Updating post from Reddit.
I’ve found a property on OpenRent and will be attending an open house viewing next week. The landlord is new to OpenRent (account just a few days old) and isn’t using the Rent Now feature. They listed the property but said they prefer to handle tenant checks and payments themselves.
They didn’t ask for a deposit, only mentioned a holding deposit as a way to secure priority but never pushed for payment—so no immediate red flags (although they are asking for more than one weeks rent).
I did a Land Registry check, and the names don’t match. Could there be any valid reasons for this? OpenRent claims landlords must verify ownership or authority before their adverts go up, but I’m still concerned. I’ve read that many landlords use OpenRent just for advertising while managing things independently.
What’s the best way to verify the landlord is legitimate and not a scammer?
I think landlord registry takes up to 6 months to update ownership details when someone has just bought the property. Being a new landlord sort of backs up. Equally it could also be a scam. Openrent does work very much by holding deposits. When I used it basically the process was tenant wants viewing, tenant likes property so the landlord clicks the send holding deposit button on the portal then the tenant pays. At this point the openrent will then block landlord from making more viewings until the tenancy starts or if the tenant backs out (I'm not sure how refund works) I had to do this once because a tenant wanting to view paid one up front for some crazy reason and wasn't in a position to even afford the property let alone she didn't view it.
Is there a way to see pending title changes with land registry? How would a new landlord verify ownership of a property during this period?
Is there anything else you can recommend as a way for me to verify the legitimacy of this?
Yeah, this is a no for me. I would use openrent for holding deposit, deposit and Tenancy Agreement.
Checks can be done by someone else, thats fine.
"OpenRent claims landlords must verify ownership or authority"
I have authority to rent the flat you are talking about, I dont even know where it is, but i do.
This means nothing. Only zoopla/rightmove require checks which can easily be forged.
One of the reasons you want to go through openrent is landlord doesnt get any money until later (10 days after tenancy starts). Any shenanigans occur you will have paid openrent and they can refund you.
Trust your gut.
Oh exactly this op mentioned holding deposit I thought they meant the openrent one if the landlord is trying to bypass openrent and requesting this up front in a different account then nope run.
To have a property on OpenRent, a landlord needs to prove to OpenRent that they own the property by either a land registry certificate or mortgage details. So if it is on OpenRent, then the Landlord has been verified as an owner.
Are the documents verified or do OpenRent take it at face value? In other words, do they cross reference with the land registry or the banks?
As a landlord, what do you think is reasonable for a potential tenant to ask for as proof? Would asking for proof of ownership (like a Land Registry title or mortgage statement) and proof of identity/address (such as a driver’s license) be fair to verify the landlord’s identity? Just trying to understand what a reasonable request looks like from a landlords perspective.