If anyone has a western union reference number and name, can they take the money?

Question

I am looking for a rented house in cardiff via gumtree and have 2 instances where the landlords say that they want to be assured that I have the money to pay the rent. They say they stay out of town and can't waste time to come down to show me the property to see if I like it. If i show them a copy of a transaction of sending money to my husband, then they say they will care to show the property as that is the ONLY way they can trust of me having capability to pay. Should I believe this is not some form of cheating?

Answer 1

Sounds very "fishy" to me...
It's understandable if a landlord wants to make sure you can pay, but this is not the way to do it. If they ask for a copy of your paycheck and your credit report, it's OK, but what you described is very strange.
I wouldn't do it.

Answer 2

I don't know what a Western Union reference number and name is, and I'm in the US so things might be different. A landlord here would usually get a credit report and a job reference. I don't see what a copy of a transaction of sending money to someone would tell them. That could be a one-time amount of money, not representative of continuing income.

It sounds kind of fishy to me too, but many years ago in New York, I didn't realize it was customary to bribe the super to get your application ahead of others and missed out on a very swell place in Gramercy Park because his hints at a little something for him to "speak for" us offended my sensibilities. I think you might talk to people who live in that area to find out what's customary there. Where I live now, no one would even CONSIDER bribing the super.

Are rental houses so rare in Cardiff that they can be so cavalier about potential renters?