Rent scam warning

Housing Advice have received several calls from Southampton residents looking for privately rented accommodation where they have been asked to pay a deposit before they have had an opportunity to view a property.

The scam starts with a property advertised at a level of rent which is too good to be true. When the person answers the advertisement they are advised that the landlord cannot attend a viewing but the respondent can “have the property” if they authorise a wired “deposit” payment into the account of a friend and send confirmation that this has been done. At this point the money transfer is intercepted by the person who placed the advertisement. There is never an arranged viewing and the respondent has no way of tracing the person who has intercepted the payment. The property turns out not to have been available to let.

Our advice is to prospective tenants is that you should never transfer payments relating to securing a private rented property before viewing it. The advice from money transfer companies themselves are that transfers of money in this way should only be done with people you know very well.

Housing advice suggest that
• You never pay any money upfront before viewing a property and you also do your best to establish that the landlord has the right to let the property.
• Don’t sent money via a money transfer company
• Don’t even send money in this way to friends or relatives as proof of funds in connection with a prospective tenancy as this could be intercepted.
• Don’t feel under pressure to make a decision and if you have doubts walk away.
• Any deposit paid in connection with an assured shorthold tenancy should be protected in a government scheme. For further information on deposit protection is provided by following the links provided below.