{"id":1265,"date":"2026-09-08T09:01:44","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T08:01:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.springbokproperties.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1265"},"modified":"2026-09-24T11:59:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T10:59:24","slug":"we-buy-any-house-scams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.springbokproperties.co.uk\/blog\/we-buy-any-house-scams","title":{"rendered":"7 &#8216;We Buy Any House&#8217; Scams and Red Flags to Avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"sbk\" style=\"color: #12211d; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.7;\">\n<style>.sbk{--sbk-yellow:#F6EE26;--sbk-ink:#12211d;--sbk-mut:#5b6b66;--sbk-line:#e3e8e6;--sbk-soft:#f7f9f8}<br \/>.sbk{color:var(--sbk-ink);font-size:17px;line-height:1.7}<br \/>.sbk h2{font-size:27px;line-height:1.25;margin:38px 0 12px;font-weight:800;color:var(--sbk-ink)}<br \/>.sbk h3{font-size:20px;line-height:1.3;margin:26px 0 8px;font-weight:700;color:var(--sbk-ink)}<br \/>.sbk p{margin:0 0 16px}<br \/>.sbk ul,.sbk ol{margin:0 0 18px;padding-left:22px}<br \/>.sbk li{margin:0 0 8px}<br \/>.sbk a{color:#0b6b52;text-decoration:underline}<br \/>.sbk .tldr{background:var(--sbk-soft);border-left:6px solid var(--sbk-yellow);border-radius:12px;padding:18px 22px;margin:24px 0}<br \/>.sbk .tldr h2{font-size:18px;margin:0 0 10px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.06em}<br \/>.sbk .tldr ul{margin:0;padding-left:20px}<br \/>.sbk .answer{font-size:19px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.6;margin:0 0 20px}<br \/>.sbk table{width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:22px 0;font-size:15.5px}<br \/>.sbk th,.sbk td{border:1px solid var(--sbk-line);padding:11px 13px;text-align:left;vertical-align:top}<br \/>.sbk thead th{background:var(--sbk-yellow);color:var(--sbk-ink);font-weight:800}<br \/>.sbk tbody tr:nth-child(even){background:var(--sbk-soft)}<br \/>.sbk .redflag{background:#fff8f7;border:1px solid #f2d5d0;border-radius:12px;padding:16px 20px;margin:18px 0}<br \/>.sbk .redflag p:last-child{margin-bottom:0}<br \/>.sbk .check{background:var(--sbk-soft);border-radius:12px;padding:18px 22px;margin:22px 0}<br \/>.sbk .check p:last-child,.sbk .check ol{margin-bottom:0}<br \/>.sbk .faq h3{margin-top:20px}<br \/>.sbk .updated{font-size:14px;color:var(--sbk-mut);border-top:1px solid var(--sbk-line);padding-top:14px;margin-top:34px}<br \/>.sbk figcaption.ytcap{font-size:13px;color:var(--sbk-mut)}<\/style>\n<p class=\"answer\" style=\"margin: 0 0 20px; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.6;\">Most \u2018we buy any house\u2019 scams follow seven patterns: upfront fees, inflated valuations later chipped down, lead brokers posing as buyers, option-agreement lock-ins, fake reviews, pressure selling, and no proof of funds. Genuine buyers do none of these.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tldr\" style=\"background: #f7f9f8; border-left: 6px solid #F6EE26; border-radius: 12px; padding: 18px 22px; margin: 24px 0;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0 0 10px; font-weight: 800; color: #12211d; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: .06em;\">Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul style=\"margin: 0; padding-left: 20px; list-style: disc outside;\">\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\">The UK quick house sale sector is <strong>not regulated by the FCA<\/strong>, so the two checks that matter most are membership of the <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/napb.co.uk\/members\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB)<\/a> and registration with <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tpos.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Property Ombudsman (TPO)<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\">A genuine cash offer in 2026 is typically <strong>75\u201385% of open-market value<\/strong>. An offer of 90\u2013100% with a \u201cguaranteed\u201d completion is the single clearest warning sign.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\"><strong>No genuine buyer asks for money upfront<\/strong> \u2014 not for a valuation, a survey, a reservation or \u201cadmin\u201d. Legal fees are normally paid by the buyer.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\">Many \u201cwe buy any house\u201d websites are <strong>lead brokers, not buyers<\/strong>: they sell your details on and never had the funds to buy anything.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\">You can verify almost any firm in about <strong>10 minutes<\/strong> using Companies House, the NAPB member register, the TPO register and independent review sites.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 style=\"font-size: 27px; line-height: 1.25; margin: 38px 0 12px; font-weight: 800; color: #12211d;\">What actually counts as a \u2018we buy any house\u2019 scam?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\">A \u2018we buy any house\u2019 scam is any quick-sale arrangement where the company takes your money, your time or your legal freedom without ever intending to complete on the terms it advertised. Outright theft is rare. The far more common damage is structural: a firm that is not a buyer, an offer that was never real, or a contract that traps you.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\">This matters because the sector attracts people under pressure. The Office of Fair Trading ran a market study into the quick house sale sector in 2013 and found that vulnerable sellers \u2014 people facing repossession, divorce, debt or care costs \u2014 were being pushed into last-minute price cuts and sales well below value. Four firms gave formal undertakings to change their behaviour, and the <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/cma-cases\/providers-in-the-quick-house-sales-sector-investigation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">case file remains published on GOV.UK<\/a>. The NAPB was formed the same year to self-regulate the sector, and HM Government\u2019s own <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/how-to-sell-a-home\/how-to-sell-a-home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">\u201cHow to sell a home\u201d<\/a> guidance still tells sellers to use an NAPB member.