Photo: still from the film "The Break-Up American Style"
Database
Many future tenants believe thatIt is safer to rent housing from agencies. They say that in case of fraud there is someone to complain to. But this is not always true. It happens. You find information in the newspaper about a real estate company that provides a database of apartments for rent for a small fee. You go to the agency, pay money and receive the coveted list. After that, you start calling the phone numbers listed in it. It turns out that the database is out of date. Then you return to the company to file a claim and get your money back. The company lets you reread the contract you signed, and it says that the agency provides information services, for which the client pays money. According to such a document, you cannot file a claim against the company. After all, the information has been received, and the realtors are not to blame for the fact that the apartments have been rented. How to protect yourself? - Contact trusted agencies. - Do not pay commission until you sign a lease agreement with the owner of the property.
Rent for a nominal fee
Advertisements offering accommodation inapartment for a minimum amount, the Internet is full of. Posing as agents, scammers promise to give the address of the apartment after the client pays money for the services (for example, transfers it to a mobile phone account). When asked why decent housing in the city center is rented out for free (you only need to pay for utilities), they answer that the owners of the apartment are moving abroad or to another city and want someone to look after the property. Sometimes the apartment comes with a cat that needs to be fed, or a dog that needs to be walked. Of course, having received the coveted address of the housing, you find out that no one is renting it out. How to protect yourself? - Do not believe ads with an implausibly attractive price.
Not your not sorry
It happens that the price indicated in the advertisement is notcauses concern, and the realtor does not ask for a commission in advance. But even in this case, there may be a catch. For example, after viewing the property, you sign a lease. You pay money for the first and last months of residence and a commission (usually equal to a month's rent). You say goodbye to the owner of the apartment and the agent and go pack your things. Returning to your new home, you see strangers. They may also have a lease. You call the police. The officers who arrive find out that the real owner of the apartment does rent it out, but on a daily basis. And the apartment was rented by scammers, it was with them that you communicated, mistaking them for a real estate agent and the owner of the apartment. They concluded a fake contract within 24 hours not only with you. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find and punish the scammers in such cases. As well as to get your money back. As a rule, scammers issue short-term leases using other people's documents or without them at all. How to protect yourself? - When you arrive to view an apartment, be sure to ask the owner for documents confirming that he is the owner of the square meters. This must be a certificate of ownership, and the original. If you are told that the documents are being re-registered, refuse the deal, even if it seems good to you. - In order not to rent an apartment without amenities, it makes sense to ask to see the utility bills. Many homeowners rent out their property but do not pay utility workers. As a result, the electricity or water in the apartment can be turned off at any time.
Heavy share
And it happens like this.You rent an apartment, pay money, check the documents and move into the apartment. Looking through the certificate of ownership, you do not pay attention to the fact that the person with whom you are signing the contract only owns a share of the apartment. And therefore does not have the right to move in tenants on his own, without obtaining the consent of the other owners. As a result, a conflict begins. The owner of the other share calls the police and evicts the tenant. The contract is declared invalid. Of course, it can be challenged in court, but rarely does anyone want to waste time, spend money on a lawyer to get back the rent. By the way, sometimes co-owners of an apartment collude. They stage a situation in which one owner agrees to rent out the apartment, and the other is categorically against it. How to protect yourself? - If there are several owners of the apartment, then each of them must present their certificate of ownership and sign a lease agreement.
