By
Halls Life
Posted 2 months ago
Fri 03 Oct, 2025 09:10 AM
It is no secret that the London rental market can be very competitive! Finding a good and affordable place to stay can be difficult and exhausting. 😮💨
Unfortunately, some people try to exploit this, such as offering accommodation that does not even exist, or offering accommodation that they are not entitled to let (because it is owned by someone else).
Their ads and communications can look, feel and sound very convincing – but once you’ve paid, they suddenly stop being contactable and your money is gone!
Another thing to watch out for is subletting. Subletting UAL accommodation is prohibited and breaches the tenancy agreement. This means you must not sublet your own room or allow anyone else to live there. Similarly, if someone offers to sublet their room to you, you should not accept, as this also violates the terms of the agreement.
Here are key warning signs of rental scams and how to protect yourself when searching for private accommodation.
👀 Accommodation Scams in London 👀
Be cautious of fake social media accounts that claim to represent UAL, some may attempt to deceive or scam you.
When it comes to accommodation, our only official Instagram account is @ual_hallslife.
For example, the Instagram account @ualsubletting is not affiliated with UAL.
Always verify the legitimacy of any account or individual before engaging with them, especially when it involves accommodation offers.
They might mention their lawyer to create a false sense of legitimacy, make the process seem more official, or to intimidate you.
Viewing the property is conditional on a deposit to prove your trustworthiness or affordability.
You are asked to make a payment and promised the “landlord” will then post the keys to you.
You are being pressured into acting quickly, to stop you from doing your own due diligence.
A very cheap studio in Central London is cause for suspicion.
📌 How to avoid being scammed 📌
Be aware of rent prices for the type of accommodation and area you are looking at, so you can spot the “too good to be true” ads.
Offer to use Housing Hand as a guarantor instead. Real landlords should be fine with this, scammers won’t, they want your money!
Fraudsters often copy images from genuine accommodation websites or AirBnB. A reverse image search will reveal this.
Is it a real address?
What does it look like on Streetview?
Does the outside match what you’ve been shown for the inside?
With the full address, you can also do a Land Registry search to check who owns the property. It costs £7 to download a Title Register from the Property Information Land Registry.
If you’re given or sent a contract document, ask if you can see documents on Electrical Safety and Gas Safety as well. A scammer won’t have copies of the documents.
Already in London?
Insist you need to view the accommodation in person before you pay. Make sure you are given the full address.
Not in London?
Do you have a friend who is, and can can go to the accommodation and check it out for you?
Dealing with an agency?
Legal checks to protect yourself
- Check out their website: 🚩Is it filled with flashy photos and vague praise? This is a red flag. ✅ A legitimate agency will offer detailed information about who they are and how they operate.
- Check they hold a redress scheme membership: This gives you a way to escalate complaints if things go wrong.
- Check they've joined a client money protection scheme: This protects your money.
- Check their company on Companies House: Be cautious if the company is new with little trading history, is a micro-company with a pattern of missed filing deadlines, or is at risk of being struck off the register. These can all indicate potential unreliability.
Not sure? You can always ask the Private Accommodation Advisor in UAL Accommodation Services for advice. The Advisor can help with spotting scams and dodgy landlords or agents. You can contact the Advisor at private.accom@arts.ac.uk or 020 7514 6240.
