You have probably read stories about people renting out others’ properties and making a fool of the landlord. It is a crime and it has become very common these days. As a property owner, you should be aware of rental fraud and take steps to avoid being a victim. The consequences of a rental fraud are bad for everyone involved including the prospective tenants. Not only the landlord has to go through the headache of dealing with the authorities but the damages can be too large to ignore. If you are a landlord with a property in Los Angeles and this happens to you, it can be your burden of proof in court that the property is legally yours. You may also have to evict the illegal tenants from your premises.
If you take precautionary steps, it is possible to prevent rental fraud. A simple first step is to google search your property address periodically and check how your listing appears online. If you notice your listing has a different rental price or contact information, You need to flag it and email the owner of the listing immediately that you are contacting the police. The listing will get taken down 80% of the time. We have found this method to be very effective.
You can also purchase and install a camera system on your property. Many landlords think such security surveillance systems are there to prevent vandalism and robberies but this equipment proves equally good in dealing with rental fraud. Scamsters stay clear of properties installed with modern security systems because they most likely have to meet with the prospective tenants at the property to collect the security deposit and rent. They know they will be easily identified and apprehended by the authorities. As a landlord, you might want to treat the expenses involved in installation of a monitoring system as an investment especially in lower middle class neighborhoods.
