Rental scams on the rise with hot housing market

BOSTON — A hot housing market is making it tough for first-time buyers to find something affordable and it’s also impacting would-be renters. Renters are now competing with buyers who are being priced out and that’s causing rents to skyrocket.

But it’s also creating a new market: rental scams. Schemes online are proving to be pitfalls to potential renters.

“Trust your gut. If it’s too good to be true but it definitely is,” said Christinamarie Desmairis. She nearly fell into a rental trap and says she wants others to be on the lookout for scams.

“I decided in December that I wanted to move so I started looking on the rental apps,” she told Boston 25 News.

So Christinamarie used Zillow and Apartments.com to search the hot and expensive rental market.

“Renters will need three months upfront,” says Andrea Patrino of Remax Realty Plus located in South Boston.

Desmairis was taken aback by rental sticker shock. She says some rents reached into the thousands of dollars. Patrino says it adds up quickly and a $3,000/month unit that can total up to $9,000 upfront.

So, when Desmairis saw a good deal online she jumped.

“I found one in Lakeville that honestly looked a little bit too good to be true but I figured I’d apply anyway,” she told Boston 25.

At $900.00 a month, she applied right away. And instantly she says red flags started going up.

“So, I sent it in and immediately they sent me back an acceptance letter,” said Desmairis.

The letter said in part:

“You will need to make Payment for security deposit so that we can shipped out the Keys and documents to the address you have provided to us. Give me a call asap so that we can make arrangement.”

“Then they hit me with a bombshell. I needed to mail them $1,000,” she said.

And that was without ever getting to see the place in person, she said. So, she wrote back saying she wanted to see the house first. Their response or lack of one stunned her.

“And they totally stopped contacting me after that,” said Desmairis.

Realtor Patrino says, “Yeah, never send money upfront, never send anything in the mail to someone you don’t know. "

Desmairis found another place in Plymouth for $800.00 a month but this time she caught on to the fishy response.

It said in part: “Thanks for your interest and inquiries about my house. Yes, the house is still available for rent and we are looking for a responsible person/ family.”

Desmairis replied by saying, “3rd scam house you’ve contacted me about!!!!”

Patrino advises finding a realtor to help navigate the hot market and sometimes tricky rental market.

“A good agent will verify all that information they’ll find out who the owner is go check on all the facts and make sure what you’re interested in is actually a legitimate listing,” said Patrino.

She also has some tips on how to afford these steep rents.

Patrino says, “Save, save, save and don’t be afraid to consider a different neighborhood.”

“If you go a few miles outside of the city just a few miles maybe five miles to the south, to the west, or the north you can get a little bit more affordable unit,” says Patrino.

Desmairis adds her own advice and says no matter what always trust your instinct.

“To be very wary of anything. If it’s too good to be true - it’s definitely too good to be true.”

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