Housing repair scam calls: How to spot and avoid them

A call about a leaking roof, broken boiler, or overdue repair doesn't sound suspicious, especially if you're already waiting for maintenance.

Across the UK, consumer organizations, councils, and housing associations have warned about criminals impersonating housing repairs departments, landlords, councils, and contractors to steal personal information or money.

Learn how housing repair scams work, the different forms they can take, and how to protect yourself.

Key takeaways:

Housing repair scams often begin with an unexpected phone call, text message, or email claiming to be about repairs to your home.
Scammers may pretend to represent your landlord, housing association, local council, or a repair company.
Some calls are fully automated and use spoofed phone numbers to appear legitimate.
Criminals may try to steal personal information, convince you to make a payment, or pressure you into filing a fake compensation claim.
Always verify unexpected repair-related calls using official contact details before sharing information or taking action.

How does the housing repair scam work?

Housing repair scams usually begin with an unexpected phone call, text message, email, or even an automated voice recording claiming there's an issue with your home.

For example, the caller might tell you that your property needs urgent repairs, that someone is coming to inspect it, or even that you're entitled to compensation because previous repairs weren't handled properly.

It sounds believable as repairs are a normal part of renting or owning a home, and many people are already waiting for maintenance or have dealt with repair requests before.

Common housing repair scam variations

Behind what seems like a routine housing repair call could be a scammer trying to trick you into sharing personal information, sending money, or signing documents.

Here are the most common tactics reported:

1. Automated housing repair robocalls

Consumer group Which? recently warned about an automated "housing repairs" robocall using what appears to be a spoofed London landline number. Instead of speaking to a real person, victims hear a recorded message asking them to press a button or stay on the line regarding repairs to their property.

The number displayed on your phone may look legitimate because scammers use caller ID spoofing to disguise their real phone number.

If you interact with the recording, you may be connected to a scammer who attempts to collect personal information or identify potential victims for future scams.

2. Fake repair appointments

The Islington & Shoreditch Housing Association (ISHA) has warned residents about scammers pretending to arrange repair appointments. In one reported variation, victims first receive a call about repairs and are later contacted again with an offer of compensation, provided they share their bank account details.

More commonly, scammers pretend to represent your local council, housing association, landlord, maintenance contractor or repairs department. They may ask you to "confirm" personal information such as your full name, address, date of birth, or tenancy details before they can schedule the appointment.

In reality, the appointment doesn't exist. The goal is to collect personal information that can later be used for identity theft or other scams.

3. Housing disrepair compensation scams

Several organizations, including Southern Housing and Southwark Council, have warned residents about housing disrepair compensation scams carried out through cold calls, text messages, emails, and companies using official-sounding names such as My Housing Repair.

Scammers claim you're entitled to compensation because repairs took too long, damp wasn't fixed properly, or your landlord failed to maintain the property.

Once they've gained your trust, they may encourage you to:

sign legal paperwork
hire a solicitor they recommend
file a compensation claim
provide personal documents and sensitive information
pay upfront fees

Some so-called claims companies simply collect your personal information and sell it to other businesses. Others pressure people into legal agreements they don't fully understand. In some cases, following this advice can even delay genuine repairs or leave victims responsible for unexpected legal costs.

4. Fake repair payments

Ealing Council has warned residents about scammers posing as repair contractors or requesting payments for repairs that don't exist.

Criminals may claim you need to pay for an inspection, a repair visit, or administrative fees before work can begin. The payment request may come over the phone or through a text message or email containing a payment link.

Some scammers may even show up at your door pretending to be repair contractors.

How to protect yourself from housing repair scams

Legitimate councils, landlords, and housing associations don't typically ask for unexpected payments or sensitive personal information through unsolicited phone calls, text messages, emails, or doorstep visits. If you're ever unsure whether a repair request is genuine, end the conversation and contact the organization directly using the official phone number listed on its website or previous correspondence.

If you receive an unexpected call about repairs to your home:

Don't share personal or financial information during the call.
Don't rely on caller ID alone. Phone numbers can be spoofed to appear legitimate.
If the caller claims to represent your landlord, housing association, or local council, verify the request independently before taking any action.
Be cautious if you're pressured to make a payment, sign legal documents, or act immediately.
If an unknown number contacts you, Bitdefender’s Free Reverse Phone Lookup can help you check whether it has been reported as spam or linked to scam activity.
If you receive a suspicious text message, email, or social media message related to housing repairs or compensation, Bitdefender Scamio can analyze it and help you determine whether it's likely to be a scam.
If you receive any message or email that includes a link asking you to confirm your details, book a repair, or make a payment, Bitdefender Link Checker lets you scan the URL before opening it to see whether it has been flagged as malicious or fraudulent.

What to do if you've shared information with a housing repair scammer

If you've shared personal or financial information with someone you now believe was a scammer, act quickly to limit the damage:

- If you shared payment or banking details, contact your bank immediately. They can help monitor your accounts, block your cards if necessary, and advise you on the next steps.

- If you shared passwords or login credentials, change them as soon as possible. If you use the same password on multiple accounts, update those as well and enable multi-factor authentication wherever it's available.

- It's also a good idea to notify your landlord, housing association, or local council if scammers claimed to represent them. Reporting the incident can help warn other residents and prevent additional scams.

To reduce the chances of answering scam calls in the future, consider Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android. It includes AI-powered Call Blocking that can identify and block unwanted calls, including known spam and scam numbers before they reach you.

FAQs

How can I tell if a housing repair call is a scam?

Be suspicious of unexpected calls claiming your home needs urgent repairs or that you're entitled to compensation. If the caller asks for personal information, payment, or pressures you to act immediately, hang up and contact your landlord, housing association, or local council using their official contact details.

Do housing associations call residents about repairs?

Yes, housing associations may contact residents to arrange genuine repairs or inspections. However, they typically won't ask for sensitive personal information, bank details, or unexpected payments during an unsolicited call. If you're unsure, end the call and verify it using the organization's official phone number.

Is a housing repair compensation call legitimate?

Many legitimate landlords and housing associations contact tenants about repairs, but they typically don't cold-call residents offering compensation or asking for sensitive personal information. If you're unsure, contact the organization directly using its official phone number.

Can scammers fake a phone number?

Yes. Scammers often use caller ID spoofing to make a call appear as though it's coming from a local landline, your council, or another trusted organization. That's why you shouldn't rely on the phone number displayed on your screen alone.

What should I do if I gave my personal information to a scammer?

If you've shared banking details, contact your bank immediately. Change any passwords you disclosed, enable multi-factor authentication on your accounts, and report the scam to your housing provider and the appropriate fraud reporting authority in your country.

What information do housing repair scammers try to steal?

Housing repair scammers may ask for your full name, address, date of birth, National Insurance number, tenancy details, bank account information, or login credentials. They may use this information for identity theft, financial fraud, or to support other scams.