How to protect yourself from fraud when renting an apartment. Review of current methods of fraud and counteraction to them. Tips on how to rent an apartment correctly so as not to be deceived How to rent an apartment so as not to be deceived

Every person who has at least once been faced with the need to rent an apartment, especially in a big city, has probably realized how saturated the rental and rental market is with unscrupulous people. To put it simply, they are scammers. Every year they become more and more cunning, using new deception schemes. How to avoid becoming a victim of apartment scams?

What should you pay attention to when renting or renting an apartment? So, what techniques, cunning and not so, are most often used today to deceive a gullible tenant.

Sections of the article:

Cheapest housing

This deception scheme uses low rental prices as bait. That is, an advertisement is given that offers a “ridiculous” price, usually 50% or more below the market price.

By calling the specified number, the client finds out that this particular apartment has just been rented out, but there is another wonderful offer.

And the real market price is called, in the hope that the person will not want to look for anything else, but will take advantage of what is offered.

This is the simplest and most harmless variation that can only take up a potential client’s time. But the next one is already luring real money.

Dummy databases

This type of apartment scam can be divided into telephone and real:

Renting with fake documents

Considering the level of modern technology, producing counterfeit documents is not very difficult, and there are plenty of such “specialists” on the fraudulent market. By acting according to this scheme, you can enter into an agreement with the owner and rent out housing using forged documents through dummies.

The tenant pays a deposit, moves in, and some time later an indignant owner appears, who was supposedly away. He declares that he does not know the persons who entered into an agreement for his apartment, and puts the tenant out on the street, naturally, without returning any money.

Sublease

This scheme is similar to the previous one, but the real owner of the apartment is not involved here. This type of deception has long been known and is very widespread. The fraudster rents an apartment, forges documents for it and his own passport, and rents it out to several people at an attractive price.

A security deposit or advance payment is required from each potential tenant. Then the “owner” asks to wait a couple of days to put the apartment in order, remove his things, etc.

News agencies

This is a more modern type of fraud. Such agencies provide potential tenants with a list of apartments at prices below market prices, with addresses, telephone numbers, descriptions and photographs of housing.

When the client chooses the appropriate option, he is offered to sign a contract without preliminary review. Thinking that this is an apartment rental agreement, a gullible person signs the document without reading it and goes to the specified address.

Not finding even the house in which the apartment was supposedly for rent on this street, the indignant client returns to the agency.

They apologize to him for the “overlay” that occurred and select another option. Arriving there, the client finds out that the apartment has just been rented out or something like that.

The agency politely explains to him that, having paid several thousand rubles, he entered into an agreement only for the provision of information services (if you read the agreement, this is what it turns out to be), and these information services are provided to him. The contract has not been violated, it is almost impossible to make claims against the agency.

False agents

Sometimes scammers use the names of reputable real estate agencies to carry out their business.

Usually it happens like this: someone calls a potential client by phone, introducing himself as an employee of the company and offering a favorable price for good housing, with a minimum percentage for intermediary.

Or first an advertisement is given on behalf of the company with a similar offer and a specified telephone number.

By calling the number, the client learns that to receive this wonderful apartment option in all respects, you just need to make an advance payment to the specified account. And overly gullible citizens really pay!

When they discover that no services will be provided to them, they start calling the office of the real company. Of course, it turns out that they do not have any agent with that name, and the advertisement was not given either.

This is how notorious scammers behave, for whom deceiving potential tenants is a profitable business. But real apartment owners can also behave dishonestly. Here are some of the most popular “divorce” options.

Early eviction

A fairly common occurrence is when the owners of an apartment, having rented it out, begin to deliberately create unbearable conditions for residents and make far-fetched claims.

The goal is simple - to evict the tenant without returning the security deposit, and often the rent. There is a circle of people who have turned this vicious practice into a source of permanent income.

You can also ignore the actual rental period. For example, rent out an apartment for 2-3 months, and tell the tenant that it is for a long term.

The usual monthly rate for long-term hiring is approximately 15-20% higher. Thus, after several months, the owner has an urgent need to vacate the apartment, and the difference in payment ends up in his pocket.

