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 Private Accommodation Scam: Latest Information

Don’t get scammed

Liverpool Guild of Students is warning students about a spate of recent scams that have hit students in Liverpool. The message is clear, get advice before parting with any money!

Liverpool Guild of Students is urging all students to be careful when responding to adverts for private accommodation as there have been a number of reports of people being scammed out of money after seeing adverts on various websites.

“Do not, under any circumstances, send money to anyone for accommodation prior to viewing the accommodation, verifying that the person is the actual landlord or a representative of the landlord (such as a letting agent) and seeing the tenancy agreement.” urges LGoS Vice President Sam Johnson

The scam usually happens when a potential tenant asks a potential landlord advertising on a website if they can view a flat.  After a couple of emails (or sometimes straight away) the prospective landlord will describe a reason for not being able to show the tenant around and by proving they have money upfront they'll make the effort to show the tenant the flat (eg they have been let down by tenants before and need to know tenants are serious, or that they live abroad and need assurances the tenant has the money before travelling to show the tenant around the place). Prospective tenants are then asked to transfer money through a payment service such as Western Union, Bidpay or Money Gram and to then fax or send a scanned copy of the receipt of the money being paid via this service along with the reference number to secure the accommodation.

Ideally you should try to rent from accredited landlords registered with Liverpool Student Homes and Liverpool Council.

You can find out if your landlord and the property are registered and that the landlord is therefore a genuine landlord before handing over any money for payment of rent or deposit by visiting the Liverpool City Council Landlord accreditation scheme:

http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/Housing/Private_housing/Landlord_accreditation_scheme/index.as

 

 and registered with Liverpool Student Homes: 

www.lsh.liv.ac.uk

 

Advice about sniffing out a scam: 

·         Use a letting agent or properties recognised/recommended by the Student Union or University

·         NEVER transfer money until a property has been viewed and make sure the company or landlord is legitimate

·         NEVER transfer money over Western Union to a landlord or for payment of goods

·         Students are customers who don't have to pay to view or prove anything to a landlord prior to agreeing to let

·         Should landlords wish to have proof that a student has the money to pay the rent this should be arranged, as is the industry standard, through contractual basis via guarantor and/or references from employers/banks ("no contract, no payment")

·         Report scams as and when they are found

·         If it looks dodgy, it probably is - ask friends for advice and contact the Liverpool Student Union Advice Centre for housing advice: http://www.l-s-u.com/lsuadvice

·         Always perform an internet search on the content of the emails received to make sure they are not re-hashed scammed text.

   

 
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