Rogue Landlords and Fraudsters - How to Avoid?

David2710

I'm currently looking for a property to rent in London but I've heard of countless horror stories in which fraudsters are posing as Letting Agents/Landlords who then run off with the tenants deposit and two months rent paid in advance. In one instance I heard of a tenant losing 6 months rent in advance (£8,000) to a supposed reputable agent, but as it turned out the agent wasn't an agent, but the previous tenant with a spare key.

My question is how can I be sure the Letting Agent is legit and that they won't run off with my cash and deposit? What should I be looking out for in respect to qualifications and what should set the alarm bells ringing? I know not all Landlords and Letting agents are the same but it's almost impossible sorting the wheat from the chaff especially on sites such as Gumtree, Trovit and Zoopla. Are these sites and others not mentioned responsible for any losses to the tenant? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.  

MaryNB

https://www.london.gov.uk/rogue-landlord-checker

moneysavinghero

Avoid sites such as Gumtree and Openrent. Stick to properties where the LA has a high street presence.

David2710

MaryNB said:

https://www.london.gov.uk/rogue-landlord-checker

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks. 

davidmcn

moneysavinghero said:

Avoid sites such as Gumtree and Openrent. Stick to properties where the LA has a high street presence.

Indeed - I'm not sure how you would think an agent is "reputable" if you haven't even verified their real-life existence somehow. I suspect the vast majority of conned tenants have been too trusting of anonymous mobile numbers / email addresses or whoever shows them around the property - not some elaborate scam where somebody makes an effort to pass themselves off as Foxtons or whoever.

David2710

moneysavinghero said:

Avoid sites such as Gumtree and Openrent. Stick to properties where the LA has a high street presence.

Trouble is I live up North and cannot travel to London at this moment in time. Even Letting agents with a shop front can go bust and do a runner but I guess it's a risk I'll have to take. Is there any governing body like ABTA in the LA industry that protects the tenants cash in regards to fraud?  

moneysavinghero

There is ARLA who protect you through their Propertymark scheme. But as with ABTA the LA would have to be signed up for the benefits to apply.

https://www.arla.co.uk/
https://www.propertymark.co.uk/how-we-protect-you/landlords-tenants/

macman

As to qualifications, there are absolutely none required to call yourself a letting agent. It's probably safer to use an estate agent who also handles lettings, as these are more likely to be longer established.
Picking out someone from a  Gumtree or Facebook presence alone is bound to be risky.
Your deposit is only protected once it's in one of the deposit schemes: it offers no protection if it never gets there because the agent or LL never passes it through.

poolboy

London landlord here, avoid gumtree as anyone can post ads,  what area are you looking at there may be another landlord on here.  A good first check would be the epcr register as its online, a rogue landlord is unlikely to have had it done.  Then just ask the landlord for proof of ownership a good one will be happy to show you something official like the service charge statement in his name.  Good luck, London rents seem to be holding up, or outer London ones anyway.

poolboy

Epc register is energy performance cert, slightly mixed up with eicr the elec one, which is law now.

theartfullodger

Spend £3 land registry get deeds with name and address of owner.  10 mins online.  If name and address don't match with what alleged landlord says, ask why.  There might be a reason.

Come on England, in Scotland, mandatory landlord registration, gives name and address of landlord, free, online, quick.  What's the problem Johnson? ( Rhetorical question, we know the answer).

Artful, Landlord in Scotland & England.