[twiggy]

If you are using Gumtree to find or rent a home then here are our top tips for staying safe:

o View properties in person. Gumtree is a local community site and we encourage face-to-face, local, trading. Tenants willing to rent a property without seeing it/ Landlords not interested in seeing or at least speaking with the prospective tenant first are unlikely to be legitimate, even if they give the reason that they are abroad. For personal ease and safety, always ensure you take someone with you, or if you are inviting someone into your home ask to see personal identification first.

o It is illegal for Agencies to charge fees for viewing properties/ property listings. Please report to us any agencies advertising on Gumtree that ask for fees upfront.

o Never send or wire money to landlords. This includes never mailing a cheque or using payment services like Bidpay, Western Union or Money Gram to pay for items found on Gumtree. It is our belief that these forms of funds transfer are favoured by fraudsters.

o Gumtree doesn’t offer any sort of buyer protection/ payment programs. Any emails that talk about such systems are scams, even if they may have the Gumtree logo. If you receive any emails promoting these services, please report it to us.

o Never provide your personal or banking information (e.g. credit card number) to others over the Internet.

o Make yourself aware of common scams and fraud - see:
http://forums.gumtree.com/viewtopic.php?t=39

o Report to us any attempted fraud or suspicious emails, ads, or other activity by community members. In case of fraud/ illegal activity, we also recommend that you report it to the Police.

o Use common sense. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

[sumaygia]

I saw an ad for earls court rooms. Post a note on it's gumtree email and got an email reply. This is what it said...

----Original Message Follows----
From: "kate kate" <bedsits1@googlemail.com>
Subject: Accommodation in London Re: Gumtree - Rooms in Earls Court to let (£80 pw) - 8621042
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:13:07 -0700

Thank you for your email.
The property advertised is still available and if you want to view it,
the best think to do is to come in to interlet offices at 14 Abingdon
Road, London W8, just off Kensington High Street, as they arrange all
the viewings.
Interlet is a leading London's accommodation agency and they have more
that one property in this price bracket available for you to view, so
you can compare and chose the one that suits you best. They organise
viewing on the same day and provide a friendly and professional
service. If you want to speak to them, call them on 0207 795 6525 or
pop in to their offices. Their are open Monday to Thursday 9am-7pm,
Friday 9am-6pm and Saturday 10am-5pm.

Best wishes and good luck!

Kate
PS. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN AUTOMATED REPLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES REGARDING THE ABOVE PLEASE CALL INTERLET ON 0207 7956525.

[sumaygia]

Off I went to the office as written in the email. There were 3 ladies tending to all enquiries. One lady called Joanna was terribly vexed. She told off people waiting in line to sit down "because there's space on the sofa" and not to sit on the side of the sofa. I thought that was extremely low of her.

She also wanted to charge upfront, about £70-80 before I can view any room. This is required by www.interlet.com

14 Abingdon Road, London W8, just off Kensington High Street, as they arrange all the viewings. Interlet is a leading London's accommodation agency and they have more that one property in this price bracket available for you to view, so you can compare and chose the one that suits you best. They organise viewing on the same day and provide a friendly and professional service. If you want to speak to them, call them on 0207 795 6525 or pop in to their offices. Their are open Monday to Thursday 9am-7pm, Friday 9am-6pm and Saturday 10am-5pm.

The post was Accommodation in London Re: Gumtree - Rooms in Earls Court to let (£80 pw) - 8621042

[expat-uk]

I stupidly paid £60 for a place called Spacelet. Are these places all scams? I'm such a sucker for these things. Oh well another £60 wasted in London in hopes of finding a place to live. Apparently I'm supposed to call them every morning and tell them I'm available to look at a place.

Here's the Gumtree ad number and the e-mail I got in response:

From: propertymatch@hotmail.co.uk
Subject: RE: Your Gumtree.com ad #9076194: Spacious double studio flat
Date: 16 April 2007 10:08:52 BDT
To: xxxxxx

Hi,

The property you enquired about is still available. If you would like more information and a viewing call: 020 8743 0043 during the hours of 9.30am to 7pm Mondat to Friday or 10am to 4pm Saturdays.

