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 :-(

[specialsubject]

you can claim it back UP to three times its value if not protected. Not guaranteed.

but why use a landlord that breaks the law? I know we all desperately want to live in the bottom right hand corner, but rolling over and renting a known dump from a known law breaker is really asking for trouble. And there are other places for the OP, some suggestions on here.

don't feed the crooks with money.

[zoobaby]

I'd be contacting the housing Dept at LB Westminster and informing them off this agent, the flat address and the alleged LL's practice. All dodgy and certainly illegal in respect to the deposit.