he's said he's back then but I don't know whether I should just go to the police now. If he can't secure my money in a DPS then he shouldn't have it.

What are my options?

• Should I report this to the police and my bank?
• Should I wait until the weekend at least?
• If this is a rental scam, I have his number and he hasn't unblocked me, is there much the police can do to locate him?

Appreciate I have been incredibly niave in this whole process, however I was just excited to move from my friends couch to an apartment having been there for a couple of months.

Thanks,
Leon

Rosemary7391

Is this a room you're renting? Does the landlord live at the property you viewed?


You could check ownership via land registry, think it costs £3.

akaleon

6 weeks rent is the security deposit. I have checked the land registry, however it gave me a different address because it looks as though one apartment was split into two.

CocoLouie

akaleon wrote: »

6 weeks rent is the security deposit.

Are you going to be a lodger? Because if so the deposit doesn't need to be kept in a DPS

G_M

[QUOTE=akaleon;74658226.... I found an advert on spareroom....spoke to the tenant currently living their via the message service provided on the platform. I then went to view it on a Saturday, he showed me around the apartment and I met his current "tenant" who told me he was moving out to be with his girlfriend.
1) so there are 2 people living there? A & B?
2) One is a tenant (A), with a tenancy agreement with the flat owner/ landlord (C) who does not live there?
3) the other (moving out) is a lodger (B) of the tenant mentioned above (A). Yes? So A is B's landlord. B (the lodger who is leaving)pays rent to A (who pays rent to C). Yes?

I agreed via whatsapp to take the room and he
4) who? A?

sent me a photo of his passport along with his bank details (the name on which matched his passport). Stupidly, I agreed to sign the tenancy agreement on move in date (next weekend).
5) Who is named as 'The Lanlord' on this tenancy agreement? A) or C)?

He told me when I viewed the property that he would put the money in DPS.
6) Again - is 'he' A) or C)?
7) What 'money'?

Since this happened I have been asking him to provide me with a utility bill and proof that he has put the money into DPS (6 weeks rent).
8) Ah! Rent. This is NEVER put into DPS. Only depoit money goes into DPS
9) why do you need a utility bill?

He then told me that he tried to do it via the DPS website, but has since realized he can't do it as it was a lodgers agreement?
10) If 'he' is A) and you are now sharing the property with him and paying him rent, you are a lodger, not a tenant.
11) Lodgers' deposits (not rent) can go into DPS if the landlord chooses. It is voluntary.

Obviously at this point, too late I might add, I became even more suspicious. In regards to the utility bill, he has told me that he has no physical bills (but he's asked for one from BT), but I asked for a digital one, to which he has yet to provide. Each time I have contacted him he's been away with work, or at a friends.
12) have you actually moved in? What exactly have you paid? How and to whom?

I have since asked for my deposit back, at least until I move in, however he has ignored that and only replied to certain messages.

13) ah! Now it's a deposit, not rent! Is it
a) a security deposit or
b) a holding deposit?

I'm not entirely sure what I should do. He hasn't blocked me on whatsapp and replies, albeit slowly. I'm supposed to move in this weekend and he's said he's back then but I don't know whether I should just go to the police now.
14) For what? You have no idea whether or not you'll be able to move in this weekend. If you arrive, receive a key, and are shown in - where is the 'crime'?

If he can't secure my money in a DPS then he shouldn't have it.
15) if you are a lodger, he does not need to use DPS - and yes he should have it!

What are my options?

• Should I report this to the police and my bank?No
• Should I wait until the weekend at least?Yes
• If this is a rental scam, I have his number and he hasn't unblocked me, is there much the police can do to locate him?The police will probably say it is a civil matter and you need to sue him in the courts. You would need considerable evidence, and persuasive skills, to convince them it is a criminal matter eg fraud)
  

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Comms69

At present I’d suggest you have absolutely no case.

When are you scheduled to move in?

akaleon

I am meant to move in on Sunday.

akaleon

1) so there are 2 people living there? A & B?[/COLOR]
2) One is a tenant (A), with a tenancy agreement with the flat owner/ landlord (C) who does not live there?
3) the other (moving out) is a lodger (B) of the tenant mentioned above (A). Yes? So A is B's landlord. B (the lodger who is leaving)pays rent to A (who pays rent to C). Yes?

2) This is why it is embarressing. I'm not entirely sure he is the landlord now. So (A) could be a tenant with a tenancy agreement with the landlord (C).

3) I think the one who is moving out (B) is his friend, so could have been a tenant or lodger, again I am unsure.

I agreed via whatsapp to take the room and he
4) who? A?

