Two London agents who traded fraudulently through their lettings business and scammed victims out of over £24,000 have been sentenced. After a...
Archive
![Rental scams could soar as AI spreads, warns industry figure](/upload/images/shutterstock_2156624731.jpg)
A prominent industry expert says lettings agents and other property sector insiders should be extra-vigilant over cybersecurity breaches. Neil Cobbold, managing director...
12 February 2024
From: Breaking News
![Tenants Scammed - new guidelines for agents to give renters](/upload/images/shutterstock_594304802.jpg)
Propertymark is telling member agents to be aware of potential risks and help educate tenants to lookout for common scams, especially...
04 January 2024
From: Breaking News
![Agent Alert - Housing Ombudsman warns of scams across sector](/upload/images/shutterstock_2170052927.jpg)
The Housing Ombudsman - currently active in the social housing sector but tipped to take a wider role involving private renting...
29 December 2023
From: Breaking News
![Good News - More landlords instruct letting agents](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/AgentHouseInHand_400x310.png)
Increasing numbers of landlords are considering instructing lettings agents for the first time because of increased red tape and the complexity...
29 September 2023
From: Breaking News
![Scams expert joins board of The Property Ombudsman](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews3-400x310.png)
The Head of the National Trading Standards Scams Team is one of two new non-executive directors at The Property Ombudsman. Louise Baxter...
12 September 2023
From: Breaking News
![Fraud alert for fake properties issued by classified ad website](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/PropTech/PropertyFind1-400x310.png)
The classified ad website Gumtree is issuing an alert about what it claims is the growing threat of rental fraud. It says...
05 September 2023
From: Breaking News
![Fake Agents and Landlords - renters face fraud threats online](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/Homeowners%20driving%20Google%20search%20Weekend%20Estate%20agent%20AgentOnline-400x310.png)
New figures suggest soaring numbers of tenants are at risk from criminals taking advantage of the tough rental market. Scammers place fake...
22 August 2023
From: Breaking News
![Self-managing landlords ready to instruct agents - new report](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/HousingMarket_400x310.png)
The majority of private landlords would consider switching to a letting agency because of the current complexity of buy to let. A...
09 March 2023
From: Breaking News
![Airbnb issues consumer warning about scams](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Misc/airbnb400x310.jpg)
Short lets platform Airbnb - increasingly used by landlords acting as hosts - has issued a warning to consumer users about...
30 January 2023
From: Breaking News
![PropTech required to slash risk of fraud, letting agents told](/upload/images/PropTech%20%26%20Online/Digital-Online-400x310.jpg)
Letting agents have been told they must have the right technology to reduce the risk of fraud. Olly Thornton-Berry, co-founder of risk...
09 June 2022
From: Breaking News
![Don't use social media to find rental properties - warning to tenants](/upload/images/Miscellaneous/scam%20alert.png)
A leading lettings agent has warned tenants against using social media to find rental properties. David Alexander - head of DJ Alexander,...
06 January 2022
From: Breaking News
![Scam using Facebook Marketplace sees tenants lose thousands](/upload/images/Rental%20Market/PayingBills-400x310.jpg)
A scam in one city has reportedly seen scores of individuals robbed of thousands of pounds as short lets have been...
18 November 2021
From: Breaking News
![Student rents rise a fifth in just one year, says bank study](/upload/images/Rental%20Market/StudentHouse-400x310.jpg)
Student rent has increased almost 20 per cent over the last year. In data released as part of the 2021 NatWest Student...
05 August 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agent spots illegal rental scam - and police refuse to get involved](/img/default/lat.png)
A lettings agent has told the BBC that he has spotted illegal rental scams using online platforms, but the police have...
28 June 2021
From: Breaking News
![Beware of property and other investment scams - warning](/img/default/lat.png)
The Citizens Advice consumer charity is warning that fake investment scams are amongst the fraudulent activity that’s on the rise across...
23 June 2021
From: Breaking News
![Online agency’s new guide to avoid tenants falling victim of scams](/img/default/lat.png)
The online lettings platform Mashroom has set out a list of guidelines it’s offering to prospective tenants to avoid them falling...
04 June 2021
From: Breaking News
![Trading Standards urges agents to watch out for scams](/img/default/lat.png)
The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agents Team is appealing to the industry to be eagle-eyed for scams. This follows the...
