How can I be sure my landlord is the legal owner of the house

[ericawong]

Sorry if my question sounds stupid to you.
I m fr overseas and a rental property has come up on gumtree that my family finds it ideal. We won't be able to arrive till Aug 2022.

Now the landlord wants us to pay the rent for the entire stay which is at least half a year. I understand and accept that this is the arrangement for non local tenants.

But when we check the hm land registry, the name of the owner of the house is different from the name of the landlord I talk to via gum tree.

The landlord, who said she owns various properties, claims that she has numerous 5 stars reviews of her units on various portals like booking. Com etc . Firstly I don't know how to check these portals . Second even though I m able to do it, can I really verify that she is the real landlord???

To reduce embarrassment, May I know how I can guarantee that all the rent I paid go to the right person? Thx

Careful! there are so many scams with rentals. I would not pay at all until you've seen the property and got a contract.

It’s a tricky one and you are right to be wary.

Could you work through a solicitor in the UK and take out appropriate insurance?

Don't do it
She isn't the landlord as you have discovered

Leave this one alone and look for a property through an actual letting agent. That'll be much, much safer.

I would assume it was a scam and that you should go through a letting agent.

This is dodgy as fuck. Real landlords with residential let’s don’t have reviews on booking.com. This is almost certainly a scam.

I’d also avoid, go through a letting agency. Sounds dodgy as anything!!!

This sounds like a scam.
Has she explained why it’s not her name on the land registry. ?
Have you viewed the house in person?
Spoken with current tenants?

Gumtree is notorious for scam rentals. I would not be paying anything at all.

Yeah, gumtree is dodgy for rentals.

My DS and partner nearly fell for a rental scam on Gumtree. I would never rent a property advertised there.

My DB feel for a scam like that. They viewed the property and it was through an agent. Turned out the “Landlord” wasn’t the owner of the property. It’s more common than you’d think.

You can check on the Land Registry, I think it costs £3. This sounds dodgy though so I would not sign up.

It sounds very very dodgy. You are right to be concerned.

The property owner and landlord name not matching is very wrong. I also don't believe you need to pay 6 months rent in advance.

I would think that this is very likely a scam. Don't hand over any money.

That does sound dodgy.

My agents do sometimes take a lump sum instead of monthly payments if there is an issue with credit checking but this sounds very fishy. It actually doesn't suit properly organised, tax-paying landlords, so I don't like it personally.

It could be an illegal sub-let but more probably a scam to get the 6-months payments, then they disappear...

Go through a very decent agent. It might cost you more but in the long-run, it should be better with protections like the tenant deposit scheme.

Is the name on the title deeds a company?

Some people own property through a limited company

This is a scam, don't do it

You are right to be wary.

Don't look on gumtree, At. All. It is a haven for scammers

OP, you can rent an Airbnb or other short term rental when you arrive. Then you will be able to conduct proper searches with a reputable agent.

It is completely unwise to pay the whole rental term in advance where the landlord you are dealing with is different to the named owner on the property register. Nor should you agree to rent property that you, or someone you trust, have not physically visited.

Before renting property make sure you have the full contact details of the landlord so that they can be verified. An estate agent will carry out these checks for you.

Thanks for all the reply. It does not look like a company name in the HM record is something like that

PROPRIETOR: NAME OF A PERSON of The ADDRESS we want to rent and of an EMAIL (hotmail account) and of another address_

The name of the person is different from the name of the person I talk to

I am a landlord and advertise on Gumtree. I am scrupulously honest so feel somewhat aggrieved that some of you are implying all property rentals on that portal are dodgy.

I don't use an agent. This bumps the price up for the tenant and I feel more comfortable dealing with a prospective tenant in person.

My advice to you is to get temporary accommodation and view prospective properties in person. Do NOT pay the rental in advance. The landlord should be registered with the local authority. If it feels dodgy it probably is. I provide my address on the lease which can be checked.

@Esspee

I am a landlord and advertise on Gumtree. I am scrupulously honest so feel somewhat aggrieved that some of you are implying all property rentals on that portal are dodgy. I don't use an agent. This bumps the price up for the tenant and I feel more comfortable dealing with a prospective tenant in person.

My advice to you is to get temporary accommodation and view prospective properties in person. Do NOT pay the rental in advance. The landlord should be registered with the local authority. If it feels dodgy it probably is. I provide my address on the lease which can be checked.

I'm sure you are very honest, unfortunately that doesn't change the fact that a massive amount of rentals on gumtree are not.

Phone a local letting agent they'll know if it's rented out.. as I'm sure there is someone living there!
They can also do a quick search for you.