AIBU to be suspicious of this LL?

[Nicebucket]

In case anyone has followed my previous thread about my flat hunt, I've finally found a place that seems suitable.

The rent is within my budget and inclusive of all bills. The area is also fab!

But

There had to be a catch :-(

The landlord wants the rent ONLY via cash or cheque. For reasons I cannot understand, he is unwilling accept payment via bank transfer.

I found this a bit dodgy! The guy i spoke to is the property manager, who manages and maintains flats for the landlord. He's the one who collects rent etc. and he is saying the landlord won't accept bank transfers, and he prefers cash/cheque.

I found out about this guy via an agency and he rents properties via the agency as well. I've dealt with that agency before and I know they're all right. But this particular flat is not being let via the agency (which I dint kind because it saves me money on agency fees)

He's willing to give me signed receipts for the cash and the cheques are all recorded anyway.

I still find this dodgy! Clearly he has a bank account, which is how he'd cash the cheques. So why can't I make a transfer to that account? And the cash is even dodgier! Surely he's trying to evade tax or worse?

Would you do it? Would you agree to pay rent only via cash/cheque?

In case this LL is dodging tax, or doing something criminal could I get into legal trouble for it?

I know I could keep looking for something else, but I've really struggled and I couldn't find anything as nice as this for the price :-(

[Nicebucket]

Actually the property manager is Middle aged. Apparently, the LL is very old and not a native English speaker (he only speaks Arabic I think). So the age and cultural differences might explain the need for a property manager and mistrust of banks!

[Floggingmolly]

Why do imagine paying your rent by cheque will trigger an investigation into potential money laundering? You're allowed to spend your own money any way you please...

[HirplesWithHaggis]

I meant the person you spoke to at your bank, not the property manager. But yes, the ll being old might well explain his reluctance to accept bank transfers.

So, do you feel any more reassured? Will you be taking on this property?

[TheRealAmyLee]

If it was cash only I would have concerns but cheque is likely just a quirk. My dad still deals in cheques rather than transfers. It drives me insane. It's not him not trusting anyone he just likes cheques as that's what he is used to.

[Thelushinthepub]

There's no real difference between cheques and bank transfer in terms of money laundering is there? And who on earth would care about you spending less than £1k a month of your cash? You sound a bit hysterical about the whole thing

[OutToGetYou]

There are still three million cheques written a week. Possibly not all to this landlord....

[OutToGetYou]

The reason the bank didn't understand the problem was because there isn't one

[whois]

I think wanting to be paid in cash is odd and indicative that things aren't quite right. Who the hell wants to faff with getting so much cash out and have to have a physical transaction to pay your rent each month? Much better to have a standing order. But some people are just odd with strange habits, not criminal.

But cheques seem fine. That's how rent always used to be paid.

Not meeting the actual LL is quite common if it's the property manager you're be dealing with for repairs etc.

[Nicebucket]

Ok, so I feel more reassured now

I think I will be taking this property! I'm in London and I prefer not to share for the time being.

So I wanted a small studio with bills included In a reasonably safe area. And this is it!! It ticks all the boxes, so I really don't want to say no.

I just didn't want to get sucked into something dodgy, so thought I should check for opinions.

[Nicebucket]

I will be insisting on cheques though and will not be paying cash.

I'm hoping my chequebook will arrive in time for Monday morning! Otherwise the bank offered the option of a bank draft which is essentially like a one off cheque and hopefully the LL will be ok with it.

[TheExMotherInLaw]

Cheque ONLY, for your own physical safety, if nothing else.
Think about it.
This person (therefore possibly others) would know that you are on your way to him, with a lot of money on your person.
No, just NO.

[Nicebucket]

I completely agree! It's not safe!

So definitely, it's only cheque.

[Baconyum]

Yea likely due to age, my mum won't even phone bank! She thinks someone random with a laptop can steal her non existent millions if she doesn't deal with the bank directly.

But in terms of personal safety and so he can't claim rent not paid I'd definitely go the cheque route. I'm old enough to remember paying lots of things by cheque and actually prefer cheques but no bugger takes them any more. They're actually more secure than transfers as the law applying to them is quite old too and there's a distinct paper trail.

