Rightmove Scam Listings UK: How to Spot Fake Rentals

If you're renting in the UK, you've probably spent hours on Rightmove. It feels trustworthy. The site has millions of listings, sleek branding, and a reputation built over two decades. But here's the thing most renters don't realise: Rightmove doesn't verify that listings are genuine.

Rightmove is a platform. It connects letting agents and landlords with tenants. It does not check that the person posting actually owns the property, and it does not guarantee the listing is real. Action Fraud received over 6,000 reports of rental fraud in the UK last year, and a significant chunk involved listings on major property portals, including Rightmove.

How Scammers Get Listings on Rightmove

Unlike Gumtree or Facebook, you can't just create a Rightmove account and post a listing. Rightmove only accepts listings from registered letting agents. So how do scammers get in?

1. Fake Letting Agent Websites

Some scammers set up a fake letting agency, complete with a professional-looking website, and apply to list on Rightmove. They create a shell company that looks legitimate enough to pass Rightmove's checks. These operations can run for weeks before they're reported and taken down.

2. Hijacking Real Agent Identities

A more common approach: scammers copy the details of a real letting agency and contact Rightmove users directly, pretending to be that agency. They set up email addresses that look almost identical to the real ones. So you might get an email from "lettings@foxtons-properties.co.uk" instead of the genuine "lettings@foxtons.co.uk."

3. Intercepting Enquiries

In some cases, scammers monitor real listings and intercept enquiries. When you submit your details through Rightmove, the scammer contacts you first, posing as the agent. The real agent may never see your enquiry, or contacts you separately, causing confusion that the scammer exploits.

The Holding Deposit Scam (UK-Specific)

This one catches loads of people. Since the Tenant Fees Act 2019, landlords and agents in England can legally charge a holding deposit of up to one week's rent to reserve a property. Scammers know this and exploit it ruthlessly.

Here's how it works: you enquire about a listing on Rightmove. The "agent" responds quickly, saying the property is popular and they need a holding deposit to take it off the market. They quote one week's rent — say £350 for a £1,400/month flat. It sounds reasonable. It's legal. And the amount feels small enough to risk.

But the property either doesn't exist, isn't available, or isn't theirs to rent. They collect holding deposits from multiple victims on the same listing, pocket the money, and vanish.

What Rightmove Actually Checks (and Doesn't)

How to Verify a Rightmove Listing

Before you hand over any money for a property you found on Rightmove, run through these checks:

1. Check the letting agent's registration. Every legitimate letting agent in England must belong to a government-approved redress scheme: either The Property Ombudsman (TPO) or the Property Redress Scheme (PRS). Search their name on both websites. If they're not listed, walk away.
2. Verify their client money protection. Agents who hold deposits or rent on behalf of landlords must have Client Money Protection (CMP) insurance. Ask for their CMP certificate. No certificate, no money.
3. Call the agency directly. Don't use the phone number in the email you received. Google the agency name, find their official website, and call the number listed there. Ask them to confirm the listing and the person you've been communicating with.
4. Check the Land Registry. For £3, you can download the title register for any property in England and Wales from the HM Land Registry. This shows who actually owns the property. If the owner doesn't match who you're dealing with, that's a problem.
5. Run the listing through our checker. Paste the listing description into FlagMyListing's scam checker for an instant risk assessment. It's free and catches patterns that are hard to spot manually.

Scam Hotspots: Where UK Rental Fraud Is Worst

London sees the highest volume of rental scams by a wide margin. The combination of sky-high rents, desperate tenants, and massive demand creates perfect conditions for fraudsters. South London, East London, and areas near major universities are particularly targeted.

Manchester has also seen a sharp rise in fake listings, especially around the Northern Quarter and student areas near the University of Manchester. Edinburgh gets hit hard during the Festival season when short-term lets are in insane demand.

In all these cities, the pattern is the same: scammers target areas where demand outstrips supply. If tenants are competing for flats, they're more likely to rush and pay deposits without doing proper checks.

What to Do If You've Been Scammed on Rightmove

If you've already sent money to someone you now believe is a scammer, act fast:

1. Contact your bank immediately. If you paid by bank transfer, call your bank and explain it was fraud. Under the Contingent Reimbursement Model, many UK banks will refund authorised push payment (APP) fraud if you report it quickly.
2. Report to Action Fraud. Call 0300 123 2040 or report online at actionfraud.police.uk. This is the UK's national fraud reporting centre.
3. Report the listing on Rightmove. Use the "Report this property" link on the listing page. Rightmove will investigate and remove confirmed scam listings.
4. Contact Citizens Advice. Call 0800 144 8848 for free guidance on your rights and next steps. They can also help you report to Trading Standards.
5. Save all evidence. Screenshot every email, text, and the listing itself. Keep payment receipts. This evidence is critical for any fraud investigation or bank refund claim.

Legitimate Fees Under UK Law

Since the Tenant Fees Act 2019, here's what agents in England can legally charge you:

If any agent on Rightmove charges you an "admin fee," "referencing fee," or any fee not listed above, they are breaking the law. This alone should tell you the listing is either a scam or an agent you don't want to deal with.

For more detail on verifying who you're dealing with, read our guide on how to verify a landlord.