There is no question these days that you have to be careful when looking for a place to rent or lease in the Long Beach area or anywhere for that matter. Identity theft, renting from owners in foreclosure, or renting from people who turn out to not be the owners are examples of situations to be on the lookout for when shopping for a rental.
Tips to help you avoid rental scams
- Stick to legitimate property management companies or apartment communities.
- Contact a licensed realtor
- Have a realtor check to see if there is a foreclosure notice on a property you are about to rent.
- Don’t turnover credit reports, deposit money, or rental applications until you have done due diligence such as checking the better business bureau, checked to see if company or realtor is licensed by the Department of Real Estate, or that the owner of the property is the owner.
As always if you have questions about leasing feel free to contact me at 562-761-8497. Check local rental listings.
