How to Avoid Rental Scams: A Comprehensive Guide for Tenants

Finding a place to live is one of the most important and often stressful decisions people face. In today’s fast-paced rental market, particularly in high-demand areas, tenants are under increasing pressure to act quickly. Unfortunately, that urgency has created a fertile ground for scammers. Rental scams are becoming more sophisticated, leaving thousands of people out of pocket and in housing limbo.

At Marks Out Of Tenancy, our mission is to help renters make informed decisions. This guide aims to provide practical, clear and UK-specific advice on how to avoid rental scams and protect yourself throughout the letting process.

What Rental Scams Look Like

Rental scams come in several forms, but they all revolve around one goal: to take money from prospective tenants without offering a real or legally available property in return. Some scams are amateur and easy to spot, but many others are highly polished and convincing. Check out our tenants' guide which gives tips and advice on how to spot whether a property or landlord is legit.

The 5 Most Common Rental Scams in the UK

1. Phantom Listings

This is one of the most common scams: fraudsters list properties they don’t own. These could be:

• Copied from another site (e.g. Rightmove or Airbnb)
• Made up entirely, with stock images
• Real addresses, but not up for rent

Victims are often asked to send a deposit before viewing to “hold” the property.

2. Fake Letting Agents or Landlords

Scammers sometimes create entire personas, complete with email addresses that mimic reputable agencies (e.g. lettings@zooplae.com instead of lettings@zoopla.com). They may even offer detailed contracts and professional-looking application forms to build trust.

Key signs:

• You're asked to transfer money before signing a tenancy agreement
• Their company isn’t registered with any redress scheme
• No landline, no office address, or refusal to meet in person

3. Too-Good-To-Be-True Deals

A luxury flat in Zone 2 London for £700/month? That’s your first clue.

Scammers use dream properties to lure people in quickly, asking them to pay fees or deposits to "beat the rush." Often, the scammer will claim multiple people are interested and pressure you to act fast.

If a listing is priced far below the local average, be extremely cautious. Use platforms like Marks Out Of Tenancy to compare real tenant reviews and pricing in the area.

4. Duplicate or Hijacked Listings

Sometimes the property is real—and currently being rented through a legitimate agent—but the scammer relists it on another platform. They might have access via Airbnb, a viewing, or stolen keys.

What happens: You get shown the property, sign fake documents, and pay money—but the scammer disappears and you never get the keys.

5. Upfront Fees for Non-existent Services

Some fraudsters offer services like “renter background checks” or “priority listing access” in exchange for a fee—then vanish. These usually come from fake agencies or classified ads.

You should never be asked to pay for viewing access or to register with a letting agent. Real agents charge the landlord, not the tenant (except in some high-end markets or specific commercial lets).

How to Protect Yourself

The best defence against rental scams is due diligence. Before you part with any money or personal information, take time to research the property, verify the person you’re dealing with, and confirm everything is legitimate.

Start by checking the listing itself. A quick online search of the property address can reveal if it’s being advertised elsewhere at a different price or with different contact details. You can also run a reverse image search on listing photos to see if they appear on other sites. If the images come from an unrelated location or appear on short-term let sites like Airbnb, that’s a strong indication that the listing may not be genuine.

Always view the property in person or, if that's not possible, arrange a video viewing. Legitimate landlords and agents will accommodate this. If the person you’re dealing with refuses or avoids arranging a viewing, that’s a serious red flag. Do not send money for a property you have not seen.

Ask for identification and proof of ownership or management. A legitimate letting agent should be able to provide registration details, while a landlord should be able to verify they own the property or are legally acting on the owner’s behalf. In Wales, landlords and agents must be registered with Rent Smart Wales, and you can check their details online. In England, you can use the Land Registry to confirm property ownership for a small fee.

Avoid paying deposits or rent in cash or through untraceable payment methods. Always use secure, traceable methods such as bank transfers to a business account. Avoid using payment apps with no buyer protection, and never send money to someone you haven’t verified. Make sure to ask for a formal receipt for any payment made.

Before paying anything, request a written tenancy agreement. This should be a clear and legal contract—typically an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST)—that outlines the rent amount, deposit, length of tenancy, responsibilities, and details of the landlord or agent. Make sure you read and understand the agreement, and confirm it matches what was discussed.

Another crucial protection under UK law is deposit protection. In England and Wales, any deposit paid must be protected within 30 days in one of three government-backed schemes: the Deposit Protection Service (DPS), the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS), or MyDeposits. Your landlord or agent must provide you with a deposit protection certificate and prescribed information. If they cannot, that’s a clear warning sign.

Recognising Pressure Tactics

Scammers often rely on psychological pressure to force a quick decision. They might tell you that dozens of other people are interested or that the property will be gone by the end of the day. They may even try to guilt you into acting fast by telling emotional stories. It's important not to let this pressure rush you into a decision.

Taking your time to ask questions and verify everything is not just your right—it’s essential. Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, take a step back and seek advice. A genuine landlord or agent will understand that you need to be careful and will support transparency.

What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed

If you believe you’ve been the victim of a rental scam, act quickly. First, stop all communication with the scammer. Report the fraud to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. You should also contact your bank to try to recover the money—especially if you used a bank transfer or card payment.

Gather and save all evidence, including emails, text messages, payment records, and screenshots of listings. This will be important if you need to make a legal claim or help authorities investigate. You can also contact Citizens Advice for help understanding your rights and the steps to take next.

Don’t forget to share your experience with others. Writing a review on Marks Out Of Tenancy helps alert other renters to potential scams or bad actors, building a safer community for everyone.

Practical Resources to Help You Stay Safe

There are several tools and organisations you can use to protect yourself. These include:

• Land Registry (England & Wales): You can check who owns a property for a small fee.
• Rent Smart Wales: A legal register of landlords and letting agents in Wales.
• Tenancy Deposit Schemes: Use TDS, DPS, or MyDeposits to confirm that your deposit is protected.
• Companies House: Check if a letting agency is a registered company and when it was incorporated.
• Redress Schemes: All UK letting agents must be part of a government-approved redress scheme, such as The Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme.
• Marks Out Of Tenancy: Read real tenant reviews of landlords and letting agents before signing anything.

Renting with Confidence

While rental scams are on the rise, so is tenant awareness. By staying informed, asking the right questions, and doing your research, you can greatly reduce the risk of being scammed. Renting a home should be a positive, secure experience—not a leap of faith.

Check out our tenants' guide to finding a good rental property, packed full of tips and advice on what to look for and any red flags to spot.

Marks Out Of Tenancy is here to help renters like you stay safe, speak up, and make better decisions. If you’ve had a bad experience—or a great one—share it with us. Your voice matters, and your experience could help protect someone else. Rate and review your property, landlord or letting agent now.