AIBU to not trust this…

[Flipper1234]

Anyone had any dealings with Romans estate agents for rentals? Trying to rent a property for the first time and struggling to get offers accepted (south east). Viewed a property last week and as usual had to fill in an application form. Was contacted by the estate agent advising us to sign up to the No Deposit Option through The Residency as “landlords much preferred people who have this”. When I researched, it seems that The Residency is a tenancy membership run by Romans costing about £50 a month. My partner and I have no issue affording the full deposit and even offered two months deposit instead, only to be told that we are “unable to take anything more than a five week deposit due to the tenant fee ban”.

I can’t see any benefit to us in paying for The Residency membership. Does anyone have experience of this?

AIBU - this is a useful scheme and you should sign up
AINBU - scam, avoid

It's a scam you'll never get that money back it's so they don't have to put in the deposit protection scheme.

Thank you… I did think it was distinctly fishy

Check your inventory closely. My son’s uni flat inventory (rented via Romans) was a work of fiction and it took weeks to get a realistic version.
They also lied to me and another guarantor saying to each that we’d agreed something we hadn’t.
To add insult to injury, within a week of moving in they were doing floor plans of the property as it was being put up for sale. Needless to say we said no viewings would be accommodated for the duration of the fixed term tenancy.