Tenants warned of landlord scams
Tenants up-and-down the UK have this week been warned of potential landlord scams by the housing charity Shelter. It seems that up to a million people in the UK could already have fallen victim to landlord scams which could see deposits retained, excessive fees for work, unlimited guarantees given instead of deposits and one of the most alarming scams which involves crooks break into empty properties and "renting them" as their own.
There is no doubt that as more and more people look towards rented accommodation as opposed to buying property outright, due in part to mortgage liquidity problems and house prices, this has created the dream scenario for landlord scams. If you are looking to take on a property you need to ensure that everything is above board and the relevant documentation is available. If you are in any way unsure about the landlord in question then you should refrain from signing any agreement which could be legally binding on your behalf.
The authorities are looking into a landlord register which would give potential tenants a central point from which they can gain information about their potential landlord. However, there is some reluctance to set-up this register because of the additional costs it will add to the sector.
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