Question 1

What is the "Short-Let Rental Bait-and-Switch" scam in London?

Accepted Answer

Fraudsters advertise short-stay flats and holiday lets on Gumtree, SpareRoom, and social media at prices well below market rate for central London. The "landlord" requests a deposit and first month upfront via bank transfer, sometimes conducting viewings of a property they do not own (often an actual Airbnb listing). UK Action Fraud received 5,000 rental fraud reports in 2024 totalling nearly £9 million, with tourists and international visitors among the most common victims. Book short-stay London accommodation exclusively through platforms with buyer protections (Airbnb, Booking.com, VRBO). Never pay a deposit via bank transfer to a private individual before signing a verified tenancy agreement. If a price is significantly below comparable London rentals, treat it as a scam — London vacancy rates are low and genuine landlords have no need to discount.

Question 2

What is the "Overpriced Central London Hotel Minibar and Resort Fees" scam in London?

Accepted Answer

Several central London hotels in the 3-star tourist bracket add charges not disclosed at booking: compulsory resort or facility fees of GBP 15-30 per night, minibar items charged at highly inflated prices, and Wi-Fi fees not included in the room rate displayed on booking.com or Expedia. These fees inflate the final bill by 15-25% beyond the advertised room rate. Before booking, check the hotel website directly for any mandatory fees. Read the fine print on booking platform listings for "additional fees may apply." At check-in, ask for a full breakdown of what is and is not included. If resort fees were not disclosed before booking, you can dispute them under the UK Consumer Rights Act.

Accommodation Scams in London

Short-Let Rental Bait-and-Switch

Overpriced Central London Hotel Minibar and Resort Fees

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