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The phrase ‘rogue landlords’ has crept its way into popular language over the years, and unfortunately, it gives the lettings industry an unfair reputation. Although used profusely by journalists in headlines, rogue landlords are not as common as you might think.

Residential-Land-How-to-avoid-Rogue-landlords

If you are looking at property to rent in Central London, however, there are far more flats and houses to choose from and a greater chance that you might stumble across an unprofessional landlord.

 The Evening Standard’s Homes & Property section recently ran a headline using the term ‘rogue landlord’, even throwing in a ‘bogus landlord’ reference as well. It quoted an estimated 3,000 tenants in the UK who were ‘swindled’ by a landlord during 2015 –  a rise in this type of incident of 50%. Sadly, you could become the next statistic.

 If you’re viewing properties to rent in Central London or are wondering how safe it is to trust a landlord you may encounter via an online advert, we have prepared some safeguard advice that should help protect you and your deposit:-

  • Ask to meet the landlord at the property when you conduct any viewings and never agree to rent a property on the strength of online photos – always visit the property in person.
  • Use a legitimate website or agent when searching for properties to rent in Central London – some unscrupulous people advertise lets that don’t exist. Extra caution should be applied when following up rental leads on social media.
  • Ask for proof of how the landlord will hold and protect your deposit – there are a number of Government-backed schemes the landlord must use – we use MyDeposits.
  • Be aware if you are asked to pay a huge ‘holding’ fee to secure a rental property, especially if they ask for the money in cash.
  • Be suspicious if you are not asked to produce photo ID, proof of earnings and references. As of the 1st February 2016, Right to Rent checks have become mandatory and a law-abiding landlord will need retained proof that the tenant has the right to rent in this country. By asking for documentation, a landlord will be acting within the law.

Residential Land is a new type of private landlord – the largest in the capital, in fact – set up so tenants can rent a Central London property with peace of mind that they are dealing with an authentic, transparent landlord and a registered business. We have multiple industry-specific accreditations and memberships, including The British Property Federation, the National Association of Landlords, The Housing Ombudsman Service and The Association of Residential Management Agents, among others, and we comply with The London Rental Standard set out by the Mayor of London.

For extra security, Residential Land has a Tenants’ Charter that applies to every Central London property let and managed by us. This ensures we offer  the best possible service to every tenant, and that our actions are accountable at all times. Our full Tenants’ Charter is available to read online.

Browse online to read more about us and view our current properties to rent in Central London.