We viewed property and met tha landlord all seemed fine,landlord offered it to us straight off.Paid holding deposit,apparently landlord required no checks on us or a reference! Having never used OPENRENT before was suspicious of this.
Decided to check ownership of property with land registry etc…nothing registered,now fear we may
have been duped.Openrent now asking for deposit/and rent.Anyone else had this problem if we back out we will lose holding deposit.
Judith8 did you pay thru Openrent or pay the landlord?
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Through Openrent will that help?
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yes that is more secure. Sometimes with land registry if a property is newly bought it takes time for it to be registered . Was it the landlord or an agent? Did you check it was the True opent rent website and not similar copy?
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Last time I rented out through Openrent they didn’t pass any money to the landlord until a week after the tenant moved in, to protect the tenant from fraudulent lettings.
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According to them they have had it 3yrs time to registered surely,plus we checked Gov uk paid for title deeds none registered.
Has “landlord” shown you or Openrent any proof of ownership or consent to let? It would not be unreasonable to ask for this.
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Thank you David,no one seems to think this is our business…now feel we need to abort the property.Yes we will lose our deposit rather that than fall into a con; trap.
If you paid through open Trent you shouldn’t be worried. They are , if you like , an escrow. The landlord won’t get the money until you have signed the contract and have collected keys.
The reason it took a week would for extra security in case the tenant comes back and say they didn’t get keys.
Also, open has completed the checks on the landlord and they are satisfied the document supplied is/are enough to suggest the landlord owns the property or has the right to let the property.
These checks were done before the property advert went live on rightmove, zoopla and openrent anyways.
If I were renting to any tenant and they ask for proof that I own the property , I will surely not give them any and would probably not give them my house. I can only explain the advertising portals have done the necessary due diligence.
If you like the house and have paid through open rent, I’d say relax.
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Contact Openrent for evidence of ownership and tell them youre concened. I wouldnt be pulling out at this stage.
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RightMove site always insists on an evidence of ownership before a property is advertised there. So if this property was also advertised on RightMove (through OpenRent) then everything should be in order.
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Thank you,that might apply to ordinary Buy
To Lets…rural properties are different …local people believe it is a leased/ rented house not owned…and in small rural areas locals keep well informed of new comers arrangements.
After checking all legal ownerships of the property,spoke to locals…and what the landlord told us is a very different situation.
Have now withdrawn
Better to lose deposit than find we are homeless a few months later.
Thank you
You should not lose your deposit if the landlord has misrepresented the situation. Speak to Openrent about this and ask for your money back.
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Hi princeCharles, can I ask why you WOULDN’T provide proof of ownership of your property to a potential tenant? I believe they’re ENTITLED to that, as a basic starter ,before risking their money with a landlord. Struggling to understand what your reason for it is? L/L’s require much more personal data from ‘would be’ tenants. Regards, Sue
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Most websites/ estate agents ask for proof of ownership before renting
Facebook and gum tree don’t
OpenRent rent doesn’t but if you use rightmove through open rent then you do require proof
I don’t think that’s correct - I always have to upload proof of ownership of a property before listing on Openrent.
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Totally agree,we give more information as tenants,landlords if honest would do same.
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Yes we have forfeited our deposit, Openrent was not interested they are only in business for the landlords tenants are the products.
Our fault using them,never had a problem with agents…just liked the house advertised only on Openrent. Lesson learnt.Thanks for all replies Judith x
Judith, I dont think Openrent would be able to withold your deposit if all is as you suggest. I advise you to persist with them.
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David,the property I see is now been advertised again.Openrent is not prepared to comment further.
Thank you for your helpful,kind advice.