The National Landlord Association (NLA) is warning over a rise in the number of rental scams on listings website Gumtree.
A number of defrauded tenants have contacted the NLA in recent months regarding a new wave of scams appearing on the site.
Many unsuspecting potential tenants, usually from abroad, reply to advertisements listing rental accommodation in theUK. After email correspondence the tenants are asked to send money to the “landlord.”
Having sent the money, the “landlord” is then uncontactable, and the potential tenant is defrauded.
The NLA says that potential tenants should be warned about the fake adverts – a clue is that the letters from the fake landlords are often written in poor English.
In the latest scam, the “landlord” claims to be a member of the NLA, including using the organsations logo, and creating fake stationary copying the bona fide NLA Tenant Check service. Alternatively they use fake letters from MLA local representatives to support their demands.
Tenants should be reminded that they should not send any money to potential landlords before they are certain they are genuine.
If overseas applicants need to secure accommodation in the UK before they arrive, they should seek help and advice from their employer or university they are coming to.