"Related" change

It happens that an apartment that is in shared ownership is rented out without the consent of the other residents. Which, naturally, becomes clear after the deposit has been paid and the contract has been concluded. As a result, the contract is declared invalid, and the unlucky tenant is evicted. Sometimes such situations are random, but most often they are provoked by the homeowners themselves.

The next version of deception: the apartment is rented out by close relatives.

The explanation goes something like this:“My brother inherited an apartment, now it is empty, but it could generate income.

Since he has no time to do this, I rent out the apartment. But there is no power of attorney, because they simply did not have time to issue it, etc. and so on.". Then the brother, the former one, naturally “is completely unaware,” returns from vacation, and the tenant has to move out. And the relative who rented the apartment is, of course, on a long trip at this moment; it is unknown when he will return; his phone does not answer.

Variations of “related delivery” can be very different:

• husband for wife,
• son for father
• granddaughter for an old grandmother, etc.

In this case, a performance can be staged with a telephone call to the brother (wife, grandmother, etc.), in which the figurehead replies that he, of course, gives his consent. In any case, the result for the tenant is the same: eviction with loss of money.

It would also be a good idea to draw up an apartment acceptance certificate in order to subsequently avoid mutual claims for loss or damage to property.

The landlord, like the tenant, bears his own risks when renting out an apartment, because the tenant can also turn out to be a fraudster: run away without paying or rob the owner.

In this case, you will have to file a statement with the police. Having a concluded agreement and the tenant’s passport details in hand will make this much easier.

If the opposite situation happened, and the tenant became a victim of fraud, contacting the police with a statement about the fact of fraud can sometimes also help, especially if you do this, as they say, “hot on the heels.”

1. “Money in the morning, chairs in the evening”

If, after viewing the ad, the thought flashed through your mind, “This is exactly what I’ve been looking for for so long! We must act quickly so as not to be late!” - stop for a minute. Because of emotions, a person forgets about caution and easily parts with money. Consider a classic scam ad:

After the call, it turns out that the apartment has not yet been rented out (wow!), you can view it even today, but the commission (“some” 5000 rubles) must be paid immediately, because the demand for the apartment is sooo great, and here it is -he's about to leave!

And this is where it works: “Eh, it was - it wasn’t! Five thousand and I’m happy.” Of course, the office draws up the contract “according to all the rules”, with stamps, etc. Of course, the client, who is in a hurry and euphoria, does not have time to read the contract. And after payment it turns out that the apartment was rented out literally a minute ago. "Did not have time!"

But never mind, there are other options. Only in reality it turns out that other options are nothing more than printing a bulletin board. And upon closer examination of the contract, it turns out that the “agency” provides only information services and is not obliged to show any apartments at all.

Conclusion:

• Pay the commission only in the presence of the apartment owner, having signed an agreement with the owner and received the keys from him. Also, check that the keys fit the doors of the apartment you are in.
• Don't trust ads that:

  The price is greatly reduced
  - the room is locked with things and will not be given up,
  - the owner goes abroad, on a business trip, etc.,
  - payment by transfers is offered,
  - it is emphasized that “decent people” are needed (do you think anyone needs dishonest people?),
  - a designer photo of a luxury apartment (such apartments cannot be cheap),
  - “assistance in registration” is offered (this is how they look for new arrivals: it’s easier to deceive them),
  - the phone number is indicated in letters or shown in the photo.

• Do not rent rooms in “apartment-type hotels” - this is also a scam.

2. “Our barracks are very friendly! Will you be the twentieth?

This method of fraud is used when renting out beds. Often the tenants themselves are responsible for moving in, so they often move in without a contract, on trust. This “scam” works precisely on the client’s trust. Typical ad:

It would seem like a wonderful friendly company, and the apartment is conveniently located. Apartment showings usually take place during the day, when residents are at work. The scammers take the month's payment, and in the evening all the neighbors return, not five, but twenty!

