October 25, 2018
A Kelowna property manager is cautioning renters to show diligence when searching for a new home so they don’t fall victim to a scam currently circulating throughout the city. Aaron Piva of Real Property Management Executives says fraudsters are actively working to scam innocent people by stealing their money and promising them housing they have no authority to rent out. “Kelowna’s rental market is a perfect scenario for these scammers,” says Piva. “They are preying on individuals who are urgent to find housing and know they have to act quick to secure a lease.” Piva says he became aware of the scam when he discovered an ad he had placed on Kijiji for one of his properties had been duplicated on Craigslist, at a dramatically reduced rate. “They literally cut and pasted our description and used our photos. It was an identical listing except the rent was much, much lower.” Piva says further investigation revealed a common scenario: the landlord claimed to be out of country, had no one local to show the home on his behalf, but would mail the keys as soon as the deposit and first month’s rent had been collected.
Rental scams like this are becoming more and more common, especially in markets like Kelowna where vacancy rates are so low. Ensure you don’t fall victim by following these simple tips from Real Property Management Executives.
Insist on meeting at the property and being given a proper showing
Scammers always claim they are unable to show you the inside of the property. Either they are out of town or the home is occupied by uncooperative tenants who refuse to allow it to be shown. To compensate, they will offer to send you extra photos or recorded video walk-throughs. Never agree to sign a lease agreement until you have seen the inside of the property. Real Property Management Executives accommodates all prospective tenants with personal showings or conducting live Facetime video walk-throughs so out of town prospects can experience real-time virtual showings.
Never send money through e-transfer or pre-paid credit cards
Since the fraudsters often claim to be out of town, it will be impossible for you to hand them the required security deposit or first month’s rent. They will tell you the only way is to e-transfer the payment or provide them with the numbers of pre-paid credit or iTunes cards. Make sure any funds you turn over are in the form of a certified cheque or bank draft, and only do so after a lease has been signed by both you and the landlord.
Verify, verify, verify
Make sure the landlord is, in fact, the landlord. Be suspicious if they refuse to meet you in person or only want to communicate by email. If possible, talk to the neighbours and confirm the landlord’s situation: Are they really who they say they are? And are they truly out of town? If the landlord claims to be a property manager, ask for verification. In British Columbia, property managers are required by law to be licensed, so ask for their licensing number and research them online.
If it’s too good to be true…
If the rent is significantly lower than other homes in same area, or if the landlord is willing to waive security or pet deposits, be suspicious.
Protect your information
Most landlords will ask you to submit an application for tenancy. Remember you are not obligated to provide personal information such as your social insurance number, bank account numbers or credit card numbers. Under no circumstance are you obligated to provide a landlord with photographs of yourself. Along with your SIN or personal banking information, this makes you an easy target for identification fraud.
In a market where rental vacancy rates are low, it’s common for renters to feel a sense of urgency when trying to find a new place to call home. Don’t let your focus on finding a new rental distract you. Know your rights and trust your instincts. Real Property Management Executives knows the best way to avoid falling victim to one of these scams is to be diligent and ask questions. Call today to find out more about you can protect yourself from being taken advantage of.
Treena Carson-Piva and her husband, Aaron Piva, are the Owner/Operators of Real Property Management Executives in Kelowna. Real Property Management Executives is independently owned and proudly serves the entire Okanagan area.
