I work for a documentary production company (Postcard Productions), and we’re currently working on a film about the rise of rental scams in the UK.
Whether it’s dodgy house viewings, fake letting agents or even paying deposits for properties that ended up being completely non-existent, we’re wanting to build a case about this happening and are keen for people to get in touch if it has happened to them - or if you know of someone who has experienced it.
If something like this has happened to you and you want to speak, please reply and I can get in touch as I’d be really interested to hear what happened. Alternatively, if you have any suggestions for where else to reach out to people about this topic, I’d massively appreciate it.
I’ve not (thankfully) been scammed, I have however binned a few emails as they are marked ‘possible’ scam and another couple because the language just didn’t feel right. Good luck with your project
Hi,I think I just got scammed but I’m not too sure what to do.luckily for me the money never got taken out as my bank had some questions about it however I now but in a situation where I was looking for somewhere to stay as I am homeless but now I don’t know what to do
I’m in a situation where I could be made homeless after being served a s21. I’ve not even paid off the loan to move into this property and I’ve had 3 landlords in a row to decide to sell after I’ve been in place between 6months and this one 2 years.
The local council housing team have been amazing. They will help find you somewhere to live though a list of vetted landlords and they can even help with the deposit and the first months rent.
You say you’re homeless already? Just in case you’re in the situation where you have been served a section-21 just remember you do not have to leave that house when they say. You inform them you will be staying as you have no where to go, keep paying your rent they HAVE to go to court - 4weeks then 2 weeks for you to respond then time for judge to see it and decide. Don’t move out or your make yourself volunteering homeless - if you have already try not to panic and explain everything to the council
Housing team.
There are two parts to the council
Housing team
Social housing - long long wait times
Help with homeless-ness - they help instantly
Good luck it is an awful situation to be in and with the added stress of fraud I can’t imagine how stressed you must be, but there is help out there.
There is also an issue of doggy agents letting our properties whilst they have tenants in situ.
I’ve had this once, was a while ago some things have changed now
The agent took the fees for the reference £500
A six week deposit £2,500 from memory and a months up front another £2,000 - we signed contracted to move in on a date two months away.
Tenants refused to move, kept me and my partner hanging on for a further months - our current landlord then taking us to court as they wanted their property to move back into.
The landlord (apparently) of the new property did not want to spend money taking the people to court despite them not paying rent.
Took six months to get the rent and deposit back, we never got the referral fees back.
Always suspicious it was a rouge agent but heard other people through other agents had experienced the same thing. We were lucky both earning at the time.