How can you, as a tenant, prevent rental fraud?
Safeguard Your Rental Journey: Geoffrey Matthew’s Tips to Prevent Fraud
Rental fraud is a serious problem that costs unsuspecting individuals thousands of dollars each year. As the rental market continues to grow, so does the number of fraudulent listings.
Preventing rental fraud requires diligence and awareness on your part as a tenant, but you can protect yourself by following a few simple tips from Geoffrey Matthew, the leading estate agent in Harlow:
Do Your Research
Make sure you know what the average rent prices are in the area you’re looking to move to. This will help you spot any red flags straight away. Check the internet with rental companies for a list of prices in your area. Your family or friends may have some insight about the best neighborhoods for your needs and budget. Estate agents will be able to give you the inside scoop on how much rent goes up or down depending on location and neighborhood reputation.
To Good to Be True
When you’re looking for a potential property to rent, it’s important to be wary of any places that seem too good to be true. If a place is significantly lower than the average rental cost for the area and is in a good neighborhood, there may be something shady about it.
Ask yourself: why is this place so cheap? What is wrong with it? Is it even safe to live in? A good landlord will give you all of the necessary information before you make any commitments.
A good way to avoid problems like this is to work with a reliable estate agent who can answer your questions and help you find a home that meets your needs.
Money Upfront
When you’re looking to rent a property, the biggest red flag to look out for is when a landlord asks for money before you’ve even seen the property. While it’s typical for landlords to request money before signing a lease, there should be no reason for them to ask for money upfront without showing you the property first.
If you’re ever asked for money before seeing the property, simply say “no.” There are plenty of other rental units available, and there’s no reason why you should have to comply with that kind of demand. Make sure you protect yourself and your finances from any fraudulent behavior.
Ask for References
It is well known that the landlord-tenant relationship can be fraught with issues if both parties don’t work together to ensure that the property is maintained and that all legal requirements are met.
In order to avoid any problems, you should always ask for references from any landlords you work with. These references can provide insight into how the landlord has worked in the past, and what their approach to working with tenants has been.
If a landlord is reluctant to provide references, this could be another sign that something isn’t quite right.
By following these simple tips, you can help protect yourself from rental scams. If you have any further questions or would like advice on finding a property in Harlow, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Geoffrey Matthew.
Thank you for reading! We hope this has been helpful. If there is anything, we can do to assist you further, please do not hesitate to let us know.
Best Wishes,
The Geoffrey Matthew Team has served as Harlow’s premier estate agents. Selling properties and helping people buy houses in Harlow since 2001!
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