Conclusion:

• If inspection of the apartment is possible only during the day, then most likely they want to cheat you.
• When paying, ask for a receipt, which should indicate the passport details of the parties and the exact address of the apartment. Pay attention to whether the person's name in the passport matches the name of the author of the ad.
• It is highly advisable to conclude an agreement with the owner and pay him personally for the first month.
• If they refuse to enter into an agreement with the owner, pay 1-2 days in advance, and pay the rest of the amount after final check-in. Don't pay for a whole month at once if you don't know who you're dealing with.
• Do not rent a bed if the information does not match reality:

  They show you a room that is not the one in the photo in the ad,
  - another person comes to the meeting, and not the one in the photo in the ad,
  - the distance from the metro is much greater than what was indicated in the advertisement, there are no promised shops near the house.

• Do not trust advertisements that emphasize that the apartment is “almost perfect” in terms of location, interior, household appliances, etc.
• Most often, barracks are set up in three-room apartments, less often in two-room apartments.

3. Goodbye pledge!

This “scam” works when renting rooms. As you know, a deposit is paid only for an isolated room with a lock, because otherwise the room could be damaged by your roommates. It is this option that scammers use to “pocket” the deposit. Look at the ad:

So, the tenant pays a month’s rent and a deposit and moves into the room. And in the evening, 20 neighbors return to the apartment! At the end of the month the person has to move out, but the deposit is not returned to him. There can be many reasons for this: for example, torn wallpaper, a scratch on the cabinet, etc.

Conclusion:

4. Prepayment

Sometimes the owners are ready to rent out their home cheaper, but they ask for an advance payment for several months because they really need the money. Sometimes it's true.

Now imagine the situation that a month after you move in, the real owner appears and declares that the apartment was rented out using forged documents, and you have no right to rent the apartment.

Conclusion:
It only makes sense to pay several months in advance if you work through a trusted agency. In this case, it is dangerous to work directly with the owner, unless, of course, you are a real estate rental specialist.

And most importantly! Any fraud can be detected by two signs:

• you are offered almost ideal conditions, but
• There is a catch with payment: a large deposit, prepayment or lack of an agreement.

We wish you a successful housing search!

Real estate is an expensive pleasure. For this reason, many live not in their own, but in a rented apartment. This market is large enough that, as in any other business, there are scammers. Danger can await in Moscow and St. Petersburg and in provincial cities - there is no difference.

Let's look at what you need to pay attention to so as not to fall for a scammer when renting or renting out your property.

The most common fraud schemes

Before getting involved with the rental market, both tenants and landlords need to become familiar with the most common schemes used by scammers. Of course, such knowledge will make it possible to timely identify an unscrupulous counterparty and prevent undesirable consequences.

Fraud when renting out an apartment (risks of the apartment owner)

Apartment owners are more likely to fall for scammers. So, finding decent and conscientious tenants is quite difficult. For this reason, landlords try to thoroughly vet their tenants before allowing them into their apartment.

However, knowing the basic methods of scam when renting out an apartment by tenants, you can stop unwanted consequences and losses:

1. Very often, tenants sublet their rented housing. They must coordinate such actions with the owner. However, property owners often don't know about this unless their neighbors tell them. In such cases, a decent home at the beginning turns into a hostel, brothel, etc. Tenants receive their profit, and the owner has no choice but to accept the damage caused to the property.
2. Apartment renovation to pay rent. Most tenants resort to this method. The bottom line is that they insist on carrying out repairs at their own expense, pointing out the impossibility of living in the current conditions. Tenants' expenses are covered by the future rental value. The owner agrees, but as a result, the tenants do not make repairs and do not pay for housing.
3. Request for documents certifying ownership. Fraudsters rent an apartment and, under various pretexts, demand the provision of documents for real estate, and after receiving them, carry out illegal actions with them, for example, draw up a fake deed of gift on behalf of the owner for the purpose of further sale. Such actions are a clear example of fraud, which can only be challenged after the issue of criminal liability has been resolved.

Despite the fact that there are many more fraud schemes when renting apartments, most often it is apartment renters who become victims of fraud.

Let's consider exactly what methods owners try to deceive their tenants.

Fraud when renting an apartment (when you rent it)

Apartment owners very often deceive their tenants in order to squeeze out the maximum benefit from renting out their property.

