Massive tenant fraud crisis exposed in new study
Summary
A survey of 1,000 UK landlords by LegalforLandlords suggests tenant fraud is perceived to be rising, with 77% saying it has worsened over the past three years. Reported incidents include rent non-payment after misleading applications, criminal use of properties, unauthorised subletting, and false income or occupancy information, often resulting in significant financial losses.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors involved in lettings, valuation or pre-tenancy due diligence may encounter the downstream effects of fraudulent applications and tenancy misuse. The findings reinforce the importance of robust referencing, identity checks and early risk identification when advising landlords or assessing rental properties.
Key points
- 77% of surveyed landlords believe tenant fraud has increased over three years.
- The most common reported issue was deliberate non-payment of rent after misleading application information.
- Some landlords reported criminal activity, unauthorised rent-to-rent/subletting, and undisclosed occupants.
- Financial losses were often material, with many cases costing £2,500 or more.
- Prevention through stronger referencing and affordability checks was highlighted as the main defence.
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