Is a new landlord or letting agent asking me to change which bank account I pay rent into a scam?
Treat this with great caution. Bank account change requests in rental relationships are a common entry point for payment diversion fraud.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Explanation
Payment diversion fraud in rental relationships typically occurs in two ways. First, a scammer intercepts email communication between a tenant and a letting agency and sends a convincing fake message claiming the payment account has changed. Second, a fraudster takes over a letting agent's email account and notifies tenants of a change. In both cases, rent is diverted to a criminal's account and the tenant remains liable to the real landlord for non-payment. Before changing any bank account payment details, call your landlord or letting agent on a telephone number you already have on file — not one provided in the change-of-details email — and verbally confirm the request.
What makes this fraud effective is that everything about the message except the account number is genuine: the payment amount, the due date, the property address, and often the writing style, because the scammer has been reading real correspondence before intervening. That is why inspecting the email for mistakes is the wrong test — a well-executed interception contains none. The right test is procedural: bank detail changes are only ever actioned after voice confirmation on a number you sourced independently. Some banks also offer name-checking when you set up a new payee; a mismatch between the account name and your landlord or agency should stop the payment on the spot.
Common red flags
- Unexpected email asking you to change the rent payment bank account
- Slight difference in the email address from previous correspondence
- Urgency — next payment is due soon and the old account is 'closing'
- Request arrived without any previous warning or discussion
- New bank account is in a different name from the landlord or agency
What to do now
- Call your landlord or agent on a number you already hold to verify the change
- Do not pay to the new account until you have confirmed verbally
- Check the email address carefully against previous genuine communications
- Report suspected email interception to the letting agent and Action Fraud
Frequently asked questions
If I pay rent to a fraudulent account by mistake, am I still liable to the real landlord?
Legally yes, though landlords and courts consider the circumstances. Stopping further misdirected payments immediately and reporting to the police is essential.
The email looks exactly like previous genuine messages from my agent. Does that mean it is safe?
No. If the agent's mailbox has been compromised, fraudulent messages come from the real address with the real history attached. Only voice confirmation on a number you already hold verifies a bank detail change.