Renting a property is usually not something that should cause you too many problems, especially with more legislation protecting tenants now than ever before, but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t bother being vigilant. There are a number of scams operated by a minority of unscrupulous individuals and any one of them could leave you considerably out of pocket. Don’t become a victim; stay smart and stop scammers from catching you unawares.
Though the internet has completely changed the way we look for property in a number of extremely positive ways, it has also opened up a number of opportunities for scam artists to sting us in our wallets. You don’t have to visit a dozen estate agents anymore to find just one worthwhile property, as you can search through thousands of properties from the comfort of your own home. This fact in itself is being exploited as potential tenants from overseas, or just from out of town, are finding bogus ads online and mistaking them for real opportunities.
The key to safe internet property searching is to remember that you should not hand over any money until you are certain that a deal is legitimate. Never send money to a landlord overseas, as you will have a great deal of difficulty should you need to try and get it back. You might enter into correspondence with the prospective landlord, but this can be designed to lull you into a false sense of security. You should not be required to hand over anything until you have looked at the accommodation and know that the rental opportunity is a real one.
If you are an international student or worker and you need to secure accommodation before you arrive in the UK, then you are advised to approach your learning provider or employer for assistance in identifying real rental opportunities. Alternatively, you should consider finding temporary accommodation first and seeking something more permanent after you arrive. Remember that just because you found an ad on a reputable site, it doesn’t necessarily follow that the advertiser will be as reputable.
Organisations like the National Landlord Association (NLA) can be useful to help you identify a genuine opportunity, but many scammers will claim that they are members when really they are not. Don’t trust someone just because they send you headed paper or emails marked with the NLA (or other organisation) logo. Always verify any credentials you are given independently by contacting the organisation directly.
Remember that just because you have seen a property and viewed it, it doesn’t mean that is necessarily legitimate. Do not be tempted to sign contracts or handover cash at the initial point of viewing, as this is not standard practice in the rental industry. Always check the facts first. Ask to see the landlord or agent’s ID when you meet them and try to use established agents where possible. Beware broken English in emails, particularly if the advert was written in coherent speech. Google the names of correspondents and email addresses, as it is quite common for scammers to be named and shamed online.
When you move into your new (and genuine) accommodation, tenants insurance is vital to protecting your interests. Tenants contents insurance will help to protect your belongings while staying in a rented property and is of particular importance when the accommodation is shared. Home contents insurance for tenants in shared accommodation is harder to get than that for people living on their own, as you are at higher risk. Unfortunately this risk will make you harder to cover and standard insurance providers may not be able to help. With a non-standard provider like homeprotect however, tenants home insurance quotes can be obtained online regardless of what type of accommodation you are in.