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\">Thirteen years on, the sector is still not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Anyone can register a company and put up a website promising to buy your house this week. That is the gap the seven scams below live in.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"ytwrap\" style=\"position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 14px; margin: 24px 0 6px;\"><iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0;\" title=\"Springbok seller review \u2014 Debbie\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/gRg8OMlVfuE\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div><figcaption class=\"ytcap\" style=\"font-size: 13px; color: #5b6b66; margin: 0 0 24px; text-align: center;\">Real Springbok seller \u2014 Debbie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 style=\"font-size: 27px; line-height: 1.25; margin: 38px 0 12px; font-weight: 800; color: #12211d;\">The 7 biggest \u2018we buy any house\u2019 scams and red flags<\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 26px 0 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #12211d;\">1. Upfront fees before the sale completes<\/h3>\n<div class=\"redflag\" style=\"background: #fff8f7; border: 1px solid #f2d5d0; border-radius: 12px; padding: 16px 20px; margin: 18px 0;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\"><strong>What it looks like:<\/strong> a \u201cvaluation fee\u201d, \u201csurvey contribution\u201d, \u201creservation fee\u201d, \u201clegal deposit\u201d or \u201cadmin charge\u201d requested before anything has happened.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\"><strong>Why it is a red flag:<\/strong> a real cash buyer is spending its own money to acquire an asset. It pays for the survey and normally covers your legal fees too. Once you have paid, the leverage flips: you are now financially invested and much less likely to walk away when the offer drops.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong>What to do:<\/strong> refuse. There is no legitimate reason to pay a house-buying company anything before completion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 26px 0 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #12211d;\">2. The inflated valuation, chipped down before exchange<\/h3>\n<div class=\"redflag\" style=\"background: #fff8f7; border: 1px solid #f2d5d0; border-radius: 12px; padding: 16px 20px; margin: 18px 0;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\"><strong>What it looks like:<\/strong> an eye-catching first offer \u2014 say \u00a3250,000 on a home worth \u00a3255,000 \u2014 that becomes \u00a3205,000 days before exchange, blamed on \u201csurvey findings\u201d or \u201cunexpected repair costs\u201d.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\"><strong>Why it is a red flag:<\/strong> this is the classic bait-and-switch the OFT identified in 2013, and it still works because sellers have usually given notice, booked removals or committed to an onward purchase. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland nothing is binding until exchange of contracts, so the price can legally move right up to that point.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong>How to tell it from an honest renegotiation:<\/strong> a genuine buyer reduces an offer rarely, evidences it with a written RICS survey or a specific quote, and does it as early as possible \u2014 not the afternoon before exchange, and not by a fifth of the price.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 26px 0 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #12211d;\">3. A lead broker posing as the buyer<\/h3>\n<div class=\"redflag\" style=\"background: #fff8f7; border: 1px solid #f2d5d0; border-radius: 12px; padding: 16px 20px; margin: 18px 0;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\"><strong>What it looks like:<\/strong> a slick \u201cwe buy any house\u201d site with a valuation form, no company details in the footer, and a call within minutes from someone who cannot answer basic questions about the purchase.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\"><strong>Why it is a red flag:<\/strong> the site is not a buyer at all. It captures your details and sells them on, sometimes to several firms at once. You end up cold-called for months, and no one in the chain ever had the funds to buy your house.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong>What to ask:<\/strong> \u201cAre you the company that will be named as buyer on the contract, or are you passing my details to someone else?\u201d Then check the privacy policy for third-party data sharing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 26px 0 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #12211d;\">4. Option agreements and RX1 lock-ins<\/h3>\n<div class=\"redflag\" style=\"background: #fff8f7; border: 1px solid #f2d5d0; border-radius: 12px; padding: 16px 20px; margin: 18px 0;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\"><strong>What it looks like:<\/strong> a document described as \u201cjust a formality\u201d that turns out to be an option agreement, a lock-in or exclusivity clause \u2014 sometimes backed by an <strong>RX1<\/strong>, the HM Land Registry form used to enter a restriction against your title.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\"><strong>Why it is a red flag:<\/strong> an option agreement gives the company the right to buy, but no obligation to. A restriction on your title can stop you selling to anybody else until it is removed. You can be frozen for months while the firm looks for an investor to flip the contract to.