Thus, the most common methods of apartment rental scams are the following:

1. Rent of housing that is at the stage of sale. As a rule, for long-term rental housing, payment is made in advance for at least two months. Tenants pay for these months, and after a couple of weeks a new home owner appears on their doorstep. In this case, the tenants are completely out of work. This fishing rod is a favorite tool of deceivers.
2. Lease by a person other than the owner. When a rental agreement is signed by a person who has legal title to the rental property, it is considered invalid. That is, the real owner can come at any time and demand eviction. In this case, tenants cannot demand or challenge anything; it is useless to continue disputes. The only thing left to do is go to the police.
3. Eviction for unknown reasons. Many landlords insist on evicting tenants without compensation for made-up reasons. Most often, they cite the neighbors below as the reason, to whom the tenants supposedly caused damage, etc. It is very easy to become a victim of such a scammer; the main thing is not to give in to threats and persuasion.

Most often, landlords change the locks on an apartment to prevent tenants from getting in. As a result, a struggle begins between them, where the homeowner most often wins.

Real estate agencies scam

Unfortunately, not only left-wing participants in the rental housing market, but also professional real estate agencies can be scammers. Renting is a good way for them to generate current profits, but not always in an honest way.

Let's consider several options for fraud on the part of such agencies:

1. SMS deception. This is perhaps the most common way to deceive clients. So, after registering on the agency’s online portal, the person receives an SMS on their phone asking them to respond in order to gain access to the agency’s information database and other opportunities. As a result, money is withdrawn from the phone, but the client does not receive any database.
2. Information base. When tenants contact realtors, they offer to buy a list of apartments for rent from them, and at a reduced price. Of course, the list is given only after payment of the full price. But in the end, either the list turns out to be fake, or the rental price according to the list is greatly underestimated.

Be that as it may, realtors manage to legally register their fraudulent actions, so it is very difficult to get under their skin. For this reason, most citizens simply do not want to get involved with them and prefer to act independently.

Mortgage rental

The essence of mortgage rent is to rent out an apartment that is pledged. The main condition for the legality of such a transaction is the consent of the bank. If there is no such document, then you cannot rent out the mortgaged housing.

In this case, the fraudster is usually the borrower. The victims are:

• tenant - the bank can evict him at any time;
• bank – the interest rate on commercial mortgages is much higher.

Banks regard such actions of borrowers as commercial. So if he finds out about the fact of renting out a mortgaged home, you can be sure that there will be consequences.

So before renting an apartment, you need to familiarize yourself with all the documents for it at least once.

Rent by proxy

Many owners give their apartments by proxy to third parties, in most cases to real estate agencies. It is more convenient for owners to receive income without their expenses and hassle.

However, in this case, the following undesirable consequences for lease participants are possible:

• if the owner revokes the power of attorney, the tenants may be evicted, depending on the terms of the power of attorney;
• the authorized representative may use his powers to the detriment of the owner of the apartment.

Thus, you should not issue a power of attorney for the right to dispose of your home to third parties.

Even when concluding an agreement with real estate agencies, you must carefully read each point.

How to recognize deception and protect yourself

The main signs of fraudulent schemes are favorable rental conditions. This is the main trick and scammers do everything to attract the attention of the victim. So you shouldn’t be tempted by the profitability of the deal, but it’s better to check everything yourself carefully and, if suspicions arise, refuse to cooperate.

So, the main ways to avoid getting caught by scammers when renting an apartment are the following methods:

1. Drawing up a competent agreement. The contract is a guarantee for both the tenant and the landlord. To avoid problems in the future, all conditions must be included in it. It is best to draw up such an agreement under the supervision of an experienced lawyer. It will be a little expensive, but the parties will be confident in the future.
2. Refusal of prepayment. Conscientious landlords usually require advance payment of no more than two months. Some insist on bail. You should not agree to such conditions, as this is a clear sign of deception.
3. Checking registered persons. You need to familiarize yourself with the list of persons with registration in the relevant home. If there are many of them, then it is better to refuse to rent, since at any moment one of them may demand his right to live in this home.
4. Preservation of original documents. Under no circumstances should you give anyone the title deed to real estate. The requirement for such documents is the main sign that a fraudster is standing in front of you.

