Protect Yourself from Rental Scams: What You Need to Know

Property scams have been around for a few years now and don’t appear to be going away any time soon. These scammers seem to be especially targeting users on Facebook Marketplace and Instagram; where the chances of them being identified and caught are lower than on other channels. 

If you're searching for a rental property, it's crucial to attend a viewing in person to ensure the listing is legitimate. If you can’t attend, ask a friend or family member to view it for you. Any reluctance on the part of the landlord to arrange a viewing prior to a payment or signing of a lease, should ring alarm bells.

Here are some tips to help you avoid rental scams:

• If you're unsure, use the bond lodgement tool to securely lodge your bond with Tenancy Services, instead of transferring money directly to a landlord’s bank account. This ensures the landlord provides their Landlord ID number
• Never pay a property manager or landlord anything before viewing the property or signing the lease
• Be cautious if the rent is unusually low (below market rate), or if the landlord asks for payment through unusual methods like PayPal or gift cards
• If the property is listed on Trade Me, check the user's trading history to confirm their legitimacy
• Whenever possible, use reputable property managers, such as Harcourts
• Unfortunately, scammers have posed as landlords for Harcourts rental properties, collecting bond and rent payments from unsuspecting tenants. Stay vigilant and always report any suspicious activity.

By staying alert and following these tips, you can help protect yourself from rental scams.