Blog Post 1: How I Took Down a Rogue Letting Agent Who Left Me Homeless
How I Took Down a Rogue Letting Agent Who Left Me Homeless By Sarah E. Stephenson Let me take you back to October 2012, when I met a conman. Martin Marcus was a so-called letting agent who operated out of a sleek office in Aldgate, London. He looked the part: polished, persuasive, and professional. But behind the facade was a man who had been defrauding vulnerable tenants and landlords since 1999. I had just arrived in London from Dublin. I knew nothing about the city, the tube system, or the rental market, and I was desperate to find a place to live. Marcus promised me a flat in Zone 1 — near King’s Cross and Holborn — and assured me it was his relative’s property. I paid £6,536 upfront, which included three months’ rent, a deposit, and admin fees. I trusted him. But when I arrived at the address with three giant suitcases, the woman who answered the door had no idea who I was. My heart dropped. I was alone, homeless, and humiliated. It was raining. My cre...