Rogue Landlords and Fraudsters - How to Avoid?

David2710

Lover_of_Lycra said:

The legit landlords and letting agents always advertise "no DSS." 

You are correct, that's why so many sick, terminally ill and disabled people have no choice but to rent via a rogue landlord. Some legit LA's will accept Housing benefit but only with a guarantor or 6 months rent up front. As mentioned in another thread the good news is the "NO DSS" practice should soon be coming to an end. This whole housing crisis stems from the fact the Tories are and always have been on the side of the landlord and not the sick, the unemployed, the terminally ill, the disabled and the vulnerable. I have seen countless examples in which a terminally/chronically ill patient have had their benefits sanctioned because they missed an appointment with the Job Centre work coach. And in extreme cases the appointment was missed due to having Chemotherapy or in one case open heart surgery following cardiac arrest. There's no getting away from the fact that this Tory government have no intention of sorting the problem out. That's why it is necessary for someone like myself to either have 6 months rent in advance or face homelessness. 

justworriedabit

moneysavinghero said:

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/

Exactly what I would have said and go with a long established agent. No guarantee they wont fold but best route IMO.

David2710

Just a quick update. I've seen a worrying trend in which property websites like Openrent have a "Rent Now" option which links to a "Place Holding Deposit" section. Presumably this allows the tenant to give credit/debit card/Bank details to any Tom !!!!!! and Harry. Many of these "meet the Landlord's" have zero feedback with just a photo and a name to offer assurance. Btw, any listing that starts with "I am thrilled" or "we are proud to offer..." sets my alarm bells ringing straight away. Not tested this personally but these alarm bells get louder and louder in my head. Here's one example picked at random. Perhaps someone can test it out and post the results. 

davidmcn

David2710 said:

Just a quick update. I've seen a worrying trend in which property websites like Openrent have a "Rent Now" option which links to a "Place Holding Deposit" section. Presumably this allows the tenant to give credit/debit card/Bank details to any Tom !!!!!! and Harry. Many of these "meet the Landlord's" have zero feedback with just a photo and a name to offer assurance. Btw, any listing that starts with "I am thrilled" or "we are proud to offer..." sets my alarm bells ringing straight away. Not tested this personally but these alarm bells get louder and louder in my head. Here's one example picked at random. Perhaps someone can test it out and post the results. 

To be fair, the step-by-step process stated there is that you first view the property, then agree terms with the landlord, and only then place a holding deposit - I can't see anything suggesting you'll be asked for money upfront, can you?

The property is also listed via an agency on Rightmove:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/99671456#/
and appears to be the same one (unlike some frauds where they just nick the photos from another random advert).

[Deleted User]

davidmcn said:

The property is also listed via an agency on Rightmove:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/99671456#/
and appears to be the same one (unlike some frauds where they just nick the photos from another random advert).

The real crime here is a landlord charging £2,330 a month yet only supplying a 2-slice toaster!!!

SpiderLegs

Poster_586329 said:

davidmcn said:

The property is also listed via an agency on Rightmove:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/99671456#/
and appears to be the same one (unlike some frauds where they just nick the photos from another random advert).

The real crime here is a landlord charging £2,330 a month yet only supplying a 2-slice toaster!!!

Clearly that toaster is discriminatory. Fortunately such practices will be stamped out soon.

David2710

davidmcn said:

David2710 said:

Just a quick update. I've seen a worrying trend in which property websites like Openrent have a "Rent Now" option which links to a "Place Holding Deposit" section. Presumably this allows the tenant to give credit/debit card/Bank details to any Tom !!!!!! and Harry. Many of these "meet the Landlord's" have zero feedback with just a photo and a name to offer assurance. Btw, any listing that starts with "I am thrilled" or "we are proud to offer..." sets my alarm bells ringing straight away. Not tested this personally but these alarm bells get louder and louder in my head. Here's one example picked at random. Perhaps someone can test it out and post the results. 

To be fair, the step-by-step process stated there is that you first view the property, then agree terms with the landlord, and only then place a holding deposit - I can't see anything suggesting you'll be asked for money upfront, can you?

The property is also listed via an agency on Rightmove:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/99671456#/
and appears to be the same one (unlike some frauds where they just nick the photos from another random advert).

Yes I did check the advisory icon but wouldn't you agree it's wide open to fraud? Why isn't the advisory written in red bold letters? A bit concerning that no one has tested this yet but instead divert attention away to a toaster. I suspect the next time we'll be hearing about this is on Radio 4's Money Box and the tenants who've lost their life savings to fraudsters. Some things never change. 

davidmcn

David2710 said:

davidmcn said:

David2710 said:

Just a quick update. I've seen a worrying trend in which property websites like Openrent have a "Rent Now" option which links to a "Place Holding Deposit" section. Presumably this allows the tenant to give credit/debit card/Bank details to any Tom !!!!!! and Harry. Many of these "meet the Landlord's" have zero feedback with just a photo and a name to offer assurance. Btw, any listing that starts with "I am thrilled" or "we are proud to offer..." sets my alarm bells ringing straight away. Not tested this personally but these alarm bells get louder and louder in my head. Here's one example picked at random. Perhaps someone can test it out and post the results. 

