Updating post from Reddit.
I found an ad through FB which looked too good to be true but decided to send a message. I've talked to the owner of the studio flat who gave me pictures and a video but told me it's not possible to make in person inspection as she has moved away to Liverpool. I have been given the owners passport photo and a tenancy agreement.
"Upon accepting tenancy terms, a deposit of 1 month rent is required to secure the flat and this will go towards the first month's rent from the date of moving into the flat, the transfer of the deposit will be required after a separate agreement for the deposit has been signed by both parties, and a receipt will be issued for the payment made to secure the flat."
I haven't sent any money yet. Is this a scam?
EDIT: thank you for the replies and the advice!
Call the bluff. Tell them you’re in Liverpool for the next two weeks and would like to meet in person. See what excuse they come up with next. There will always be something
The phrase you're looking for is too good to be true but then you've already said it. Anytime that seems like it then trust your initial intuition.
Second is the absolutely massive red flag of you can't view the flat.
It's a common scam. You will never get the money back.
Scam. Do not send money unless you have an in person contact that can show you the property.
How are you gonna get the keys, they aren't gonna send them in the post are they 😂
This is her reply: "Regarding the meeting with your relative, I am not currently living in the flat and can not meet with your representative because I will not be travelling twice for the viewing and due to recent refurbishments, I would only hand the keys to the actual occupant after an inventory check has been done during the viewing in order for him/her to take full responsibility for any missing items during the tenancy.
Attached is the copy of the tenancy agreement and my proof of identity for your review, I will need your full name in order for my custodian to prepare the separate agreement for deposit which will be signed along with the payment of the deposit."
The biggest load of bullshit I've ever read. The language is a dead giveaway.
No one who lets a house uses this sort of language
No landlord sends their passport details, even if your tenant asking for it is david beckham
Don't be insane! This has scam written all over it. With any advertised property for rent, you must post your landlord registration number. It's illegal not to.
I don't have a landlord registration number afaict, but is that because the management agency takes care of that? I signed the agreement with a tenant and they manage everything Just pay my rent after their cut (and the new team is unheard of cheap).
It's illegal to rent out a property without registering yourself as a landlord. In Scotland, for example, you re-register every three years to the local council that the property you rent out is in.
Must be the management agency then. I have paid all to council taxes.
You can find out if the property is registered by googling your local council landlord register and using the properties address. On top of this, the tenancy agreement you signed should have your Landlord registration on it.
Just checked. It c/o the agency.
I messaged earlier. Let's see what she says tomorrow.
Don’t do it kid
Check the land registry and make sure the named landlord is the actual owner.
Yes, fantastic advice. Match to their passport (presumably foreign outside the EU) and see the excuse be something like "I'm overseeing for my cousin/friend".
How do you have a viewing if s/he doesn't afford you one. Check her credentials with the ombudsman or other such boards. I rent out via an established and registered agency who thoroughly vets tenants (in fact I would have accepted this gal if I was doing it alone, but they found good ones anyways).
Knock the door. The current resident will tell you for sure!
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Really? I got an increase in rent when the new tenant moves in late last summer. So many people looking.
That's not really true.
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It's definitely possible to arrange everything without meeting in person. That's what credit checks, employment checks and right to rent checks are for.
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Yes, with me as the tenant. I've been a lodger twice and agreed to two ASTs with estate agents without any in-person meetings.
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Yeah, but I wasn't local and I couldn't travel that far just for viewing. Obviously I went to their office to pick up the key and show my passport.
How do you think people move across country or between countries? You just arrange everything online.
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I live in new Zealand and have been renting my London flat out for 5 years on medium term lets, self managed. I haven't met any of the tenants in person. The flat has a smartlock that you use with an app.
I'm not suggesting that this is not a scam though.
My previous tenants were Chinese (With a chinese address) and a lankan. They had to verify it all in-person. Current one is a local so that's vry easy.
And what does the prospective tenant have at their disposal to do the reverse check?
Check ownership of the property, [possibly] check with council tax payments.
https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry
Then you have someone else (like an agent) doing so. i've not met my tenantS.
This new labor bill is somewhat worrying, however it is 1. taking place after sometime and, hence, 2. there are water tight contracts going forth.
>An Ad through Facebook.
Scam. Whatever it is. Scam.
This is 100% a scam.
Never accept without viewing the place.
Also, that is not how deposits work. A deposit to secure the flat is known as a holding deposit and is capped at 1 weeks rent. This is a scam
Definitely sounds like a scam. They can ask for 1 weeks rent as a holding deposit which would then go towards the deposit.
Have you done a image search using the pictures they sent you?
Didn't know about the holding deposit, thanks for that! Went to uk.gov and checked the deposit schemes: it says the max deposit can be 5/6 weeks worth of rent. If that is the case, then why does a lot of ad on credible websites ask for so much deposit? is that legal?
And yes, only found images matching posts from that ad!
I wouldn't necessarily say that FB is a credible website for things like property. The couple who used to live above me got the flat through FB, turned out the owner couldn't get an estate agent to market him for it for him as thr EPC was below the legal minimum.
I'd also be a little suspect of a landlord that didn't live in the country where the property is located and their advertising it on themselves on FB as opposed to using an estate agent, are they aware of the legal requirements and what happens if there is an issue with the property?
Personally I'd swear we'll clear
oh, by credible websites i meant websites like spareroom and the likes? sorry for the confusion!
I wouldn't necessarily say spareroom is credible, any one can post a property and I've seen some outlandish demands
Scam.
100% scam, and a common one at that. Report to FB too.
having to ask if something is a scam usually = Scam.
Stop interacting with this person.
Scam, very common
It's a scam.
SCAM
Everything on Facebook, lettings wise is a scam
Bet you you're unknowingly talking to a guy in India...
Yes, it's a scam.
This is a very common scam!
Post a link and we'll all have a little play along, posing as potential tenants.....
Yes a proper scam. Stay well away as you have already said to be good to be true.
“Looked too good to be true”
Then it is.
Such an old scam.
Joe Lycett did a joke about this scam a number of years ago.
It was very funny.
You can see it here:
,
Joe Lycett did a joke about this scam a number of years ago.
It was very funny.
You can see it here:
😊
Yes, 100%. Fake videos from someone who rejects verification IS a scam. Ergo "too good to be true."