Landlord Action founder Paul Shamplina will appear in a BBC Panorama investigation into criminal gangs using false identities and references to gain control of rental properties.
Panorama: There’s a Gangster in My Flat, airing tonight (Monday 20 July) at 8pm on BBC One, examines cases where properties were secured by criminals despite landlords instructing reputable letting agents to carry out tenancy checks.
Presented by reporter Hazel Martin, the programme speaks to owners whose properties were subsequently used as a drugs factory and a brothel. It also investigates a home that was illegally sublet and ransacked.
Shamplina contributed case studies to the investigation and will appear as an expert contributor, discussing the difficulties landlords face when criminals infiltrate their properties.
ESCAPE PROSECUTION
The programme considers why those responsible can escape prosecution even where there appears to be evidence of criminal activity, leaving landlords to pursue lengthy and costly possession proceedings.
Shamplina said: “These are not simply cases of tenants falling into arrears or breaching the terms of a tenancy.
“Rental fraud can involve fake tenants using false documents to secure properties, as well as people posing as landlords or letting agents to collect rent and deposits for properties they do not own.
“We also see professional rogue tenants moving from one property to another, using false identities and references and leaving landlords with significant rent arrears and legal costs.
“The cases featured in this programme show the devastating consequences landlords can face when criminals gain access to rental properties.”
RENTAL FRAUD
He added: “When the truth emerges, the landlord can find themselves caught between the criminal justice system and the civil possession process.
“In my experience, reports of suspected rental fraud are not always acted upon, with some treated as civil disputes. Meanwhile, the landlord can still face months of legal proceedings before they are able to take back control.
“Referencing alone cannot eliminate every risk. Landlords and agents must remain alert throughout the tenancy and act quickly if they suspect a property is being sublet or used for criminal purposes.
“Once criminals have gained control of a property, recovering it can be an extremely difficult, lengthy and costly process. Panorama shines an important light on what is happening and the devastating impact it can have on the property owners involved.”
Shamplina, who founded Landlord Action in 1999, will also discuss tenant fraud on TalkTV at 3.30pm today.