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong>What to do:<\/strong> never sign anything that touches your title without an independent solicitor \u2014 your own, not one recommended by the buyer. Check the firm on the <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sra.org.uk\/consumers\/register\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">SRA register<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 26px 0 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #12211d;\">5. Fake reviews and cloned companies<\/h3>\n<div class=\"redflag\" style=\"background: #fff8f7; border: 1px solid #f2d5d0; border-radius: 12px; padding: 16px 20px; margin: 18px 0;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\"><strong>What it looks like:<\/strong> hundreds of five-star reviews, all recent, all short, all glowing \u2014 or a company name and logo that is one word away from a well-known firm.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\"><strong>Why it is a red flag:<\/strong> the NAPB warns that a wall of nothing but five-star reviews is itself suspicious; an established buyer completing hundreds of purchases will always have some mixed feedback. Cloning is worse: fraudsters copy a legitimate firm\u2019s branding and Companies House number to borrow its reputation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong>What to do:<\/strong> cross-check reviews on at least two independent platforms (Trustpilot, Google, Feefo, allAgents), read the one- and two-star reviews first, and confirm the company number on <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Companies House<\/a> matches the name and address on the website.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 26px 0 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #12211d;\">6. Pressure selling and the \u2018today only\u2019 offer<\/h3>\n<div class=\"redflag\" style=\"background: #fff8f7; border: 1px solid #f2d5d0; border-radius: 12px; padding: 16px 20px; margin: 18px 0;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\"><strong>What it looks like:<\/strong> \u201cthis price is only valid until 5pm\u201d, repeated calls, or a refusal to email terms so you can read them properly.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\"><strong>Why it is a red flag:<\/strong> urgency exists to stop you comparing offers or taking advice. A cash purchase is not a limited-time product \u2014 the buyer\u2019s numbers do not change overnight. The TPO <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tpos.co.uk\/images\/codes-of-practice\/TPOE7-5_CoP_Residential_Property_Buying_Companies_A4.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Code of Practice for Residential Property Buying Companies<\/a> requires members to give sellers time and clear information.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong>What to do:<\/strong> say you will come back tomorrow. A genuine buyer will say fine. A scammer will escalate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 26px 0 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #12211d;\">7. No proof of funds and no named solicitor<\/h3>\n<div class=\"redflag\" style=\"background: #fff8f7; border: 1px solid #f2d5d0; border-radius: 12px; padding: 16px 20px; margin: 18px 0;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\"><strong>What it looks like:<\/strong> vague talk about \u201cour investors\u201d, no bank statement or solicitor\u2019s letter, and no conveyancer named on their side.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\"><strong>Why it is a red flag:<\/strong> if the money is not already available, the firm is trying to find a buyer for your house rather than buy it. That is not a cash sale, it is an unpaid, unregulated estate agency arrangement with none of the protections.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong>What to do:<\/strong> ask for written proof of funds and the name and SRA number of their solicitor before you agree anything. Both should arrive within a working day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 style=\"font-size: 27px; line-height: 1.25; margin: 38px 0 12px; font-weight: 800; color: #12211d;\">Genuine cash buyer vs scam operator: at a glance<\/h2>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 22px 0; font-size: 15.5px;\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background: #F6EE26; color: #12211d; font-weight: 800;\">Signal<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background: #F6EE26; color: #12211d; font-weight: 800;\">Genuine cash buyer<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background: #F6EE26; color: #12211d; font-weight: 800;\">Scam or broker<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Offer level<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Around 75\u201385% of market value, explained<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">90\u2013100% \u201cguaranteed\u201d, or refuses to explain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background: #f7f9f8;\">\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Fees before completion<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">None \u2014 buyer usually covers legal costs<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Valuation, survey, reservation or admin fees<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Proof of funds<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Bank statement or solicitor\u2019s letter on request<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">\u201cOur investors\u201d, no evidence<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background: #f7f9f8;\">\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Accreditation<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">NAPB member and TPO registered<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Neither, or claims membership that is not on the