Thus, attentiveness and caution are the main assistants in this matter. So don't neglect them. It is better to control everything yourself than to later deal with the consequences of property negligence.

Liability for fraud

Today, law enforcement agencies receive many complaints regarding fraudulent activities by participants in the real estate market. However, not in all cases people actually become victims of scammers. Many statements are made due to the illiteracy of the people themselves, who cannot distinguish between force majeure and fraud.

So, in order for the actions of individuals to be regarded as fraud, it is necessary that they fall under the following criteria:

• actions must be aimed at deception when renting an apartment;
• the deception must be for the purpose of obtaining money.

In turn, fraud when renting out an apartment is a criminal offense, and the punishment has a very different nature.

Thus, depending on the amount of damage caused to individuals, the following measures may be taken against fraudsters:

• criminal fine;
• arrest;
• correctional work;
• deprivation of liberty.

In this case, combined punishment options may be applied to persons. Thus, the court may impose a fine simultaneously with imprisonment or correctional labor.

For this reason, not everyone decides to engage in fraudulent activities, because in some cases individuals can be imprisoned for up to 10 years.

A large number of residential premises are available for rent, especially in large cities. At the same time, you need to keep in mind what rules to follow so as not to fall for scammers when renting an apartment. Various types of fraud operate throughout our country, in Moscow, Novgorod, as well as other countries - Ukraine, Spain and others.

In order to recognize rental fraud, you need to know the characteristics of a real estate agency operating in good faith:

the company's office should not be located in a slum and should not consist of one or a couple of small rooms;

the office location must be in the business district of the locality;

payment for agent services is calculated as a percentage of the cost of housing (this means that the price for the service cannot be equal for those who are looking for an apartment in a new building and a bed in a residential area);

the contract has clear clauses, one of which specifies the provision of services related to the search for real estate;

settlement with the agent occurs after the specified services have been provided (when the landlord and tenant have signed an agreement);

The agency does not take an advance.

If, when renting an apartment, it seems to you that a scam is happening, then it is best to refuse the deal and save the money . Otherwise, you risk being left without money and housing.

There are many types of schemes used by scammers. Despite the constant coverage of this topic in the media, people still fall for the well-known tricks of scammers. Not only people who are looking for housing, but also owners of apartments for rent can become deceived. You can recognize deception if you know the most commonly used schemes:

Sublease, which is clandestine in nature. This method of fraud is often used in large cities. The victims are the owners of the apartments who carry out the unofficial renting. The agreement is concluded in the form of an agreement - verbally, the owner believes that the housing is rented to exactly the person with whom he agreed. The tenant, in turn, rents out a room in the apartment or a bed for a day, and no contract is concluded either. As a result of such use of the living space, the furniture and equipment are in a deplorable state, but there is no one to demand compensation from, since there are no official papers.

Repair work carried out to offset rental payments. This is how tenants try to deceive, insisting on making repairs, arguing that they do not want to live in such conditions. The homeowner understands that he will first need to renovate the apartment himself and then find new guests, and agrees to such conditions. Then for several months he does not receive or receives a small rent, but does not see the results of the repairs. As a result, they have to evict the tenants and accept losses.

Title documents are in the hands of criminals. Elderly owners are trying to deceive people using such a scheme. The tenant asks to give him documentation for the apartment, citing arguments that it is necessary to confirm the fact of renting or another reason at work. After taking possession of the papers, the urgent sale of housing occurs.

Sale of an apartment that has been rented out. This type implies that the landlord demands payment of rent several months in advance, but does not indicate that the apartment is for sale. After some time, new owners appear and ask to leave the premises.

The transaction is concluded with a person who is not the owner of the property. The swindler reports that the apartment belongs to his relative, who has gone abroad and is temporarily unable to provide title documents.

Silence about the fact that other registered persons may live in the apartment. One day, the tenant finds a man at the door who says that he will live with him.

Eviction for far-fetched reasons. In this case, the fraudster will act in such a way that they will first take money from the tenant several months in advance, after which they will come up with reasons for eviction.

Changing locks. You can rent an apartment from the owner, who gives you the keys and asks you not to move in for a couple of days so that he has time to restore order. However, during this time the locks are changed, and the tenant, having arrived to move in, cannot enter the premises.

