Rightmove Rental Scam UK: Spot Fake Property Listings

Rightmove is the UK's most trusted property portal—but scammers use that trust against you. Here's how to rent safely.

By Alex Bacsa · Published 2026-05-03 · Updated 2026-06-29 · 5 min read

What a Rightmove rental scam looks like

A rental scam uses a fake or cloned property listing to take a deposit or holding fee for a home that is not really available. The "landlord" is usually abroad or unavailable, cannot let you view it, and asks you to transfer money to "secure" it before anyone else. An example of the style is: I'm working abroad as a missionary, so I can't show the flat, but I'll post the keys once you transfer the £600 deposit to hold it. Other applicants are waiting.

The listing may be copied from a genuine advert with the rent lowered to attract interest. This guide shows the warning signs, how to verify a rental, and what to do if you have already paid.

Why these scams are convincing

A competitive rental market makes a cheap, well-photographed listing feel like a lucky find, and pressure - "other applicants are waiting" - pushes you to pay fast. The photos are often genuine, lifted from a real advert, which is why they look right.

The rule that protects you: do not pay a deposit, holding deposit, or first month's rent for a property you have not viewed in person and verified through a legitimate landlord or agent. Rightmove is a property advertising portal, not the landlord or payment collector for your tenancy, so any in-listing instruction to send money directly to "secure" the property should be treated as a serious red flag.

Signs a rental listing or landlord is a scam

• The rent is noticeably below similar local properties.
• The landlord or agent cannot let you view the property in person.
• They are "abroad" and offer to post the keys after payment.
• You are asked to transfer a deposit or holding fee to secure it before viewing.
• You are pushed to pay quickly because "others are interested".
• They move you off Rightmove to email, WhatsApp, or text early.
• The agent, company, or address details do not check out independently.

How the scam works

First, a tempting listing appears at a low rent. Second, the landlord explains they cannot show it and offers keys after payment. Third, they ask for a deposit or holding fee by bank transfer. Fourth, you pay and the keys never come, or more "fees" are demanded. Finally, contact stops.

Because a bank transfer has little built-in protection compared with card payments, viewing the property and verifying the landlord or agent before any money moves is the safest defence.

How to rent safely

Slow the process down and verify before paying anything.

• View the property in person before paying a deposit, holding deposit, or first month's rent.
• Never transfer money to "hold" a property you have not seen and verified.
• Verify a letting agent independently - find their details yourself and check they are a real, registered agent.
• Ask which tenancy deposit scheme will protect your deposit. In England and Wales, most assured shorthold tenancy deposits must be protected in a government-backed scheme.
• Be wary of a landlord who is "abroad", cannot meet, or rushes you.

If you are unsure whether a listing or site is genuine, our guide on Is This Website a Scam? A Practical Checklist Before You Buy helps, and our Airbnb Scam UK: Spot a Fake Listing and Council Housing Scam UK: How to Spot and Avoid Fake Housing Offers guides cover related property cons.

If you have already paid

If you paid by card, contact your bank or card issuer using the number on your card and ask about disputing the payment or a chargeback. If you sent money by UK bank transfer on or after 7 October 2024, mandatory APP fraud reimbursement rules may apply to Faster Payments and CHAPS transfers. The PSR rules include a 13-month claim window, reimbursement within 5 business days in many cases, a maximum claim amount of £85,000, possible exclusions, and a possible excess of up to £100.

The rules do not cover every payment type or every situation, so report it to your bank as soon as possible.

If you shared identity documents or proof-of-income paperwork, consider Cifas Protective Registration at cifas.org.uk and monitor your credit reports with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Report the listing to Rightmove through the listing/report or Contact Us route, and keep the advert, messages, and payment details as evidence.

How to report a fake Rightmove rental (UK)

Report the listing to Rightmove using the report option on the property page where available, or through Rightmove's Contact Us route for suspicious adverts and communications. I could not confirm fraud@rightmove.co.uk from Rightmove's current public safety page, so use Rightmove's current in-site route rather than relying on that email address.

If the scammer contacted you by email, forward it to the NCSC at report@phishing.gov.uk; if by text, forward it to 7726.

If you lost money or shared sensitive information, report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040 if you are in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. In Scotland, report to Police Scotland on 101. Tell your bank as soon as possible if money moved, and keep all the evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Reporting routes in this guide are checked against our verified canon of official UK sources — Action Fraud, the National Cyber Security Centre, and Citizens Advice — by an automated accuracy gate before publication. Fact-checked and updated by Alex Bacsa, Founder & Editor, on 2026-06-29. Read about how Beat the Scam writes guides.