register<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Company details<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Full name, company number and trading address published<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">PO Box, mobile only, Gmail address<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background: #f7f9f8;\">\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Contract<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Straight purchase, your own solicitor welcome<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Option agreement, lock-in clause or RX1 restriction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Price changes<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Rare, evidenced, early<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Large cut days before exchange<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background: #f7f9f8;\">\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Pace<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">Gives you time to take advice<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding: 11px 13px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;\">\u201cToday only\u201d, repeated chasing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 style=\"font-size: 27px; line-height: 1.25; margin: 38px 0 12px; font-weight: 800; color: #12211d;\">How do I check a \u2018we buy any house\u2019 company is legitimate?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\">You can verify almost any firm in about ten minutes, before you give them a single document.<\/p>\n<div class=\"check\" style=\"background: #f7f9f8; border-radius: 12px; padding: 18px 22px; margin: 22px 0;\">\n<ol style=\"margin: 0 0 18px; padding-left: 22px; margin-bottom: 0; list-style: decimal outside;\">\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\"><strong>Companies House<\/strong> \u2014 search the exact company name and number from the website footer. Check incorporation date, registered address, filed accounts and whether directors are disqualified elsewhere. A buyer with no filed accounts has no trading history.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\"><strong>NAPB member register<\/strong> \u2014 check the firm appears on the <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/napb.co.uk\/members\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">NAPB members list<\/a>, not just that it displays the logo.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\"><strong>The Property Ombudsman<\/strong> \u2014 confirm they are registered with <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tpos.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TPO<\/a>. That gives you a free, independent route to complain if it goes wrong.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\"><strong>Reviews on two platforms minimum<\/strong> \u2014 and read the negative ones. Look for a pattern of last-minute price drops.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\"><strong>Proof of funds and solicitor details<\/strong> \u2014 in writing, before you sign anything. Verify the solicitor on the SRA register.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\"><strong>Your own solicitor<\/strong> \u2014 instruct one independently. It is the single most effective protection available to you.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\"><strong>HM Land Registry Property Alert<\/strong> \u2014 sign up free at <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/property-alert\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">GOV.UK<\/a> to be emailed if anyone applies to change your title.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<h2 style=\"font-size: 27px; line-height: 1.25; margin: 38px 0 12px; font-weight: 800; color: #12211d;\">Why is a genuine offer below market value at all?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\">Because you are being paid for certainty rather than price. A buyer purchasing with its own funds carries the survey cost, the legal cost, the holding cost and the resale risk, and it completes in weeks rather than months. Around one in four sales agreed in the UK \u2014 roughly 24% \u2014 falls through before completion; a funded cash purchase removes that risk entirely.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\">That trade-off is real and legitimate. What is not legitimate is pretending it does not exist. If you want the fuller comparison, read our guide to <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springbokproperties.co.uk\/blog\/how-much-below-market-value\">how much below market value cash buyers offer<\/a> and our breakdown of <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springbokproperties.co.uk\/blog\/house-buying-company-fees\">whether house buying companies charge fees<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-size: 27px; line-height: 1.25; margin: 38px 0 12px; font-weight: 800; color: #12211d;\">What should I do if I think I have been scammed?<\/h2>\n<ul style=\"margin: 0 0 18px; padding-left: 22px; list-style: disc outside;\">\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\"><strong>Stop paying and stop signing.<\/strong> Do not send any further money or documents.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\"><strong>Report it to Action Fraud<\/strong> on 0300 123 2040 or at <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.actionfraud.police.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">actionfraud.police.uk<\/a>. Keep the crime reference.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\"><strong>Complain to The Property Ombudsman<\/strong> if the firm is a member \u2014 the service is free and independent.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\"><strong>Instruct your own solicitor immediately<\/strong> if a restriction, option or exclusivity agreement has been registered against your property.