Don’t lose your money to conmen posing as landlords

Published: 7 October, 2010

• FURTHER to your article in last week’s paper about fake iPhones in Camden, we would also like to alert your readers to fake landlord scams, as we have received numerous complaints from people who have been parted from their hard-earned money by individuals pretending to be landlords.

Worryingly, a number of the scams appear to come from the Gumtree website, which is very popular with people seeking private rented accommodation in Camden and elsewhere in the capital. 

We have written to the owners of the website, requesting a meeting with them to discuss our concerns – but have yet to receive a reply.

The scams can take a variety of different forms – from con artists who specifically rent properties to pretend to be the owner – to existing tenants pretending to be the landlord.

People from abroad are particularly vulnerable to these scams, especially if they arrange “accommodation” in their home country. 

We were recently told of an American who had paid £750 over the Internet for what he thought was a property on St Pancras Way, but when he got here and stood outside what he thought was his new home, found it was completely bogus.

We would always advise prospective tenants to never hand over large sums of cash and to visit a property with the landlord or agent – but even this sensible approach cannot always guarantee you will not be scammed.

So, we would also recommend you use your gut instinct – and if it doesn’t feel right walk away – and also if the rent for a particular property sounds too good to be true that’s usually because it is.

Finally, if you have been the victim of a fake landlord scam or know somebody who has, please email us at admin@cfpt.org.uk or go to our website at www.cfpt.org.uk to read the “Camden's Fake Landlords” article on the front page of our latest newsletter.
Robert Taylor
Camden Federation of Private Tenants,
The Marr
Camden Street, NW1