Home / Crime and Justice / Rental Scam: Friends Lose £8,000 to Fake Flat
Rental Scam: Friends Lose £8,000 to Fake Flat
9 Feb
Summary
- Two friends lost £8,000 for a north London rental that was a holiday let.
- Scammers stole landlord and letting agency identities for the sophisticated fraud.
- Victims were eventually able to recover most of their money after reporting.
Two friends recently fell victim to a sophisticated rental scam, losing approximately £8,000 for a flat in London's Chapel Market, Islington. The property, which they viewed and signed an agreement for, was actually a short-term holiday let. This incident is believed to have affected around 20 other individuals using the same property.
The fraudsters meticulously mirrored a genuine tenancy process, including using stolen identities of the property's landlord and a letting agency. This made the scam particularly convincing, leaving the friends in tears upon discovering the deception on their intended move-in day.
Experts advise potential renters to be wary of pressure tactics from landlords or agents, as genuine parties typically do not rush the process. Future legislation aims to introduce a landlord registration database to help renters verify property ownership.
Fortunately, after reporting the scam to authorities, the friends were able to recover the majority of their £8,000, with only a small administration fee retained. The Metropolitan Police are investigating multiple reports of similar rental fraud occurring between January and July 2025.
