A serial fraudster who used fake references, forged documents and false identities to target landlords and prospective renters has been jailed for five years following a landmark private prosecution – in a case that highlights how serious tenant fraud can be tackled through the criminal courts.

Ariana Rose was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court after admitting fraud, using a false instrument and perverting the course of justice. The prosecution, brought privately on behalf of a property administrator after previous reports were treated as civil matters, exposed almost a decade of offending that left landlords and tenants out of pocket.

Among the offences, Rose used forged references to secure a tenancy before remaining in the property for about 16 months without paying rent, leaving arrears of approximately £43,000. She later pursued a fraudulent county court claim against the landlord for hotel expenses she had never incurred.

The court also heard how Rose had previously posed as the landlord of a property she was renting herself, using forged tenancy agreements and a fake email account to collect thousands of pounds in rent, deposits and referencing fees from unsuspecting tenants. The genuine landlord was then forced through an eight-month possession process, with rent arrears and legal costs exceeding £8,000.

Several victims had previously reported Rose to police and Action Fraud but were told the matters were civil disputes. The successful private prosecution has prompted renewed discussion about whether landlords facing clear evidence of fraud should have greater confidence in pursuing criminal action.

Paul Shamplina, founder of Landlord Action, says: "I've spent more than 30 years dealing with difficult tenancies, and this case stands out because it wasn't simply about rent arrears – it was an organised pattern of deception. Landlords need to know that where there's evidence of fraud, forged references or deliberate dishonesty, they don't always have to accept it as a civil dispute. Hopefully, this prosecution gives confidence to other landlords who find themselves facing similar criminal behaviour.  The fake landlord/letting agent scam is on the increase. I’m featuring on a BBC programme later this month highlight the effects of Rental Fraud’

The sentencing follows a long history of offending. Rose was previously jailed in 2011 after posing as a landlord and taking deposits and rent from prospective tenants. While on bail awaiting trial in this case, she also pleaded guilty to five counts of theft after stealing valuable possessions from homes where she had been working as a house-sitter.

For landlords, the case is a reminder that while robust referencing remains one of the best lines of defence, determined fraudsters can still manipulate documentation and identities. It also demonstrates that where there is compelling evidence of deliberate fraud, private prosecutions may provide a route to justice when criminal behaviour risks being dismissed as nothing more than a civil dispute.

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