‘Tech makes it easier for rogue tenants to fake referencing documents’

The march of tech in the world of lettings has made it easier for rogue tenants to falsify documents and pass referencing when they shouldn’t be.

That’s the claim made by eviction specialist Paul Shamplina (pictured, below) today ahead of tomorrow night’s Bad Tenants, Rogue Landlords TV program on Channel5, which features the worrying case of one landlord, Paul Bloom.

He and his letting agent fell victim to fake tenant referencing documents when an apparently reasonable tenant moved in to his apartment in a quiet part of Hampstead in North London.

What was supposed to be a company let and had been successfully referenced as such turned out to be nothing of the sort and, after paying the first month’s rent, the tenant failed to pay any further money to the letting agent.

“Professional rogues are so aware of how to get around every measure put in place to protect landlords,” says Paul Bloom.

Shamplina’s company Landlord Action then had to help Mr Bloom evict the later noisy and violent tenant, as the TV programme tomorrow shows in graphic detail.

Technology

“With such rapid advances in technology, falsifying documents via apps on smartphones is easier than ever,” says Shamplina, who says in this case and several others he’s dealt with even the tenant’s passport documentation was fake.

“Company lets are not unusual in London and many landlords like the idea of a professional organisation taking on the tenancy agreement.

“But the same risks as renting to an individual tenant apply. Unless the company wishing to take on the tenancy is a recognised name, those responsible for arranging the referencing should request company registration details, ensure the company is still trading and request details of the employees who will be occupying the property.”