How to avoid a rental scam
Martin Schoenberg, a property manager with Vancouver Luxury Realty, says renters should screen landlords as vigorously as landlords screen them.
One B.C. property manager says nearly 15 per cent of Craigslist rentals are actually scams
One B.C. property manager says nearly 15 per cent of Craigslist rentals are actually scams.
This past Friday, CBC News reported on what is one of Vancouver's biggest rental scams to date: luxury rentals are posted on Craigslist, then interested applicants are offered a discount — worth hundreds of dollars — on the monthly rate to tenants willing to pay a full six months' rent up front.
Martin Schoenberg, a property manager with Vancouver Luxury Realty, says renters should screen landlords as vigorously as landlords screen them.
Here are some of his tips:
- Ask references from the landlord
- Ask for proof of ownership, such as land titles or a city property tax assessment, or ID.
- Avoid any money transfers that are not traceable and do not pay upfront.
Watch Schoenber's raw interview with investigative reporter Natalie Clancy.
