House to good to be true?

[Beckyxox12]

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?

No it’s in a private area not any sort of social housing there

Too many red flags op, don't bother.
Just preying on you, and is being weird.
I've watched alot of day time TV the last year and the sub letting thing is so wrong and rife.

Don't part with a penny.

There was a TV show about this scam a couple of years ago.
The pinch the pictures of a legitimate rental online.
They get more than one person to commit to renting and giving a deposit and then disappear.

Google the house you are looking at for rent, see if it comes up.

I would be wary of this for all of the reasons mentioned. As a legit landlord, even if I'd do a good deal I wouldn't do it without checks, deposit etc for my own protection.
If you do decide to view, please take someone with you.

OP - you’ve had good advice here mainly saying walk away. I’m a good landlord but it is a business. Irrespective of whether or not you are in receipt of benefits, you’ll still need to pass a credit check and provide references. Absolutely no one gets keys without passing these, a deposit and a signed tenancy agreement. Anyone suggesting you can bypass the norm is preying on you. I’m afraid all scams work on an emotional pull and this is no different. The price is low, you’ll apparently get keys without requiring to provide a deposit etc and then the unsolicited contact chasing you all screams scam. As a general rule of thumb, if it seems to good to be true, it usually is.

Thanks everyone for advice! I’ve blocked the number now not worth the risk

Well done!

Read the how to rent guide on gov.uk which tells you about tenant rights and landlord responsibilities. In the current situation no real landlord will take on a tenant in this way. It was a scam.