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\"><strong>Register for Property Alert<\/strong> with HM Land Registry so you are notified of any activity on your title.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin: 0 0 8px;\"><strong>Tell your bank<\/strong> straight away if you have transferred money.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"font-size: 27px; line-height: 1.25; margin: 38px 0 12px; font-weight: 800; color: #12211d;\">Where does Springbok fit?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\">Springbok Properties Ltd (company no. 09045757) is a national estate agency regulated by The Property Ombudsman and a member of the NAPB. We offer both a fast cash sale and a full open-market sale, we publish our company details, and we never ask a seller for an upfront fee. If you want to sanity-check us the same way you would anyone else, start with our <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springbokproperties.co.uk\/blog\/springbok-properties-a-legitimate-business\">legitimacy page<\/a>, our <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springbokproperties.co.uk\/we-buy-any-house\">we buy any house guide<\/a> and our <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springbokproperties.co.uk\/complaints-procedure\">complaints procedure<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\">For wider context on the sector, see <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springbokproperties.co.uk\/blog\/are-cash-house-buyers-legit\">are cash house buyers legit<\/a>, <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springbokproperties.co.uk\/blog\/house-buying-companies\">house buying companies: the complete guide<\/a>, <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springbokproperties.co.uk\/blog\/best-house-buying-companies-uk\">the best house buying companies in the UK<\/a>, <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springbokproperties.co.uk\/blog\/we-buy-any-house-reviews-can-you-trust-them\">whether you can trust we buy any house reviews<\/a> and <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springbokproperties.co.uk\/blog\/sell-house-without-estate-agent\">selling without an estate agent<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-size: 27px; line-height: 1.25; margin: 38px 0 12px; font-weight: 800; color: #12211d;\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 26px 0 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #12211d; margin-top: 20px;\">Are all &#8216;we buy any house&#8217; companies a scam?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\">No. Genuine cash buyers are legitimate businesses that buy below market value in exchange for speed and certainty. The problem is that the sector is not FCA-regulated, so anyone can build a website. Membership of the NAPB and The Property Ombudsman is the clearest dividing line between a real buyer and a chancer.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 26px 0 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #12211d; margin-top: 20px;\">How much should a genuine &#8216;we buy any house&#8217; company offer?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\">Expect roughly 75\u201385% of open-market value. That discount pays for the certainty, the speed and the fact the buyer carries the risk and the costs. Any firm promising 90\u2013100% of market value with a guaranteed completion is either going to chip the price later or is not a buyer at all.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 26px 0 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #12211d; margin-top: 20px;\">Should I ever pay a &#8216;we buy any house&#8217; company upfront?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\">No. A genuine buyer never asks for money before completion \u2014 no valuation fee, no survey fee, no reservation fee, no admin charge. Legal fees are normally covered by the buyer. Any request for payment before the sale completes should end the conversation.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 26px 0 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #12211d; margin-top: 20px;\">What is an option agreement and why is it a red flag?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\">An option agreement gives a company the right to buy your home later at a fixed price, without obliging them to buy at all. Paired with an RX1 restriction at HM Land Registry, it can stop you selling to anyone else for months. Never sign one without independent legal advice.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 26px 0 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #12211d; margin-top: 20px;\">What do I do if a house buying company has already scammed me?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\">Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, complain to The Property Ombudsman if the firm is a member, and speak to an independent solicitor immediately. Sign up for HM Land Registry&#8217;s free Property Alert to be told if anyone tries to change your title.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 26px 0 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #12211d; margin-top: 20px;\">Is Springbok Properties a &#8216;we buy any house&#8217; company?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px;\">Springbok Properties Ltd (company no. 09045757) is a regulated national estate agency that offers both a fast cash sale and an open-market sale. We are regulated by The Property Ombudsman and are members of the NAPB, and we never charge sellers an upfront fee.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"updated\" style=\"margin: 0 0 16px; font-size: 14px; color: #5b6b66; border-top: 1px solid #e3e8e6; padding-top: 14px; margin-top: 34px;\">Written by <a style=\"color: #0b6b52; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springbokproperties.co.uk\/blog\/about-dan-green\">Dan Green<\/a>, Springbok Properties. Last updated 11 August 2026. 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