Two days prior to her scheduled move into a flat in London Bridge, Sarah North received a shocking message from her prospective landlord, who claimed that his father had passed away, necessitating her to find alternative accommodations.
„He was providing detailed accounts of his actions—mentioning meetings with solicitors and funeral directors, and making arrangements,“ North recounted.
North later discovered that she was not the only victim of Freddie Priestley, who had taken deposits from multiple individuals for rooms in his three-bedroom apartment, only to leave them stranded at the last moment.
„The level of detail he provided made it seem like a fabrication,“ North stated, explaining that she ended up sleeping on a duvet in a relative’s vacant rental flat while desperately searching for a new place.
She described the experience as „absolutely horrific,“ adding, „It really opens your eyes to the rental situation in London; this is a frequent occurrence.“ Her deposit was never returned.
According to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, there were 4,441 reported cases of rental scams in the past year across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with individuals aged 20 to 29 being the most susceptible.
International Students Targeted
Deryn Harris, a 27-year-old who relocated from California to London for her master’s degree, also fell victim to Priestley’s scam after she paid a deposit for a room in his flat.
„Studying abroad was a dream of mine,“ Harris shared. „When I received my acceptance letter, I was ecstatic, thinking, ‚Is this really happening?'“
To secure a room, she posted on Facebook housing groups seeking accommodations. Priestley quickly responded, claiming his flat was available and urging her to view it before it was rented out.
„The price he offered was quite reasonable for the area,“ Harris noted, adding that he sent her pictures of the flat.
The monthly rent, which included bills, was set at £1,050—significantly lower than the average for the location.
„The entire process unfolded within a few hours, with back-and-forth messaging and a video call to view the apartment. I signed the agreement and transferred the deposit the same day,“ Harris explained. „He seemed to be in a hurry, and before I could fully consider my decision, I had already sent him the money.“
Trust and Doubt
Harris claimed that Priestley earned her trust by providing copies of gas certificates, utility bills, and his driver’s license, which linked him to the property. She even verified the land registry, which confirmed that the flat was owned by his father.
Despite these reassurances, Harris felt uneasy and attempted to withdraw from the lease.
„He appeared accommodating, assuring me that my deposit would be refunded,“ she recalled.
In the following weeks, he attributed delays in returning her deposit to bank holidays and issues with international money transfers.
„It was a gradual loss of hope,“ Harris admitted. „I knew it was likely a scam, but I didn’t want to accept it. He wasn’t completely ignoring me, but he would give me just enough communication to keep me hanging on until I finally posted a warning on Facebook.“
This post garnered significant attention, including responses from others who had similar experiences.
Shared Experiences of Deception
Among those who responded was Australian Andy Hu, who had also posted on Facebook looking for a room. He received a message from Priestley about an available flat.
Hu visited the flat in person and felt a connection with Priestley.
„He talked about watching rugby together and future plans as flatmates,“ Hu said. „I thought he would be the ideal roommate.“
After checking Priestley’s social media, which dated back to 2008, Hu felt reassured that he was dealing with a legitimate person.
However, after signing the contract and paying the deposit, Hu noticed that Priestley began to avoid in-person meetings, citing health issues for himself or his father.
Facing the Consequences
Legally, landlords are required to place deposits in a government-approved protection scheme within 30 days. When Hu grew suspicious, he contacted the service to verify the status of his deposit.
To his dismay, he learned that the receipt he received was not authentic.
„I was too invested to admit it was a scam because I really wanted to live in that flat,“ Hu expressed.
Eventually, Priestley informed Hu that his father had died, which meant he could no longer move into the flat.
„He was fabricating lies upon lies,“ Hu lamented.
Now without the deposit money he needed for alternative housing, Hu found himself in a precarious situation.
„That was probably the lowest point of my life,“ he reflected.
The Deposit Protection Service declined to comment on Hu’s specific case but stated that they monitor for irregular activities and suspend accounts when necessary. They also noted that current legislation lacks a mechanism to verify a landlord’s credentials.
Widespread Impact of Rental Scams
In the course of the investigation, four additional individuals reported losing over £6,000 collectively in the same scam. One victim, an international student, recounted having to stay in a hostel for a week after being left without housing at the last minute.
„I could hardly sleep at all,“ she said. „I had to force myself to eat sometimes because I was so anxious about finding housing in a new country alone.“
In an email to one victim, Priestley confessed that the flat was never available for rent and that he had taken their money due to a gambling addiction. He expressed a desire to eventually rectify the situation by returning the funds.
Growing Concerns and Legislative Changes
Nye Jones from Generation Rent, an advocacy group for private renters, emphasized that rental scams are becoming increasingly prevalent.
„We are witnessing a decline in affordable housing options, leading more individuals to fall victim to scammers offering deals that seem too good to be true,“ Jones stated.
He highlighted the importance of the upcoming Renters Rights Act as a crucial step in addressing the imbalance of power between tenants and landlords.
Key provisions of the Renters Rights Act include:
- Transitioning to a „periodic“ or rolling rental basis instead of fixed contracts.
- Allowing tenants to provide two months‘ notice when they wish to leave, preventing them from paying rent for substandard properties.
- Prohibiting landlords from evicting tenants who complain about poor living conditions.
- Ending section 21 „no-fault“ evictions.
The investigation team reached out to Priestley for a comment, but he declined to respond.
The Metropolitan Police reported receiving multiple allegations of rental fraud between July and October 2025, leading to Priestley’s initial arrest on suspicion of fraud, after which he was released pending further inquiries. The investigation remains ongoing, and the police encourage anyone who has experienced similar issues in London to come forward.
Facebook stated that it does not permit fraudulent activities and collaborates closely with law enforcement to support investigations and eliminate scammers from its platform.
If you have a story to share with the investigative team, please reach out through the contact form.
Bildquelle: Foto von Charles Postiaux auf Unsplash