To be fair, the step-by-step process stated there is that you first view the property, then agree terms with the landlord, and only then place a holding deposit - I can't see anything suggesting you'll be asked for money upfront, can you?

The property is also listed via an agency on Rightmove:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/99671456#/
and appears to be the same one (unlike some frauds where they just nick the photos from another random advert).

Yes I did check the advisory icon but wouldn't you agree it's wide open to fraud? Why isn't the advisory written in red bold letters? A bit concerning that no one has tested this yet but instead divert attention away to a toaster. I suspect the next time we'll be hearing about this is on Radio 4's Money Box and the tenants who've lost their life savings to fraudsters. Some things never change. 

I think you're viewing this from a rather odd perspective, and the landlords using the site would be surprised if the first step for any tenant was to send them a deposit, rather than view the property and ask the usual questions.

As discussed above, most of the fraud cases publicised have been people sending money on the basis of emails and photos for too-good-to-be-true cheap properties which the fraudsters don't even have access to, advertised on the likes of Gumtree.

David2710

davidmcn said:

David2710 said:

davidmcn said:

David2710 said:

Just a quick update. I've seen a worrying trend in which property websites like Openrent have a "Rent Now" option which links to a "Place Holding Deposit" section. Presumably this allows the tenant to give credit/debit card/Bank details to any Tom !!!!!! and Harry. Many of these "meet the Landlord's" have zero feedback with just a photo and a name to offer assurance. Btw, any listing that starts with "I am thrilled" or "we are proud to offer..." sets my alarm bells ringing straight away. Not tested this personally but these alarm bells get louder and louder in my head. Here's one example picked at random. Perhaps someone can test it out and post the results. 

To be fair, the step-by-step process stated there is that you first view the property, then agree terms with the landlord, and only then place a holding deposit - I can't see anything suggesting you'll be asked for money upfront, can you?

The property is also listed via an agency on Rightmove:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/99671456#/
and appears to be the same one (unlike some frauds where they just nick the photos from another random advert).

Yes I did check the advisory icon but wouldn't you agree it's wide open to fraud? Why isn't the advisory written in red bold letters? A bit concerning that no one has tested this yet but instead divert attention away to a toaster. I suspect the next time we'll be hearing about this is on Radio 4's Money Box and the tenants who've lost their life savings to fraudsters. Some things never change. 

I think you're viewing this from a rather odd perspective, and the landlords using the site would be surprised if the first step for any tenant was to send them a deposit, rather than view the property and ask the usual questions.

As discussed above, most of the fraud cases publicised have been people sending money on the basis of emails and photos for too-good-to-be-true cheap properties which the fraudsters don't even have access to, advertised on the likes of Gumtree.

But how do we know they are genuine landlords? All we see is a photo and name. I can now confirm the following. Once you click the  "Place Holding Deposit" the tenant is asked to fill out a short questionnaire, an agreement and (in the listing provided) to send payment  of £484 by Debit Card. This cannot be right. Also once they've got hold of your card/bank details what's to stop fraudsters emptying you bank account? But don't worry about that fellas, what about that toaster?

davidmcn

David2710 said:

davidmcn said:

David2710 said:

davidmcn said:

David2710 said:

Just a quick update. I've seen a worrying trend in which property websites like Openrent have a "Rent Now" option which links to a "Place Holding Deposit" section. Presumably this allows the tenant to give credit/debit card/Bank details to any Tom !!!!!! and Harry. Many of these "meet the Landlord's" have zero feedback with just a photo and a name to offer assurance. Btw, any listing that starts with "I am thrilled" or "we are proud to offer..." sets my alarm bells ringing straight away. Not tested this personally but these alarm bells get louder and louder in my head. Here's one example picked at random. Perhaps someone can test it out and post the results. 

To be fair, the step-by-step process stated there is that you first view the property, then agree terms with the landlord, and only then place a holding deposit - I can't see anything suggesting you'll be asked for money upfront, can you?

The property is also listed via an agency on Rightmove:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/99671456#/
and appears to be the same one (unlike some frauds where they just nick the photos from another random advert).

Yes I did check the advisory icon but wouldn't you agree it's wide open to fraud? Why isn't the advisory written in red bold letters? A bit concerning that no one has tested this yet but instead divert attention away to a toaster. I suspect the next time we'll be hearing about this is on Radio 4's Money Box and the tenants who've lost their life savings to fraudsters. Some things never change. 

I think you're viewing this from a rather odd perspective, and the landlords using the site would be surprised if the first step for any tenant was to send them a deposit, rather than view the property and ask the usual questions.

As discussed above, most of the fraud cases publicised have been people sending money on the basis of emails and photos for too-good-to-be-true cheap properties which the fraudsters don't even have access to, advertised on the likes of Gumtree.

But how do we know they are genuine landlords? 

By doing whatever checks you would have done if you had found the landlord by any other method.