Cash-strapped tenants are increasingly having their financial misery compounded by unscrupulous rental scammers, it has been revealed.

Essex and Suffolk estate and lettings agent Boydens suggests fraudsters are deploying sophisticated scams to prey on tenants who are desperate to secure a property.

The agent’s Director of Sales and Lettings, Paul Buck, has been in the industry for more than a quarter of a century and has “never known the issue to be this widespread”.

Targeting tenants

Fraudsters typically use marketplaces, such as Gumtree or Facebook, to target tenants searching for properties.

The type of scams that are used, include demanding an upfront payment of £50 to £100 to demonstrate interest before a viewing that then doesn’t take place.

And in some cases, tenants are even being asked to pay a holding deposit of between around £800 to £1,500 to ensure that the property is taken off the market.

Rental scams

Fraudsters may pretend to be a private landlord, or even set up a scam email address that appears to be similar to a local property agent.

Paul Buck, Director of Sales and Lettings at Boydens, says he has seen more rental scams as the amount of rental stock declines.

He attributes this to landlords selling up ahead of the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act on 1st May.

He said: “I have been in the industry for 26 years and I have never known the issue to be this widespread.

“Many scams involve properties that have been copied from genuine listings, are advertised at unrealistically low rents and are said to be let by a private landlord who avoids using local agents.”

I have been in the industry for 26 years and I have never known the issue to be this widespread.”

Buck adds: “They often put tenants under huge pressure to act quickly with common phrases being ‘there is lots of interest, so you need to pay today’ or ‘the property will be gone unless you act now’. Scammers will also come up with reasons why a property can’t be viewed in person.

“Other red flags include being asked to pay via personal bank transfers, payment apps, gift cards or cryptocurrency.”

It is illegal for landlords or agents to charge tenants for applying to rent a property, viewing a property or administration costs.

Compliant wording

As the Renters’ Rights Act approaches, the big portals that agents use have been getting ready for the changes.

The new rules require them to include a unique property reference number and compliant wording when referring to pets, families and those on benefits.

But what about the likes of Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree?

Gumtree prioritises the safety of our community and takes rental fraud extremely seriously.”

A request was put into Facebook, but no response was forthcoming, while Gumtree did reply.

Gumtree’s Head of Digital Trust & Safety Joseph Rindsland told The Neg that “Gumtree prioritises the safety of our community and takes rental fraud extremely seriously.

“We also encourage users to view properties in person, verify legal paperwork and ownership, avoid handing over deposits under pressure, ensure deposits are placed in a government‑approved scheme, and report any suspicious ads or messages directly to us.”