Rental Scams on the Rise
Property scams are on the rise again and appear to be targeting Facebook marketplace users. When looking for a rental, make sure an advertised property is legitimate by attending a viewing.Here are some tips to help you avoid being scammed when looking for a rental property:
- If you have any concerns, use the bond lodgement tool to virtually lodge your bond with Tenancy Services instead of transferring it directly to a landlord’s bank account. The landlord will then be required to provide you with their Landlord ID number.
- Do not pay a property manager or landlord anything before you view aproperty or sign the lease.
- Be wary if the rent is suspiciously low (below market rent) or if the landlord or property manager asks you to pay in an unusual way, for example, PayPal, gift-cards or similar.
- If the property is listed on Trade Me, check to see if the user has a trading history.
- Use reputable (Harcourts) property managers wherever possible.
Harcourts rental properties have been used by scammers fraudulently acting as landlords to receive bond and initial rent payments from innocent tenants. Stay alert, and always report anysuspicious behaviour.
