Rental fraud falls 18%, but cost per scam jumps 46% to £3,100

Rental fraud across England, Wales and the Crown Dependencies has dropped significantly over the last three financial years, according to new research from specialist landlord insurance provider Just Landlords.

The analysis of data obtained via Freedom of Information requests from Action Fraud and the Metropolitan Police, reveals that the total volume of rental fraud reports fell by 18%, from 4,982 cases in FY 2023/24 to 4,092 cases in FY 2025/26.

Which areas have seen the greatest improvements?

The drop in rental scams has been felt most drastically at a local level, with several regions experiencing reductions of over 50%. The areas which saw the biggest three-year decrease in rental fraud cases are:

Fewer scams, but higher stakes

Despite the strong decline in overall volume, the data also presents a warning. While there are fewer individual scams taking place, the financial severity of each incident has increased.

Total financial losses from rental fraud climbed by 20% over the same period, rising from £10,740,933 to £12,840,664, with a total of £35,640,174 taken from victims over the last three years.

At the same time, the average amount lost per report increased by 46%, from £2,156 per victim in FY 2023/24 to £3,138 in FY 2025/26. This shift could suggest that fraudsters are moving away from low-level, high-volume spam in favour of more complex, higher-value identity deception, such as fabricating listings or illegally duplicating genuine property photos to target larger deposits.

And while most of the country reported a downwards trend, two regions saw an uplift in rental fraud. Warwickshire reported a 19% increase in cases over the last three years, while Devon & Cornwall saw a 16% increase.

Clark Ross, managing director of Just Landlords, comments:  “The consistent drop in rental fraud reports over the last three years is incredibly positive news for the rental sector.

“However, the sharp rise in financial losses shows we cannot afford to be complacent. Rental fraud is a dual-victim crime; it leaves innocent tenants financially impacted while dragging down the reputation of honest, hardworking housing providers. These scammers are not real landlords; they are sophisticated identity thieves hijacking the credibility of a vital industry.

“Landlords and tenants must both treat verification as the absolute bedrock of any agreement. Landlords can help reduce the risk of fraud by protecting deposits through official government schemes and providing clear tenancy documentation, helping to ensure the sector continues to provide a vital service.”