Property rental sector is impacted in a huge way due to illegal practices followed by some scammers. The increase in these scams is a matter of concern for tenants and landlords across the country. People looking for lease and rental properties are often fooled by scammers and the following article is to raise awareness among the common populace. Some of the usual scamming practices are:
Absence of legal rental agreements:
It is straight away a red flag if
property owners or agents agree to rent the property without drawing up a legal
deed. A rental agreement has the important details like the time period of
stay, rental amount and other clauses regarding the handling of facilities in
the place. Without an agreement, there are chances of problems to arise between
the tenants and the landlord in the future. Tenants can also easily practice
illegal activities without a fret in case of the absence of proper rental
agreements.
Demand of money before seeing the
rental/leasing site:
There are brokers who ask for an
advance cash payment before even showing the property. This is a clear warning
sign and most of the commoners fall easily into this trap. It is advisable to
walk away from the deal if a landlord/agent asks for payment before visiting
the site. Brokers who do this are often well prepared and they might even have
pictures of a fake property to lure in a person. In Chennai, if someone is
willing to rent one of the flats in Tambaram, it is advisable to go visit the site before deciding on the same.
Rushing to rent or lease the
property:
One might even come across landlords
who are too keen to rent their properties. Such actions are a clear warning
sign and it is advisable to stay away from these kinds of people. When they are
too eager to rent the property, it means that there is something definitely
fishy behind it. Doing a background check on the landlord is sensible in this
case.
Scamming with the security deposit:
This is a common practice followed by
scamming property owners across the country. By claiming that the tenant has
damaged the property excessively, landlords often withhold the security
deposited by the tenant. To make sure that these scams are prevented, as a
tenant it is advisable to take photographic evidence of the property before
moving in and while leaving the property.
Real estate agents who are fake:
While looking for a prospective
rental space, people often end up meeting realty agents who are scammers and
are looking to fool people. To prevent such mishaps, the government now has
come up with the Real Estate Regulation and Development Act (RERA) to filter
out these kinds of scammers. It is advisable to consult a registered broker
while hunting for rental or lease properties.
To prevent from falling into such
scams:
2, Always ask for a legal deed or agreement with all the details of the landlord and the tenant.
3, It is advisable to visit the property in person before finalizing the deal. Refrain from signing any agreement before seeing it.
4, Beware of the rental market rates in the area before meeting a landlord or a broker.
5, Have a conversation with the currently residing tenant or neighborhood folks to find out about the property and the owner of the property.
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