Trust and safety
Property and business transactions involve significant sums and personal meetings, so trust matters. This page explains what Pavilion does to keep the marketplace honest, what we cannot do, and the practical steps you can take to protect yourself when you enquire, view, sell or let.
Updated 14th Sep 2026
How we verify sellers and agents
Everyone who lists on Pavilion signs in through a magic link sent to their email address, so every listing is tied to a verified, working email. Agencies provide a trading name, phone number and email, and their team members are invited by the account owner from that verified account.
We may ask a seller or agent for evidence that they own or are instructed to market a property or business, and we can pause a listing until it is provided. We do not carry out identity checks on every user, and we do not verify measurements, figures or planning information. Treat a listing as the seller's description, not an independent report.
Moderation
New listings and material edits are reviewed by a member of our team before they are shown publicly. Automatic checks flag listings for closer attention, for example when there are no photographs, a business's turnover looks unusual for its sector, or a price looks out of line. We reject listings that break our rules and tell the seller why, and we remove listings if a credible problem comes to light later.
Accounts that repeatedly breach our rules, or that appear to be fraudulent, are suspended, which hides all of their listings.
Reporting a listing
If a listing looks wrong, misleading, discriminatory or fraudulent, or if you believe it uses your photographs or markets a property without authority, use the report link on the listing page or email contact@propertypavilion.co.uk with the listing link and what concerns you. We review every report, act quickly where a listing presents a risk, and will tell you the outcome where we can. Reports are kept confidential from the person who listed.
Viewing safely
Viewings arranged through Pavilion are between you and the seller or agent. A few habits keep them safe for everyone.
- Confirm the appointment through Pavilion so there is a record, and keep the booking reference.
- Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back, and take a colleague or friend to viewings of empty premises if you can.
- Meet at the property in daylight where possible, and check that the person you meet is who the listing says they are.
- Sellers and agents: know who you are showing round. Ask for a name and phone number, which the booking form collects, and consider asking business buyers to confirm their interest by email before releasing sensitive information.
- Never hand over money, keys or original documents at a viewing.
Scam warning signs
Fraud in property is rare on Pavilion but it happens across the market. Be cautious if you see any of the following.
- A request to pay a deposit, holding fee or "admin fee" before you have viewed the property or met the seller, or to pay by bank transfer to an individual, cryptocurrency or gift cards.
- A price or rent well below others in the area, with pressure to decide quickly because of other interested parties.
- A seller who cannot show you the property in person, or who says they are abroad and will post the keys.
- Refusal to provide documents that a genuine seller would have: proof of ownership, a lease, accounts for a business, an energy performance certificate.
- Messages that steer you off Pavilion to another platform or to a personal email with a different name.
- Requests for your bank details, identity documents or a copy of your passport before any agreement is in place.
- Business listings whose turnover and profit figures cannot be reconciled to accounts, or where the seller discourages you from speaking to the landlord or accountant.
Money and documents
Pavilion never asks buyers to pay for a property, deposit or business through the site, and never handles money between buyers and sellers. Any payment for a purchase, letting or business transfer should go through your solicitor or a regulated agent's client account. Before exchanging contracts, have a solicitor check title, leases, planning permission and, for businesses, the accounts and any licences.
How we handle your data
When you enquire or book a viewing we pass your name, contact details and message to the seller or agent for that listing and to no one else. Enquiries and viewing requests are deleted after 24 months. We do not use tracking cookies or sell data, and we store only what the seller needs to respond. Sellers and agents who receive your details are responsible for using them only in connection with your enquiry. Our Privacy policy sets out the full picture, including how to ask for a copy of your data or have it deleted.
Contact us
For anything relating to trust, safety or a report about a listing, email contact@propertypavilion.co.uk. In an emergency, contact the police on 999.