Photo courtesy of cbrealtycorp.com
Regardless of where you live, the rental market is filled with filth and scum (and we’re not just talking about the properties). Unfortunately, the recent rise in demand for apartments and other rentals has only made things worse. To protect yourself against slumlords and other scams, we recommend reading through the following tips courtesy of Elizabeth Pullman for the Huffington Post. Happy hunting!
Common Red Flags
- Excuse for not being able to meet with you in person. If landlord makes excuses as to why he/she can’t get back to you, beware. Landlords serious about renting a property will make it a top priority to show the unit. Landlord only interested in showing the exterior of the building? Pass.
- On a missionary trip in (insert name of exotic country). Don’t get caught up in this emotional scam. If you receive this response form the landlord, it’s likely because they don’t have a unit to show.
- Excessive punctuation. In all of the wrong places. An overuse of punctuation coupled with misspellings and the use of lowercase letters are all signs this is a scam.
- You must send a deposit to secure your interest. If the so-called landlord requests money to secure your interest in a unit, immediately write it off as a scam.
How to Protect Yourself If You Do Run Into a Scam
- Never wire money/pay for anything you haven’t seen in person. You should never be asked to wire money or pay for anything including deposits, application fees, etc. before you meet the landlord in person.
- Never apply to a unit prior to viewing it. Make sure you actually like the apartment you’re agreeing to rent before you sign a lease.
- Never make a security deposit prior to signing the lease. Typically, you will be asked to pay a security deposit – 1.5-2 times the rent – upon signing the lease. Be wary of landlords who ask for a deposit prior to signing on the dotted line.
- Let the listing source know. Run into a scam? Report it to the listing source immediately so that it can be removed.
Find Apartments For Rent in Cincinnati, OH
Looking for a property rental in Cincinnati? Rent It Today provides listings of available apartments, condos, houses, and townhomes for rent in Cincinnati! To view a list of available rental units, visit www.rentittoday.com today!
