Updating post from Reddit.
I'm new to England from Canada and I have signed a tenancy for a flat. The landlord was really responsive when I expressed my interest in signing but after sending over the deposit his responses have become slower and I often have to send follow ups. On the tenancy agreement, it said that his agency would sign the agreement once first month's rent has been paid. I sent the rent on Friday and asked if he could confirm he received it with no answer. I followed up later today and asked since my first months rent has been paid, if he could sign his portion of the agreement as per his original instructions. And I have not received a response at all.
The company appears to be legitimate and shows up on the gov.uk website, has a redress scheme, he added me to Arthur, and there's presence of Endole. I sent a follow up text this morning reminding him if my Tuesday move in, and he just responded by saying to remind him again on Monday
Perhaps I am overthinking, I guess I am just vulnerable being in a new country and wondering if this is the norm ? Just want to add I'm moving in next Tuesday.
Update: NOT a SCAM
You paid first months rent without an agreement in place? Do you know which estate agent he is working with? I’d reach out to them directly
Our estate agents seemed shocked when we said we weren’t going to send them money until we had a signed tenancy agreement. They said they normally sign the paperwork on the day people move in when they hand over keys and require the deposit and first month’s rent the week before.
Seems like it’s weirdly common.
Oh wow! I’m actually surprised to hear that! Even when renewing our tenancy agreement, our estate agency sent the agreement 1 month before. It’s crazy that they expect money without having a legal document in place first. The audacity, eh?
Are you communicating via text or email? Call them!
I'm commuting via text. He just responded to my text to remind him again that I'm coming Monday morning, but he did not respond to my ask about whether he's signing his portion of the lease or if he received the rent from last Friday
I’d get him on the phone and call the agency too.
You’re in the uk and you’ve been to a viewing?
So I'm still based in Canada but my cousin and friend viewed the flat in person for me as they live in London. I also video chatted him several times too. I've googled him on various UK gov housing websites and it's legitimate.
You’ve been scammed buddy.
Really? Even though his company with his name is on the UK gov website, endole, and redress scheme?
Doesn’t mean you’re actually speaking to that guy. The fact he’s not responding after receiving money suggests a scam. Go over to r/scams and someone might be able to explain it.
when I worked at gumtree (a long long time ago) sometimes they would rent an airbnb to do viewings.
not saying this is 100% a scam, some landlords are very lazy and slow to respond
He showed me 2 different properties with people that clearly live in it. That's what's a bit confusing.
We dont have a central database of landlords to check (at least not yet).
What U.K. gov housing websites? There is no public or central databases for landlords.
what UK government housing website? There is no such thing
There is no. Gov housing regiser for landlords?
What is this??
Where did you find this "landlord"?
There is a well known scam where people pretend to own a property, take deposit and rent up-front then disapear.
The UK Landlord Association (NRLA) has a guide on how to avoid it, it may help you https://www.nrla.org.uk/resources/tenant/avoiding-fake-landlord-scams
Spareroom. Can I DM you?
If the landlord continues to ignore you, you may want to contact SpareRoom. However, as far as I know, SpareRoom does not check the landlord's advertising.
SpareRoom does have a standard list of scams they encounter and how to avoid them.
SpareRoom:
>Remember: if something looks and sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Trust your judgement, and don't be afraid to walk away if something doesn't feel right. And don’t forget, you can always contact our customer services team if you’re unsure about anything or just need some advice.
There is a high chance that you are being scammed.
Unless you saw the property in person, you have most likely fallen for a typical scam.
Even me when living here, they have tried to scam me in a similar way. They will just be spoofing real businesses.
Usually when you tell them you want to see the flat they will either come with BS excuses or stop talking to you all together. Even if you have already paid them.
Landlords in England must legally provide to a new tenant at the start of a tenancy:
Not actual a legal requirement to even have a written tenancy agreement but strongly recommended (happy to be corrected on that if I'm not right, please)
If they have done all that, they are probably legit and just not great with communication
100% I am usually slow communicating with tenants at the best of times, especially when there are repeated requests for the same thing, sometimes there is something more urgent to deal with than paperwork.
Signature isn't essential, they sent you the document to sign
Probably look up the contact details for the agency on their website and call directly the number there. And ask for update etc.
You are 5 hours behind, so this may come in to play
He may be more than 5 hours behind. The more west one goes from the East Coast, more are they behind.
Don’t send money before a contract is signed
In the UK, its not unusual for a tenancy to start without the landlord actually signing the agreement. If they have sent you a contract of any kind for you to sign, and you have then signed it and sent them the first payment required for the contract, then you now have an agreement, and it is legally enforceable.
Since your friends have physically viewed the property for you, and been inside it, then its a lot less likely to be a scam than people are making out on here. It's a possibility, but I wouldn't panic too much yet.
As others have said, reach out to the agency (using contact details you find online from their website) and discuss your concerns with them, specifically that you are worried you are being scammed. This may give you some reassurance that they are confident about the landlord's identity, and that they know you are moving in on X day.
I’m sorry to say I think you must give up on that money and that flat.
I wish it is not, but looks like a common scam technique for mostly hunting the foreigners.
He clearly showed your friends two flats that are lived in so there is a link there. If it is a scam that’s your lead you report to The police, was the price too good to be true?
Hey OP, real sorry you’ve had this experience moving over here. I hope it wasn’t a scam in the end but if it was please report it to the police.
I hope you aren’t deterred from moving here, most of us are honest folk.
It was thankfully not a scam, my landlord was just lazy.
Congrats on the move!
It does sound like you’ve been victim to a scam. If you’ve paid through a UK bank you might be able to get some/all the money back by raising an APP Fraud Claim with the bank.
Update: NOT a SCAM
Sounds like you've been scammed unfortunately. I'd contact the bank to see if you can recover any of the money. Make sure you report it to the police and take this as a life lesson: never ever hand over money unless there's an agreement in place. These scammers pray on people who are desperate enough to hand over money to "secure" a property.