4) I agreed with A, the person who posted the advert. The one who I am unsure is the landlord and could be a tenant with a tenancy agreement with the landlord.

sent me a photo of his passport along with his bank details (the name on which matched his passport). Stupidly, I agreed to sign the tenancy agreement on move in date (next weekend).
5) Who is named as 'The Lanlord' on this tenancy agreement? A) or C)?

5) A is listed as "The House Holder" on the lodger agreement I have.

He told me when I viewed the property that he would put the money in DPS.
6) Again - is 'he' A) or C)?
7) What 'money'?

6) A
7) 6 weeks deposit. He stipulated it as 6 weeks rent held as a deposit.

Since this happened I have been asking him to provide me with a utility bill and proof that he has put the money into DPS (6 weeks rent).
8) Ah! Rent. This is NEVER put into DPS. Only depoit money goes into DPS
9) why do you need a utility bill?

8) Apologies, I realise that rent isn't held as a deposit. What I meant was it is that the deposit is equivalent to 6 weeks rent.
9) Because I was stupid enough to not ask for one before I sent the money - to confirm he lived there.

He then told me that he tried to do it via the DPS website, but has since realized he can't do it as it was a lodgers agreement?
10) If 'he' is A) and you are now sharing the property with him and paying him rent, you are a lodger, not a tenant.
11) Lodgers' deposits (not rent) can go into DPS if the landlord chooses. It is voluntary.

10) I haven't moved in yet. I am under the assumption that I will be paying him.
11) He told me over whatsapp that he couldn't do it. So, either he is lying or doesn't know. Do you have a link to this? I've searched the internet and can't seem to find it.

Obviously at this point, too late I might add, I became even more suspicious. In regards to the utility bill, he has told me that he has no physical bills (but he's asked for one from BT), but I asked for a digital one, to which he has yet to provide. Each time I have contacted him he's been away with work, or at a friends.
12) have you actually moved in? What exactly have you paid? How and to whom?

12) I don't move in until Sunday. I have paid (A) £925 security deposit via Monzo transfer.

I have since asked for my deposit back, at least until I move in, however he has ignored that and only replied to certain messages.

13) ah! Now it's a deposit, not rent! Is it
a) a security deposit or
b) a holding deposit?

13) A security deposit.

I'm not entirely sure what I should do. He hasn't blocked me on whatsapp and replies, albeit slowly. I'm supposed to move in this weekend and he's said he's back then but I don't know whether I should just go to the police now.
14) For what? You have no idea whether or not you'll be able to move in this weekend. If you arrive, receive a key, and are shown in - where is the 'crime'?

14) I'm just concerned he will block me on the weekend. I've read stories where people have turned up to find out the person they originally met no longer lives there. I'm probably being overly paranoid.

If he can't secure my money in a DPS then he shouldn't have it.
15) if you are a lodger, he does not need to use DPS - and yes he should have it!

15) Very well, I didn't realise that. I thought under law all deposits need to be protected. This scares me even more because now I have to trust that this person will give me it back when I move out, if I ever get to move in that is.

What are my options?
Should I report this to the police and my bank?No
Should I wait until the weekend at least?Yes
If this is a rental scam, I have his number and he hasn't unblocked me, is there much the police can do to locate him?The police will probably say it is a civil matter and you need to sue him in the courts. You would need considerable evidence, and persuasive skills, to convince them it is a criminal matter eg fraud)

Thanks for replying.

Comms69

akaleon wrote: »

I am meant to move in on Sunday.

So until then nothing is even remotely wrong.

I mean I might tell you to not bother moving in - given the way you’ve acted. Id also refund you 5/6 of your deposit.

akaleon

Given the way I have acted? I am just concerned that I have given someone £925 and they keep dodging my questions. I asked for a utility bill, which he said he would provide two weeks ago, yet I still haven't seen one. Plus, when I was viewing the apartment he said he would put my deposit into a DPS, he specifically quoted mydeposit.co.uk.

I think I've actually been quite normal about this. I haven't been horrible to him in messages and I've only asked every couple of days.

Comms69

akaleon wrote: »

Given the way I have acted? I am just concerned that I have given someone £925 and they keep dodging my questions. I asked for a utility bill, which he said he would provide two weeks ago, yet I still haven't seen one. Plus, when I was viewing the apartment he said he would put my deposit into a DPS, he specifically quoted mydeposit.co.uk.

I think I've actually been quite normal about this. I haven't been horrible to him in messages and I've only asked every couple of days.

Yes. Making demands and generally being a nuisance.

Have you considered this person wanted a lodger, and not someone bombarding them with demands for copies of PRIVATE documents.

But that’s me.

If you’re that concerned go round there and see what they say?