Anyone trying to sell their home has been warned not to be taken in by scammers who claim they are under threat from radioactive gases.
A Sutton councillor has raised concerns that elderly and sick people are being targeted by tricksters who try to push the price down on their homes by claiming the area is a hot-spot for naturally occurring radioactive radon gas.
Councillor Pam Picknett said she has heard of at least two cases of people being told their homes were at risk from radon by purported potential buyers who contacted them directly rather than through their estate agent. She raised it at a council meeting last week to make other members aware of the scam.
Sutton Council and Public Health England say people should not be taken in by such claims and can buy a report from it stating the risk of radon contamination in their homes.
Radon is a radioactive gas given off by naturally occurring uranium deposits in the earth. It is more common in Cornwall and Cumbria but there are isolated deposits all over the country. According to Public Health England, no home in Sutton has more than a three per cent risk of radon contamination.
Coun Picknett, a Conservative who represents Belmont, said the scams took place in in Wallington and Beddington.
She said: "Older people who put their properties on the market have been bullied by buyers who say radon has been detected in their properties. I've heard two cases of this and it is bullying.
"If you're old, to be told something like this can be very frightening but it's just people trying to force the price down.
"The reason I raised it was to make sure other councillors are aware of this because they are clearly picking on vulnerable people."
Radon increases people's risk of lung cancer and causes 1,100 deaths from the illness every year.
Public Health England can supply people with reports to tell them if their home is at risk and detectors if they are vulnerable to the gas.
A spokesman for Public Health England said: "Some parts of Sutton have properties with a 1 to 3 per cent risk of having radon above the level at which we recommend owners take action.
"This information can be seen in our Indicative Atlas of Radon in England and Wales which is available free online.
"If people wish to check the risk of their individual properties, they can do this for a small fee by visiting www.UKradon.org."
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