Renters advised to use letting agents to avoid scams

News Category: Industry News

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Potential tenants have been advised to use professional letting agents rather than search for properties online to avoid becoming the victim of a scam.

Serena Cowdy of Lovemoney.co.uk explained that looking for homes to rent on the internet could be a risky business.

"If you're not comfortable looking for a rental property online, use a reputable high street letting agent instead," she commented.

Ms Cowdy said that bogus landlords sometimes ask potential tenants to use money transfer firms to prove they can pay the rent.

When the tenant then attempts to withdraw the money, it has been removed from the account, leaving the person without their money or anywhere to live.

This comes in a busy period for letting agents as many people are finding they are unable to afford to buy their own home.

Research from property website Rightmove found that most people planning to rent homes are only doing so as they cannot afford to purchase a house.

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