It is in that space where rental scams have started to take hold.
Across the UK, reports from organisations such as Action Fraud and Citizens Advice point to a steady rise in cases. The pattern is not especially complicated. Demand is high, supply is tight, and people are being asked to make quick decisions. That combination creates just enough pressure for things to slip through unnoticed.
What has changed is how convincing these scams have become.
Listings are no longer obviously false. Professional photographs, detailed descriptions, and even familiar branding are being used to give the impression of legitimacy. Platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are often mentioned, although the reality is that scams can appear anywhere people are searching informally.
Some go a step further. There are cases where a property is very real, yet the person advertising it has no authority to do so. In more elaborate situations, short-term lets arranged through Airbnb have been used to stage viewings. That creates a sense of reassurance that is difficult to question at the time.
The outcome tends to follow a familiar path. A holding deposit is requested, sometimes several months’ rent in advance, often with a reason attached that sounds entirely plausible. Once payment is made, communication stops.
From a Property Quorum point of view, this is not just about tenants. It touches every part of the process. Genuine agents find their listings copied. Landlords face reputational issues. Transactions fall apart before they even begin.
Joining Gareth Wax in the chair this week, alongside myself, Hamish McLay, and Silas J Lees, this is a topic that sits right in the middle of the current market. It reflects how pressure, technology, and behaviour are all starting to overlap.
There is also a practical side to this conversation. While scams are becoming more sophisticated, there are still signs that can help people pause and take a second look.
A request for payment before any viewing has taken place is one of the clearest indicators. So too is a landlord who claims to be unavailable to meet in person, often citing travel or relocation. Communication that feels rushed, or pushes for immediate decisions, tends to follow a similar pattern.
It is also worth checking whether the property appears elsewhere. Reverse image searches can reveal duplicated listings, and verifying ownership through Land Registry records can provide an extra layer of reassurance. Where an agent is involved, confirming their registration with schemes such as The Property Ombudsman can help establish legitimacy.
There is something slightly uncomfortable in all of this. The property world relies on trust at multiple stages, yet that trust is being tested in new ways. Technology has made it easier to access information, although it has also made it easier to replicate and reuse it.
What this perhaps points to is a need for a steadier pace, even in a fast-moving market. That is not always easy when properties are in short supply, yet taking a moment to verify what sits in front of you can make a meaningful difference.
For those working across the sector, it would be interesting to know how often these situations are being encountered in practice. Whether it is agents spotting cloned listings, or early-stage transactions that do not quite stack up, there is a sense that this is becoming part of the wider landscape rather than an isolated issue.
Rental scams may present themselves quietly, although their impact can be significant. And in a market where timing often feels everything, they are a reminder that not every opportunity is quite what it seems.
Join us live this Thursday at 10am on Property Quorum as we share thoughts and experiences around this growing issue.
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