According to research by the Letting Protection Service - a company offering referencing and insurance products to landlords - it's only a matter of time before a prospective tenant tries to pull a fast one. And don't assume you're safe just because you like the look of her crinkly old church-goer's smile and well-fitting dentures.

In a poll of 10,000 landlords, a surprising 21 per cent said that they had received a fake reference from a prospective tenant aged 60 and over. A total of 43 per cent had problems with faked references from prospective tenants aged over 50.

Damn those tricky geriatrics!

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