Students who are looking for a place to stay while they study are being warned about a scam in which they are fleeced before they even see the property.
The NUS (National Union of Students) have confirmed that the number of students being taken in by adverts posted on the internet where fake landlords demand a deposit is increasing. The problem has been made worse by the high number of students who are seeking private accommodation and this is pushing many of them on to unregulated websites.
The NUS spokesman said: “The fraudulent landlords who post the adverts require prospective tenants to transfer money as holding deposits without visiting the property – or to prove they have money in order to rent by transferring money to a friend and sending proof.
Fraudulent adverts most often appear on free advertising websites as there is no cost to advertise the fake property. The easiest way to avoid being victim to these scammers is to use your common sense – if the price or location looks too good, then it probably is.”
That advice does not always work with students who are not familiar with the area, particularly overseas students. It is these overseas students that do not realise that £75 per week for a property in Russell Square, London is unbelievable. They will pay a holding deposit which they will never see again. The advice from the NUS is: do not pay a holding deposit, rent or any money without first visiting a property. All universities will have a list of recognised landlords who will have to comply with all legislation and landlord insurance demands, and they will remove any landlords who behave unscrupulously. Both the NUS and the universities are quick to point out that the vast majority of landlords are legitimate and trustworthy but should be asked to prove their legitimacy.