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A judge has called for the landlords to provide photographic proof of ownership when renting out property to help prevent the increasingly common fraudulent scam of 'rent to rent'.
More London landlords have been caught out by a 'rent to rent' scam.
Landlords, Alasdair and Joanna Reid, lost thousands of pounds when their supposed tenant sub-let their London flat while they were away on a career break in Africa.
The landlords believed they'd rented out their flat in Streatham Hill for £1,600 per month to a 48-year-old veterinary physiotherapist called Heidi Korn.
It later transpired that Korn had then tried to sublet the flat on to another couple at an inflated rent of £1800.
The 'rent to rent' fraudster was caught by chance, when a contract with a forged signature got redirected to the Reids over in Africa.
Korn, from Ontario, Canada, was given an eight month prison sentence for fraud by the Inner London Crown Court.
Joanna Reid,commented:
“We are pleased with weight of the sentence. It was a very hurtful crime as it felt very personal."
However despite the sentence the unfortunate landlords are still owed £8,000 in unpaid rent.
Judge William Wood called for new measures - such as photographic proof of ownership to help prevent this “increasingly prevalent fraud.”
“It is worth proposing that when a private landlord seeks references from a prospective tenant he or she should provide proof of ownership and photographic proof of identity."
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More London landlords have been caught out by a 'rent to rent' scam.
Landlords, Alasdair and Joanna Reid, lost thousands of pounds when their supposed tenant sub-let their London flat while they were away on a career break in Africa.
The landlords believed they'd rented out their flat in Streatham Hill for £1,600 per month to a 48-year-old veterinary physiotherapist called Heidi Korn.
It later transpired that Korn had then tried to sublet the flat on to another couple at an inflated rent of £1800.
The 'rent to rent' fraudster was caught by chance, when a contract with a forged signature got redirected to the Reids over in Africa.
Korn, from Ontario, Canada, was given an eight month prison sentence for fraud by the Inner London Crown Court.
Joanna Reid,commented:
“We are pleased with weight of the sentence. It was a very hurtful crime as it felt very personal."
However despite the sentence the unfortunate landlords are still owed £8,000 in unpaid rent.
Judge William Wood called for new measures - such as photographic proof of ownership to help prevent this “increasingly prevalent fraud.”
“It is worth proposing that when a private landlord seeks references from a prospective tenant he or she should provide proof of ownership and photographic proof of identity."
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance rates
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2 comments:
Why didn't these idiot LL obtain RGI
Only cost £80 a year
Cover £50000 rent losses and all legal costs for eviction
Not knowing about this sort of cover does not make self respecting people idiots Paul Barrett and I dread to think what is in your make up to come out with a comment like that because someone got ripped off.
Christine Walmsley
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