On this page
A rental scam is where someone pretends to offer a house for rent. They might do this to steal money or personal information from you.
They might use tricks like:
- A fake advert
- Asking for money before you see the house
There are things you can do to check that the house you want to rent is real.
Advice about finding a private rented home (scotland.shelter.org.uk)
Check that the landlord is registered
In Scotland, all landlords must register with the local council unless they are exempt. Landlords must pass the council’s fit and proper person test before they can register. The council can remove a landlord from the register if they do not behave properly.
You can check the details of the house you’d like to rent on the landlord register.
Search the postcode for the property on the register and make sure the landlord is registered for the house. You can also ask the landlord for their registration number. Search the register to find out if it’s valid.
Search the landlord register (landlordregistration.gov.uk)
Find out about your landlord’s responsibilities (scotland.shelter.org.uk)
Research the landlord and search for reviews
Search for the landlord’s name or company. Look for online reviews from earlier tenants.
View the property
The landlord should let you view the house you want to rent.
You should not pay any money before you've:
- Seen the property
- Checked the landlord's registration details
The landlord should not pressurise you to pay money before a viewing.
Ask the landlord for an online viewing if you’re not in Scotland. You could also ask if a friend can view the house on your behalf.
Use secure payment methods to make payments
Only transfer money to a landlord by bank transfer. Bank transfers can be traced.
You should not pay cash or use a money transfer company. If the landlord asks you to pay in an unusual way, it might be a scam. For example, paying by iTunes vouchers or through a transfer service like MoneyGram or Western Union.
Check that the landlord will register the deposit
In Scotland, most landlords must register deposits with a tenancy deposit scheme.
Tenancy deposit schemes are independent organisations that hold your deposit money. They can help decide how much money you should get back at the end of the tenancy.
There are three approved schemes your landlord can use:
- MyDeposits Scotland (mydepositsscotland.co.uk)
- Safe Deposits Scotland (safedepositsscotland.com)
- Letting Protection Service Scotland (lettingprotectionscotland.com)
Ask the landlord what scheme they’ll be using for your deposit. They should register your deposit within 30 working days of your tenancy starting.
Find out more about deposits in private tenancies (scotland.shelter.org.uk)
Illegal fees
Landlords and letting agents can ask for up to two months' rent as a deposit. They might also ask you to pay some of your rent in advance.
They cannot charge you any non-refundable fees to get the tenancy. This includes:
- Administration fees for things like credit checks
- Deposits to secure a property before you sign a tenancy agreement. These are sometimes called ‘holding fees’ or ‘key money’
Find out more about problems with illegal fees and deposits (citizensadvice.org.uk)
Check the tenancy agreement
The landlord should give you a tenancy agreement. You should read the tenancy agreement to make sure you agree with all the conditions. Do this before you sign the contract or pay any money.
Your landlord cannot put anything in your tenancy agreement that takes away your legal rights.
Find out more about your rights if you have a private residential tenancy (scotland.shelter.org.uk)
The content on this page is provided by Citizens Advice Scotland.
Header image photo credit: Fife Council / Airborne Lens