Renters need to be careful when looking for a new place to call home as scammers are always looking for their next victims. (FreePik/NanaimoNewsNOW illustration)

By Jordan Davidson

protect yourself

Nanaimo tenants not immune as housing scams take advantage of desperate renters

Nov 3, 2021 | 5:25 AM

NANAIMO — If a rental property you see online looks too good to be true, chances are it probably is.

The region’s increasingly hot rental market is breeding more opportunity for scammers, looking to take advantage of people who may be in a desperate situation.

Nanaimo RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien said these scams are unfortunately common in our city.

“The average one-bedroom here is going for $1,400. So if someone is offering you a deal at $800 or $900? Red flag. They are saying it’s time-sensitive, or setting a timeline for you? That’s another red flag.”

O’Brien added a prospective landlord asking for money before a renter sees the place is another red flag, while people who are moving to the Island from another country, such as international students, are especially vulnerable.

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Experts recommend holding on to your money until you’ve seen the place in person, met the landlord and know all the information you can about the situation.

“Do the research, do a Google search, do a social media check,” O’Brien said. “Share it with your friends, do a search on the residence, call the City of Nanaimo, check the tax records to see who owns the house. There’s so many things you can do.”

What can you do if you get scammed?
Robert Patterson, a lawyer and legal advocate at the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre, told NanaimoNewsNOW the best way to protect yourself is to do research beforehand.

If you fall victim to a scam and don’t have any accurate contact information, there’s little recourse.

“It can be very difficult if you cannot identify and track down the person you are talking to. If you can, it may be possible to begin a legal proceeding against them either at the Residential Tenancy Branch or in small claims court to try and recover the money.”

Patterson said it can be hard to know how much personal information is too much to give potential landlords, as the Residential Tenancy Act in B.C. entitles tenants to a general right of privacy.

Things like credit checks can contain a lot of personal information, which is why it’s essential to know everything you can about landlords before sending any money or personal information their way.

Best Practices
Renters should always ensure a proper tenancy agreement is drafted and signed by both parties. This document should include the names and addresses for the landlord.

Tenants could also ask to see the landlords ID to verify they are who they say they are. While this is not a requirement, a refusal should be considered suspicious.

In return, landlords can ask a potential tenant for a B.C. Police Information Check (P.I.C.) which will show any past criminals convictions, as well as any negative contact with police.

More information on the B.C. Residential Tenancy Act can be found here.

Rentals.ca shows B.C. had the highest average monthly rental rate in the country between July and September of this year at $2,108 beating out Ontario ($2,044).

The province also experienced the highest quarter-over-quarter change in average rate, increasing 7.2 per cent.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow