Finding House For Rent: Ways Future Tenants Can Spot a Fake Landlord (During Property Viewing)

These days, there are various people who would pose as landlords of various houses for rent but they are, just in fact, interested in your money. Landlord scams are popular these days and this is one thing that you should keep in mind when hunting for a house for rent.

One best way to know if the landlord you are talking to is fake, is to arrange a property viewing. This simple appointment will allow you to get to know just about everything you need to know, not just about the apartment and the landlord but their legitimacy as well.

Here are some simple tips on how you can spot a  fake landlord during a property interview:

Look for the apartment’s Energy Performance certificate.

This is a very important document that will tell you an estimate of how much your utility bills will be once you live in the house for rent. Along with that, this is also one proof that the house for rent is legit since it is a requirement for all rental properties.

Talk about the previous tenants.

While you are snooping around, it is best that you ask the landlord what happened to the previous tenants of the house for rent. Ask him about who they were and try to ask their contact number. In this way, you can know about the experiences they had in the house plus you will know id the landlord is a fake one or not.

Look for their existing electricity or gas certificates.

In the event that the old tenants have just move out, then it is most likely that such certificates are still up to date. If not and the certificates have already expired, it is best that you keep in touch with gas or electric company so that you will be able to know if they really did work for the said landlord.

Look for important paperwork.

Ask for the contract that you will be needing to sign. This should be signed during the day of your move. Ask it beforehand so you can get the chance to check it. In the event that the said landlord is not able to provide such documents, then be suspicious about his legitimacy.

In the event that you have proven that the landlord you have talked to is fake, then it is best that you avoid making any deals with him. In addition to that, notify the government agency in your state which handles disputes like these. In this way, you will be helping other people to avoid falling into the same trap as you.