REIWA
Rental scams can have devastating impacts on your life, financially and emotionally.
With this week marking Scams Awareness Week 2024, it's a timely reminder to stay vigilant, use trusted sources and listen to your instincts when looking for a rental property.
If an offer seems too good to be true, it likely is.
We've put together some tips to help you steer clear of scams.
Warning signs
- Most properties in WA are managed by property managers so they will not contact you through or advertise on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree or WhatsApp. Be very wary of responding to ads on these platforms.
- Be cautious of rental listings that have extremely low prices. Scammers often try to entice people with prices that are too good to be true. Do some research on www.reiwa.com to see what properties are being advertised in that area.
- If the 'landlord' says they can't show you the property because they are away, interstate or overseas, it is probably a scam. Suggesting you do a drive-by of the property is another common trick.
- Be wary of someone trying to push or rush you to make a decision and send funds to "make sure you don't miss out of the property".
How to protect yourself against rental scams
- Use a legitimate real estate site such as www.reiwa.com to search for properties.
- Only deal with property managers or landlords you meet face to face.
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