[Nicebucket]

You're right, I called my bank for advice as well, and they said the same. That cheques are actually safer and the person paying the money is more protected that way.

I think I'm just being a bit over cautious and suspicious!

I can't get rid of the niggling fear that this person and his "landlord" aren't up to any good and by associating with them I might get into trouble. No idea how that'll happpen, but that's what I'm worried about!

[hibbleddible]

Glad you are reassured now.

There is nothing dodgy about cheques.

[ElkeDagMeisje]

Why on earth would you get into trouble for (a) someone else perhaps not paying tax (although if you have been given the option of paying by cheque it seems highly unlikely) or withdrawing money for rent from your own bank account??

I can't get rid of the niggling fear that this person and his "landlord" aren't up to any good and by associating with them I might get into trouble. No idea how that'll happpen, but that's what I'm worried about!

Agreed that you do sound a bit hysterical. There is a property manager, so you can't even moan about an amateur landlord managing his own property. Are you sure you are independent and experienced enough in the ways of the world to contemplate living on your own? You will have to pay bills and things, out of your own bank account too?

I actually think its quite a good idea, paying by cheque or cash only. When I advertised a room in my house for rent, I was contacted by all sorts of dodgy people (men asking me if I would be alone when they viewed, scammers from overseas) and ended up with a lodger who was great but only stayed for 6 months and ended up being chased by the Inland Revenue for his dodgy company which he registered to my address, along with various loans he had taken out and not paid. I still get debt collectors chasing him. I was lucky he didn't use my bank account details for some fraud. And you still think this landlord might be dodgy? He is the one traceable via a contract and a residential property address!

[LurkingHusband]

Why do imagine paying your rent by cheque will trigger an investigation into potential money laundering? You're allowed to spend your own money any way you please...

There have been questions on financial (and legal) websites where banks have got very sniffy if a customer wants to withdraw a large amount of cash suddenly. Usually "money laundering" is the excuse, although sometimes they'll claim they don't keep enough cash in the branch. Recently I have read of cases where the bank has insisted the customer declare the reason for the withdrawal, in case they are being scammed.

(Going back a few years, our local bank (Nat West) refused to allow my Dad to withdraw some money to put a deposit on a workshop (manager said my dad wasn't a businessman). My Dad said "fine" and closed the account and walked across the road to Barclays. My Mum said the manager came running after my Dad saying "You can't do that !!!!! This is ENGLAND !!!!! Don't you foreigners understand anything ???").

[0x530x610x750x630x79]

Many places in the world don't do bank transfers as a thing like we do, americans still love their cheque books.

[LurkingHusband]

Many places in the world don't do bank transfers as a thing like we do

Unbelievably, the UK probably has the most advanced retail finance industry in the world - certainly in Europe. We have come light years since the 70s.

[specialsubject]

looks like you've done most of the checks - the place does exist and it is empty which is a start!

also:

if there is gas, you need sight of the gas safe cert
if a deposit is to be charged, you need info on which deposit protection scheme will be used
you need to know who you will contact when something goes wrong
you need to know how long your fixed tenancy is.

including the bills seems nuts for the landlord - you could run up a fortune. But I understand it does happen.

don't forget your tenant's insurance.

[ValancyJane]

I think it's fine if you pay by cheque and get receipts creating a paper trail. Provided deposit is protected and there is a formal written contract I would be happy with this. My guess would be that he's from a generation more comfortable with cheques; my granddad pays everything by cash/cheque and is currently in a tizzy because he has had to start paying the phone by direct debit and can't tell exactly when it leaves his account. He generally knows his finances to the penny, and is very suspicious of the concept of direct debit generally!

[Nicebucket]

Well, the deposit is the catch I guess. Its not going into any scheme, but it's there on the contract and I get a receipt.

I'm in two minds because everyone I know in real life is telling me to keep looking because this whole thing sounds dodgy. But everyone on here seems to be ok with it. flat hunting is a nightmare

[greatbigwho]

It's illegal not to protect a deposit - you can sue for three times the amount.

[Baconyum]

There's your red flag! Nope go elsewhere