Many thanks

Jenny

[TAPorSNAP]

[Dee-Dee]

Hi guys,

I was stupid too,paid 80 for FLATLAND.

I haven`t found any good flat or they were managed by the Flatland.So sent an email,they answered.went there and paid.

I saw only three properties but.......................If the landlord would pay for me I won`t stay.

First of all the lady at the office said the properties are in good condition and she saw them and also gave me details about the properties like it has own kitchen and own bathroom.Yes they had,sharing with at least ten people.And I also checked a fab palce for rats

Today I made a phone call to the office because I paid for the correct information but nothing had happened.

And the most annoying thing is while I was checking out the "fabolous" properties missed loads of good ones.

But before FLATLAND went to Kensington to interlet.They sent me an email about the property I liked:It`s still available.
When got there they not even answered my question about the property.

So thats it and still looking.

Is this possibble to do anything against these agencies,if what they do is illegal??????

[Bluey]

The Trading Standards people I've spoken to say while it is illegal to charge an upfront fee before securing property, the agencies that do this are unlikely to be prosecuted. The act was written in the 50s and the agencies get around it.

http://www.arts.ac.uk/housing/4743.htm

They hope a change to legislation later this year might give them scope to prosecute rogue letting agents.

Your only likely redress is civil (i.e. through the small claims court if you can prove you've been misled or haven't received the service as per the terms and conditions of the contracts you signed).

See the info here for your options

http://forums.gumtree.com/about28787.html&highlight=trading

[katty]

www.jenifersworld.zoomshare.com about the hostel tated the worst reviews in hostelworld before it was dumped off the list

[bad luck]

YOU NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS TAKEN FOR A RIDE - I PAID AND DUTIFULLY CALLED EVERY DAY, SOMETIMES THEY TOLD ME - ITERLET - THEY WOULD CALL LATER AND SOMETIMES THEY DID - AT 5.10 PM THAT I COULD GO AND VIEW PLACES AFTER 5 PM! TWICE THEY SENT ME TO VIEW WRONG PROPERTY, AND ONLY ONCE WAS THE ADVERTISED PRICE REAL. ALL OTHER TIMES THE PLACE WAS AT LEAST £ 40 ABOVE ADVERTISED, WHEN I LOOKED AT THEIR WEBSITE THEY WERE STILL ADVERTISING CHEAP PLACES WEEKS AFTER TELLING ME THEY WERE GONE....SURELY SOMETHING CAN BE DONE...
IF THERE IS NO WAY AROUND THE 80 POUND FEE THEN PERHAPS MISLEADING/MISREPRESENTATION???? ALSO SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE DISCLOSED THAT THERE WILL BE A FURTHER ADMIN CHARGE FOR TENANCY AGREEMENT?
ALSO THEY ONLY SEEM TO SHOW PLACES OWNED BY THE 'BARLETT GROUP'

[soulbleed62]

[annoyedtenant]

Another thing I'd add to tips:
Make sure your tenancy agreement covers everyone living at your accommodation. I'm currently in a dispute over utility bills, and apparently utility companies can charge anyone present the full cost of bills regardless of whose name it is in if they go unpaid. Most utility companies will require a lease with all tenants names on it to prove otherwise.

I got in this mess because my landlord had 'individual' tenancy agreements for each bedroom in a shared flat.

[Bluey]

[revgrud]

Please see my general warning about Interlet here : http://forums.gumtree.com/viewtopic.php?t=117572. Beware of dealing with this company.

[ps2jf]

HI,

IF YOU HAVE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE, NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL, WITH A LANDLORD WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

I personally recently experienced what I can only describe as a nightmare landlord and felt completely helpless. I am doing a little bit of research to find out what common problems tenants have, with a view to set up a help and advice service in the future.

So if you have had a problem, tell us all about it. It is a short survey and will help you let off some steam. Tell anyone you know about it, your help is greatly appreciated. Follow this link

http://FreeOnlineSurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=2a33y8k1ixufsvy349559

or email with any questions to badlandlord@hotmail.co.uk

Warmest Regards.

