Don't put
personal contact details on the internet - there's no need to.
use LetaLife.com for added safety as we provide you with a virtual telephone number
– a LAPS number which saves you from having to give out
any personal contact details online, until you are ready to do
so.
This means that you
can protect yourself from unpleasant callers in the rare occasion
this may occur, as we can immediately remove the advert, cease
the LAPS number and the caller will no longer have any method
of contacting you.
If you publish your own phone number online – you might
have to go to the inconvenience and or expense of changing your
landline number or mobile phone, if you get unpleasant calls.
More usually it means that once you have found suitable accommodation
– the advert can be removed and you don’t need to
answer loads of calls just to tell them that you have already
found somewhere.
Use phone
security technology - use 141
If replying to an advert on LetaLife to find a new rental place
to live – always remember that the telephone numbers on
the adverts are NOT the advertisers’ own numbers. But they
redirect to the advertiser’s phone. When using the LAPS
system if you don’t use 141 before dialling the advertiser
will be able to find out your number by dialling 1471.
Safety in
numbers.
If you can possibly avoid it you shouldn't go to view a room or
rental property on your own. Take at least one other person with
you and tell other people where you are going. If you really have
to go alone, make sure you tell someone exactly where you are
going and arrange to contact them at a certain time to tell them
you are safely back.
Safer to go by car.
If possible go to view rental property by car with someone
you know.
Don't
get lost.
Make sure you know exactly where the rental property you are
viewing is, so you don’t get lost in unfamiliar surroundings.
You can find places on the internet ( http://www.multimap.com)
and get a map print-out or invest in a relevant A-Z book if
you are new to the area.
Trust your instincts(i)
If someone makes you feel uncomfortable on the phone - Don’t
give out your own phone number to them. Use 141 if you are calling
them for the first time and explain to them why you are doing
this if they ask.
Do
your homework.
If you are new to the area - ask the advertiser first
– is it a rough area? Is it the sort of area where you
will feel safe renting? Then ask around people you know at
work or college or even check out the area on the internet
to find out about the general safety of the area where the
property/accommodation is. You can find this sort of thing
out by typing the area name into Google and then looking on the Groups section. If you are at college
ask your accommodation office for advice about ‘safe’
areas. A good website to find out about places is http://www.knowhere.co.uk
Trust
your instincts(ii)
If this is a shared accommodation – ask to meet the
other tenants and trust your feelings. If they make you feel
uncomfortable or uneasy – then keep looking –
there will be somewhere else more suitable for you to live.
Don't
give out the wrong signals.
When advertising for accommodation be careful how you word
your adverts. Don’t mention physical attractiveness
and personal details – but stick to facts about the
sort of accomodation you are seeking or how you can be relied
on to pay the rent, provide references etc. otherwise you
may get the wrong sort of phone calls.
Don't
place children at risk.
It is not recommended to look for shared accommodation if
you have children – as you might unwittingly be placing
them at risk from strangers.
As
part of our policy to promote your safety LetaLife.com:
- Reads each
advert before placing it online to protect our visitors from
inappropriate material
- Provides each landlord, tenant or property letting agent
who advertises on our site with the free use of a virtual
telephone number to protect you from nuisance calls or worse
- Puts together and publishes common sense tips.
These are not
comprehensive, but a selection of tips to help you when
using the internet to seek a room, house, flat or any other
kind of accommodation. If you think of anything that might
be important to add to this page please let us know.
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