You can avoid fraudulent activities by following certain rules:

drawing up an agreement is a prerequisite for concluding a transaction;

low rental prices should always be a concern;

the time to think after viewing the apartment should be at least 1 day, during which time you can communicate with neighbors, find out whether the person is the owner and rents out the property;

Paying several months in advance should be avoided;

you can ask to present the house register in the presence of a realtor and make sure how many people are registered in the apartment;

documentation for the apartment (neither copies nor originals) should not be transferred to third parties, otherwise you may fall into the trap of scammers

Important! A correctly concluded agreement will help not only tenants, but also homeowners not to fall for the tricks of scammers.

Since I was already living in a rented apartment and just wanted to find a better option, I had a lot of time to understand the common tricks and tricks of apartment letting agents. And there were not so few of them. Fake photographs, non-existent apartments and more serious money scams.

I was convinced of some of them myself, and I know about others from the words of people who were less fortunate and who gave their money to scammers.

Fake photos

This is the first scam I've encountered. Not believing the too cool photos of inexpensive apartments, I decided to check them out in Google image search. And I was not mistaken.

Excellent apartment in the center of Kharkov

Turns out to be an apartment in the center of Barcelona

Most often, such apartments do not even require verification using Google. The price-quality ratio in them initially looks implausible.

The meaning of divorce. You call based on this ad, and either the apartment is already rented and they offer you another option, or they ask for a small amount of money to view the apartment in advance. Needless to say, you should immediately send these people to Barcelona, ​​to their own apartment?

Non-existent apartments

I had the most trouble with this trick. Notice boards are full of fairly high-quality apartments, but after calling the indicated number, it turns out that the apartment has already been rented out. For a long time I could not understand what the essence of such deception was, until I accidentally went to the profile of one of the “owners” of the apartment.

Too many apartments for one owner

The meaning of divorce. After you are told that the apartment has already been rented out, two outcomes may follow: you are immediately offered another apartment, or your number is included in the database, and they call you the next day from another number to offer agency services.

Prepayment for viewing apartments

Never, remember, never give money for viewing apartments or for services before you have met the owner of the apartment and made a deal.

On the appointed day you can for free come and see the apartment. The same applies to agency services. What is the point of paying an agent for his services if you have not yet concluded a contract with the owner of the apartment?

The meaning of divorce. Scammers work on the principle of “little but often.” They ask for a small amount of money up front and then disappear with it.

Renting an apartment

A friend of mine who rents out an apartment for daily rent encountered this problem. Having rented the apartment to a young guy for one day and coming to get the key the next day, she found in the apartment an elderly couple who had moved from another city.

According to the elderly people, it turned out that they found an apartment for long-term residence on the website a few days before and contacted the specified number. They were offered to view the apartment in one day and move in immediately. When they arrived, the young man showed them the apartment, took the money for the first and last month, gave them the keys and disappeared. Perhaps the most unpleasant divorce of all.

The meaning of divorce obvious.

Agency contract

The last mistake that can be made when renting an apartment is concluding a contract not with the owners of the apartment. The agency you come to may not be real, which is what a lot of people have encountered. Having concluded a contract with an agency and received (or not received) a key, you end up with an amount of money that is equal to two months of rent, and the office where the agency was located is no longer open the next day.

The meaning of divorce. Rent an office for a couple of days, get money from several people and disappear.

Conclusion

Here are some tips to help you avoid getting into an unpleasant situation:

1. Check the property thoroughly before calling the owner or agent. Don't forget about Google Images and your intuition. If you see that the apartment is too good for the money, most likely it's a scam. But you can call and see for yourself.
2. Don't give any money before meeting the apartment owners. Paid viewing, advance payment to the agent and prepayment - all these are just banal ways to scam you out of money.
3. Enter into a contract only with the owner of the apartment. He must have a residence permit in his passport and proof of ownership.
4. Search Google for “landlord blacklist.” You will be shown a whole selection of sites with a list of unscrupulous landlords.

That's all. I hope you don't fall into the clutches of deceivers. And if you’ve already been there, tell us about your experience.