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Original poster

House to good to be true?

33 replies

Beckyxox12 · 01/04/2021 01:57

So I put an ad on gumtree looking for 2 bed to rent and someone’s messaged me saying they have a 2 bed nice house nice area 500 a month which is low for houses round that area for starters, they said they will accept housing benefit as I’ll need to claim it when baby’s here and I’m on maternity, they said they can have all new furniture in there for me, they aren’t asking any upfront cost she said I can view it have keys sign 12 month tenancy and then I don’t have to pay anything till 2 weeks after so no deposit or anything, she then said when I go through dss process it can take few weeks so she’s happy for me to only pay her half the rent in that time. All she keeps stressing to me is she don’t want any trouble there at all. It’s 1am in the morning and she keeps texting me about it and she keeps putting lots of kisses. It seems to good to be true and I’ve read up about scams and it says if they ask money upfront it can be scam but she’s not asking anything but I’m not sure it seems to good to be true. Any opinions? How do I endure its legitimate?

OP posts:
Blondie1984 · 01/04/2021 02:12

I’d be really wary - it sounds like she could be sub-letting.

Blondie1984 · 01/04/2021 02:13

Try this www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/search-for-a-landlord

Midlifelady · 01/04/2021 04:51

Red flags all over the place.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 01/04/2021 07:20

Sounds like she's bored and is just stringing you along, I'm afraid...

Has she said there's a unicorn in the garden which you can talk to you?

purpleme12 · 01/04/2021 07:24

Have you even seen the house?
Cos that might be your answer right there

Original poster
Beckyxox12 · 01/04/2021 07:32

She said I can view it 12th of April when the otber tenants are out and if I like it I can have keys same say and sign tenancy

OP posts:
MrsJamin · 01/04/2021 07:47

Don't pay anything until you know this person is legitimate!

PegasusReturns · 01/04/2021 07:49

One of two scenarios:

It’s a scam and before you view on the 12th there will be a request for money.

Two she is genuine but misguided. She ends up being super needy and extremely hard work.

Bunnybigears · 01/04/2021 07:53

Sounds like she may be sub-letting which leaves you in a not very secure position, do you want that added stress with a baby on the way.

BananaHammock23 · 01/04/2021 07:56

Some landlords are nice... but this does sound a bit too good to be true! However, if you don't get your hopes up then it could work out. I would go and see it on 12th and then just make sure there's an iron clad contract, and perhaps express concerns re pricing, subletting etc and see what she comes up with. Can't see that there's any harm in that.

Original poster
Beckyxox12 · 01/04/2021 08:03

She said she would give me a tenancy on the 12th if I’m happy with it but what should I look out for in the agreement to be sure I’m not being scammed ?

OP posts:
relaxingforme · 01/04/2021 08:05

You need to do a drive by before the 12th
Take someone with you on the 12th
Ask for an agreement
Sign and seal nothing until you have a contract
Visiting the property over different times of day to see who lives around you and the feel of the area- really important
Just ask in person and keep it professional
Hope it is not a meth house seriously

MyOtherProfile · 01/04/2021 08:09

Do you know where the house is already? The exact address? Definitely check it out online and with a drive by.

loveisagirlnameddaisy · 01/04/2021 08:13

@relaxingforme

You need to do a drive by before the 12th Take someone with you on the 12th Ask for an agreement Sign and seal nothing until you have a contract Visiting the property over different times of day to see who lives around you and the feel of the area- really important Just ask in person and keep it professional Hope it is not a meth house seriously
If she's subletting a contact means nothing.
loveisagirlnameddaisy · 01/04/2021 08:13

Contract!

lastqueenofscotland · 01/04/2021 08:24

The first thing I thought was a sublet, especially the not asking for a deposit.

Hazel444 · 01/04/2021 08:25

Hmm this does sound too good to be true. You could imagine someone giving such favourable terms to a friend, but I assume you are strangers?

Original poster
Beckyxox12 · 01/04/2021 08:26

Yeah true could be a sublet she also kept going over the fact she wants no trouble there no parties ect which I know most landlords would be the same about maybe it’s incase anything ever gets reported and she gets found out and I don’t know the door number only the street and there’s no photos she said she can’t get any till the 12th when the old tenant is out

OP posts:
Original poster
Beckyxox12 · 01/04/2021 08:28

And yes don’t know each other she saw my post on gumtree about wanting a flat or house to rent

OP posts:
lastqueenofscotland · 01/04/2021 08:29

She’d have photos from the before the previous tenant. It’s got sublet written all over it in big red letters in my mind (i worked in housing for many years m... I’m quite long in the tooth in that regard).
I’d just walk away.

lastqueenofscotland · 01/04/2021 08:30

Also if it is a sublet and you move In You are afforded virtually none of the protections that would be afforded to a tenant. The contract you sign may as well not exist

sst1234 · 01/04/2021 08:32

It’s not just a sublet but a scam. But people will sometimes lead you to believe you are renting a house they do not own and then take off with your deposit.

JackieWeaverFever · 01/04/2021 08:37

Honestly don't even bother viewing and stop messaging.
None of this is standard practice.
It's shady and scammy and however it pans out it will cause you problems.
You are pregnant and do need the extra hassle find somewhere else.

relaxingforme · 01/04/2021 08:40

@Beckyxox12

Yeah true could be a sublet she also kept going over the fact she wants no trouble there no parties ect which I know most landlords would be the same about maybe it’s incase anything ever gets reported and she gets found out and I don’t know the door number only the street and there’s no photos she said she can’t get any till the 12th when the old tenant is out
I was sent photos immediately of the house I am taking over Inside and out and address Demand the address or delete and look for a legit landlord No one expecting a baby deserves to be mucked around sounds so suss.
BobBobBobbin · 01/04/2021 08:44

Sublet would be my first concern, usually happens with social housing tenancies. Do you know if it’s on a social housing estate? Obviously some (in some cases lots of) social housing has been sold through RTB and can be legitimately let, but social housing let by council or housing association can’t be sublet by the tenant. So it’s not definitive that social housing estate = sublet as it might be RTB.

Also social housing exists in lots of places that aren’t obviously social housing estates, so again it’s not reliable if it doesn’t “look like” social housing that it is not.

Lots of HAs and councils have signage up on property they own so it’s worth a drive-by and see if you see any signs in the area.

If you know it’s in an area with property owned by a particular council/HA you could get in touch and ask if they own the particular address (I don’t know if they’d tell you but worth a try).

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