[raq]

I stupidly paid a deposit payment of 400 pounds to Michael Tyler Vandenburg, with email address:
van85_t@mns.com
As I am from Spain I wasnt be able to have a previous look to the flat. I was totally fool...but I trusted in what people told me about Scottish people and their honesty...

[becjerami]

To Raq, never trust anyone you don't know with money over the internet! But I guess you know that now. And of course you know that this guy who cheated you probably isn't even from Scotland - he could be anywhere in the world!

I have just avoided 5 scammers on gumtree thanks to a bit of common sense and to the helpful information from people on this forum.

At least now you are wiser and hopefully won't be fooled in future! It's an expensive lesson to learn, but thank your lucky stars it was £400 and not more. There are good people out there too but good people will never ask you for money up front.

[Dodoke]

I also deposited 400£ to Michael last week, but I got a contract from him. He mailed me today to ask for the first month rent and i thought that was fishy, so I googled his name. Were did he live according to the mails you received? What are you going to do now ?

[hotflo]

I made a transfer to this person (Micheal Tyler Vandenburg) too on Monday (500€!) and sinds monday i've no reply...i made a search in google and i arrive here...
I'm a bit ,lost, i'm a belgian student who arrives in dublin the 1st of february...and if i've good understood (i'm a french speaker) i lost 500€...

[Dodoke]

Hi hotflo. I'm also a belgian student. I'm going to Edinburgh for my internship. I also saw a post for someone in Aberdeen. I haven't heard from the guy in more than a week. I'm planning to go to the police.
Could you send me a mail to asje032@hotmail.com (this is a false address, I'll email you back with my real address when you have mailed).

[Sentinel]

After not having much luck finding the type of room I was looking for on Gumtree/etc I foolishly paid the SPACELET registration fee of £59 on the premise that they had access to and would show properties and rooms which were otherwise not accessible via Gumtree/etc. Low and behold the first day they sent me to a property where upon my arrival and my mentioning of the SPACELET agency the girls living there gave me a blank look asking what I was talking about. All they had done was post an advert on Gumtree, and those scheming moneygrabbers at SPACELET had merely called them to arrange my viewing...Something I could have done myself for free and I wouldn't have bothered anyway because the room was not what I was looking for, which I would have seen from the photos. SPACELET lead me to believe they would show me places which were only available by registering with them, but ended up just passing off stuff I could have found myself on this site for free, and I paid them £59 for the privelidge. What a nice welcome back to London!

[s_kpintu]

Some very serious issues

This house is NOT fully furnished.
1. NO Living Room - The room wth Sofa in the picture is also rented out with a bed.
2. NO DISHWASHER. NO DISHES also. U WILL have to buy your own.
3. NO DINING ROOM. All have to eat food at room.
4. NO TV.
5. This rate is not all bills included. He charges 10£ per person for toilet tissues and handwash a month, which amounts to 70£a month but does not supply. And the guy wil just deduct it from your deposit.
6. He WILL deduct one weeks rent as FEES for agreement from your deposit, but wont give a legal agreement, just paper with no sign even. U cannot submit this bill for official purpose.
7. Its UNHYGENIC - He promises to send someone to clean but no one comes and He will then say he will charge an additional 10 pounds per person to clean.
8. There is only ONE TOILET for 7 people.
9. The utensils are BAD and RUSTED and NOT ENOUGH for 8 people.
10. NO kitchen exhaust, so entire house will stink if one cooks.
11. Each week you extend to stay will be 20£ more on the top of your one week fee.
12. He is a VERY DODGY, DIFFICULT person to deal. He is rude and issues verbal threats.
13. May people living in the house have had problems getting back the deposit.
14. He is a man of many names and mobile number, MARK, MARK NALWA, MRIDUL NALWAYA and a man void of integrity.
15. This guy has fooled many people coming from Infosys, Wipro, and namy IT companies from India and other european countries.
16. The house is only meant for 3-4 people but he keeps 7-8 people.
17. The house is not atall meant for peace loving people.