How to spot a scammer

You’re certain you’ve finally found the perfect tenant. You’ve met, they’ve seen your rental property, and you have been bowled over by their wonder.

But there’s a little twinge in your gut, that’s telling you otherwise. Listen to it. Our intuition is seldom wrong when it comes to people and situations.

Yours, as a landlord, is doubly tuned into the good, the bad, and the things to be avoided. But, if you’re concerned your gut isn’t all that good at communicating, there are a few ways to make sure your dream tenant is a reality.

An agent’s wisdom

There seem to be a thousand articles advising potential tenants on how to avoid rental scams, but what about the landlords? Potential tenants may not be who you think they are, and they may intend to use your investment property for nefarious activities. It is recommended working with a reputable real estate agent, who specialises in rental properties within your designated area. They have every tool and mechanism for pre-screening potential tenants, and making sure your property will be well taken care of. And, they’re fully equipped and experienced enough to know you will be asking for proof of their tenant verification techniques.

Read: How to be a landlord that tenants love

Red flags, everywhere

These are some of the red flags landlords should look out for when selecting potential tenants for their investment property:

• Over-eager deposit payer. If your tenant is happy to sign the lease, or pay a deposit before they’ve viewed the property, beware. This is often used as a tactic when shady tenants intend to bluff past procedure so they can begin using your rental property for nefarious reasons.

• Don’t come in. As a landlord, you are responsible for ensuring your property is well-maintained. Part of this process includes conducting an inspection before your tenant moves in, and once they’re moving out. It may also require you to visit the rental property during the term of the lease. You are obliged to make a convenient appointment with your tenant to undertake this inspection, but if your tenant seems to be avoiding you, there may be a reason why.

• They’re not who you think they are. Impersonating someone else, or using someone else’s details, to secure a rental property is fraud. But, sadly, it’s all too common. This often happens when a tenant with a bad credit record, or possibly even a criminal record, needs to secure a new home. If you think something isn’t quite right with their documentation, you’re probably right.

• No references. If your potential tenant is a first-time renter, they won’t have any references from previous landlords. But, if that’s the case, they should still have references from their employers past and present, and some sort of verifiable reference network they can rely on, that’ll vouch for their ability to pay rent, and their character.

• Document verification. Chances are a chancer will try to take a chance. Using fraudulent documentation is all too common so you must have every document verified by the institution it is purported to originate from. This is where your rental estate agent comes in really handy as they’re easily able to verify, and follow up on, the required documentation.

Don’t play loose with the lease

They’ve passed every step of the verification process, paid their deposit on time and your new tenant is almost ready to move in. Don’t play loose with your lease. Make sure your lease specifies everything you need it to, and that the exact details of every responsibility, for both you and the tenant, are outlined. Leave nothing to chance, and have your lease checked by an estate agent, or property lawyer, before you and your tenant sign on the dotted line.

• Information supplied by Private Property.

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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Thelma Koorts  (editor) brakpanherald@caxton.co.za

or Stacy Slatter (news editor) stacys@caxton.co.za

 or Miné Fourie (journalist) minev@caxton.co.za

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