22 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![Online rental platforms should do more to stop criminal scams - call](/img/default/lat.png)
A new report demands that online rental platforms and portals allowing direct advertising by clients do more to deter fake landlords...
04 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents Beware: Hackers list fake flats on portals with agency branding](/img/default/lat.png)
A series of fake scams allegedly advertising apartments to rent have appeared on Zoopla and other property websites. The Edinburgh Live news...
13 August 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents Beware: DPS warns of fake email scam](/img/default/lat.png)
The Deposit Protection Scheme is warning of a possible online scam affecting agents, landlords and tenants A statement on the DPS website...
05 May 2020
From: Breaking News
![Sub-letting scams can be reduced by property visits, agents advised](/img/default/lat.png)
An inventories supplier is advising that the growing number of sub-letting scams can be reduced by regular property visits by agents...
20 November 2019
From: Breaking News
![Top agent urges Airbnb regulation to deter criminal activity](/img/default/lat.png)
A leading London lettings agent wants increased regulation over Airbnb in a bid to deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour. Martin Bikhit, managing...
07 November 2019
From: Breaking News
![Lord Alan Sugar’s ‘home’ used in Airbnb short let scam](/img/default/lat.png)
Apprentice star Lord Alan Sugar has warned about the dangers of short let scams after an American family was apparently conned out...
22 October 2019
From: Breaking News
![Rental fraud warning after shocking scam attempts](/img/default/lat.png)
Prospective tenants are being warned about a fraud scam that cons people into paying an advance fee to rent a property. The...
04 April 2019
From: Breaking News
![Agency warns of fraud threat as scammers target Facebook groups](/img/default/lat.png)
We’re grateful to The Property Group, an agency in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, for alerting us to an incident involving its Mayfair Town...
15 February 2018
From: Breaking News
![Survey reveals tenants' shocking lack of knowledge about renting](/img/default/lat.png)
A survey of 1,000 tenants and landlords has provided evidence of what many agents already know - that the growing complexity...
01 March 2017
From: Breaking News
![Unscrupulous letting agents to be named and shamed on TV](/img/default/lat.png)
Channel 5 has commissioned a third series of Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords with eviction specialist Landlord Action at the heart of...
28 September 2016
From: Breaking News
![Lifting the Lid on Deposit Disputes](/img/default/lat.png)
Our latest infographic shows figures of how the majority of deposits are repaid at the end of tenancy and goes into...
05 August 2016
From: Sponsored Content
![ARLA steps up call for agents' compulsory accreditation to combat fraud](/img/default/lat.png)
ARLA is stepping up its call for letting agents to have professional qualifications in a bid to combat fraud. In a contribution...
13 July 2016
From: Breaking News
![A message to the public: Speak out against rogue letting agents](/img/default/lat.png)
The Local Government Association, representing 370 councils across England and Wales, is calling on the public to speak out against rogue...
11 July 2016
From: Breaking News
![Trade body to meet with Gumtree over 'fake lettings ads' scandal](/img/default/lat.png)
The internet classified listings service Gumtree will meet with the Residential Landlords Association to discuss scams in which fraudsters posing as...
07 March 2016
From: Breaking News
![Industry group asks Gumtree to issue public warning over letting scams](/img/default/lat.png)
An industry body has asked classified listings online service Gumtree to issue its users clear warnings about possible scams involving fake...
19 February 2016
From: Breaking News
![Sub-letting scams up as landlord possessions reach record high](/img/default/lat.png)
The total number of evictions last year reached a record high of 42,728 according to data from the Ministry of Justice. Whilst...
16 February 2016
From: Breaking News
![Warning that latest HMO reforms will not stop sub-letting scams](/img/default/lat.png)
The specialist eviction company Landlord Action says it is in full support of the government’s latest proposal to crack down on...
11 November 2015
From: Breaking News
![Agency warns about prime central London sub-letting scams](/img/default/lat.png)
A prime central London letting agency says there has been a rise in the number of subletting scams in that part...
02 October 2015
From: Breaking News
![Warning to students to avoid scam online agents and landlords](/img/default/lat.png)
New student tenants have been urged to be vigilent and not fall victim to fake online letting agents and landlords. The National...