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Written by CribCheck, reviewed by the CribCheck inspection team. Last reviewed 18 September 2026.
Part of How to verify a landlord or estate agent before paying rent
Short answer
Ask for the agency's business registration name and number, a physical office address you can visit, and any professional body membership number, then verify each one independently. Registration proves the business exists and is traceable; it does not guarantee good conduct, so verify the letting itself as well.
What to ask for
- Registered business name and registration number.
- A physical office address, and an appointment to visit it.
- Professional body membership number, where they claim one.
- Two recent client references you can call.
How to verify
- Check the business name matches the receiving bank account exactly.
- Visit the office unannounced once before paying anything.
- Search the business name, the agent's name and the phone number online.
- Ask in the building or estate whether the agency is known there.
There is no single national licensing register that settles this question, so treat registration as one signal among several rather than proof of trustworthiness.
What to do next
Check this home with CribCheck while you are still there. Record what you see, get a condition score with indicative repair costs, and keep it to compare against other homes.
Before you pay, CribCheck it.
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