When landlords list with us we verify their details and have stringent systems in place to verify their ownership of the property. This, alongside numerous other features, are designed to ensure tenants are both protected from malicious activity and are dealing with the landlord directly.
Although these systems prevent most fraudulent behaviour they are not invincible and we recommend using our Rent Now service (free to tenants) where we can guarantee the safety of tenant funds.
If proceeding outside of Rent Now, we recommend taking a receipt for the Holding Deposit and asking the Landlord to confirm in writing what terms the Holding Deposit will be governed by. You will also want to be sure of their identity, for instance, by asking to see some proof of ID like a driving licence or passport.
You can find our full guide on setting up a tenancy with a private landlord here.
- A guide to setting up a tenancy with a private landlord