The rental market, like any sector of a thriving market, is filled with rental scams. And though many take advantage of foreigners, even Australian citizens can fall prey to their methods. Most rental scams use various tools to trick searching tenants into contracts or trick them out of money such as ambiguous contracts, poor visual material of the supposed property, unregistered agents or unlisted agencies.
Have a read through these useful tips on how to rent smart and how to check if a rental property is legit and find your dream rental today.
How to check if a rental property is legit
Here are some tips to find a rental property of your choice!
Look for accredited house agencies and licensed agents
One tip to help you navigate the housing industry is to consult accredited agencies and licensed realtors. Social media has also sprung up thousands of fraudulent rental listings via FaceBook, Instagram, and Twitter.
An immediate red flag is if they request down payment before contract signing or house viewing. Any money transfer before a lease signing or house viewing is a financial risk.
Therefore going through recognised agencies can put you in reliable hands. They have a thorough screening process, with traceable wire transfers and reputable staff to assist you. This is one of the best ways on how to check if a rental property is legit and avoid rental scams.
Additionally, there are disadvantages to renting from a private landlord and rental scams is one of them. If you bypass accredited agencies, you run the risk of getting scammed.
Assess the rental agent’s credibility
If a rental agent appears untrustworthy, take note of contact details under the rental listing to confirm their position at the firm they claim to work with. At times, scammers may pose as an agent under a firm. The agency can then confirm the individual’s position and provide any necessary information regarding licensing to assure you of their credibility.
Avoid signing any contracts without a proper read
Another helpful pointer for how to check if a rental property is legit is to read through the rental listing website and, eventually, the contractual material. Consult someone who may help you read into any parts you may not understand. Some tell-tale signs include misspelt addresses, grammar mistakes, and even odd pricing.
Do not give out too many of your personal details, bank account information, or identity documentation before the contract signing, and avoid any money transfer before ironing out the details.
Don’t take unnecessary risks
International students may have a harder time finding housing from outside the country, unless they have family and close friends living in the region International students should look into student housing that is affiliated with or provided by their university. It guarantees legit residence and allows international students a live-in place as they acclimatise to the area and look for other housing options.
Also, thoroughly research the property and comply with all the legal proceedings before signing the contract or paying the agency.
Research the renting process
Scammers can use convincing material including websites and high-quality images to trick potential victims. Another useful tactic is to learn about the renting process according to the government (as well as the province, as laws and policies on renting are different for each one). If the housing agent is over eager to rush the process, including shortcuts or vague processing, it is better to cut ties and find a different one. Knowing your rights as a tenant is crucial to understanding what is within and outside of the right of an agent.
People also ask
How do I know if my landlord is legit in Australia?
Some ways to help you find out if your landlord is legit are taking note of rental scam warning signs. Ask for high-quality photos and videos of the property and check them for watermarks. Also, check rental listings and the contract carefully.
Take note of vague wording as it highlights the contract’s authenticity and that of the landlord. Using well-known housing platforms can help reduce the chances of rental scams because these have rigorous screening processes for their property owners.
What do landlords look for in a tenant?
Most landlords look not only into the financial standing of the potential renter but also their compatibility. Landlords prefer tidy people who are punctual with their payments, and ultimately take care of the property they rent.
Character is another factor in selecting a tenant, as it is easier to build a good relationship with respectful, well-mannered tenants who are easy to communicate with.
What causes you to be black-listed?
Black-listing when it comes to renting can occur for various reasons, such as poor rapport or lack of rental payments. Additionally, some tenants are black-listed due to criminal or unethical behaviour, and repeated lease agreement violations.
