While looking for a townhouse to rent around the Carlswald, San Ridge and Vorna Valley areas in Midrand, I went through so many adverts offering what I thought was ideal accommodation.I phoned three so-called agents and when it came to viewing the places I had seen online, the ‘agent’ would not show up but tell me to go to a certain unit and the outgoing tenants will show me the place. I also found it strange that the ‘agent’ insisted on me depositing the money after I had viewed the place, without meeting me face-to-face or even sending me a contract to sign.
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If anyone wants you to pay a deposit for a place before you sign a contract, run the opposite direction. I think a lot of people have lost their deposit and first month’s rent to these scams.
What I noticed was that the places I was sent to view were already taken, and the real agent would not have any idea that a con is using their advert to continue to cheat people looking for a place to stay. The advert will be the original advert but fraudsters replace the real agent’s name and contact details with their own.
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The problem is that in a complex, each and every unit owner finds their own agent when looking to rent out a place. Unit owners in a complex should consider using one property agency so that prospective tenants can verify details of agents.
I am relieved that I finally got a place without being scammed, but it was exhausting having to scrutinise all offers from all kind of ‘agents.’
Read a letter from a resident who was also involved in a rental scam in 2013
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