4 ms·

For anyone who doesn't know, never do that. Get a hotel/hostel/airbnb for the first week, then actually go to places. Never take a place you have not visited.

For anyone who doesn't know, never do that. Get a hotel/hostel/airbnb for the first week, then actually go to places. Never take a place you have not visited. Also in London, go private rental helps avoid the ridiculous agency fees.

J-dawg 9y ago
I'm genuinely surprised anyone would take a place completely unseen. Even if you remove the possibility of being scammed like this and assume the place does indeed exist, there's so much potential for creative photography to hide problems. Not to mention noise, bedbugs, broken appliances etc. Did people do this before the internet? It's amazing how a "corporate" looking website can convince rational people to be incredibly trusting. So yeah, never do that.
- creepydata 9y ago
  If you're only going to be living there for six months it doesn't really matter. I once rented a shitty apartment that I knew was shitty and could see was shitty. I needed some place to live right then and there and they weren't asking too much for rent. I wasn't planning on living there more than a year. Ended up living there two years due to medical issues delaying home buying but still don't regret living there at all. Plus, you reserve hotel rooms sight unseen.
creepydata 9y ago
Just touring somewhere isn't going to help, you have to make sure the person who is showing you the apartment owns the apartment, look up real estate records and ask their the landlord's ID. I say this because there is plenty of cases where scammers will break into vacant buildings and "rent" them as long as possible. Heard of a story where a guy was living overseas for a few months and came home to a family living in his house which had been "rented out" by a scammer who broke in and changed the locks.
- KekDemaga 9y ago
  I believe in some states its not even a matter of saying "Hey this is my house get out" you have to go though eviction processes to remove them as well. What a mess.
  - creepydata 9y ago
    Yes, absolutely. Tenantancy is usually established after around 30 days of continued occupancy and once they are tenants, even if they aren't paying rent, you can't legally kick them out without going through the proper legal channels. There's even been cases of people posing as fake real estate agents to "rent" apartments. If your dealing with a real estate agent then ask for their ID like you would a landlord, and the license number, and look up their real estate license online.

J-dawg 9y ago

I'm genuinely surprised anyone would take a place completely unseen. Even if you remove the possibility of being scammed like this and assume the place does indeed exist, there's so much potential for creative photography to hide problems. Not to mention noise, bedbugs, broken appliances etc. Did people do this before the internet? It's amazing how a "corporate" looking website can convince rational people to be incredibly trusting. So yeah, never do that.

creepydata 9y ago
If you're only going to be living there for six months it doesn't really matter. I once rented a shitty apartment that I knew was shitty and could see was shitty. I needed some place to live right then and there and they weren't asking too much for rent. I wasn't planning on living there more than a year. Ended up living there two years due to medical issues delaying home buying but still don't regret living there at all. Plus, you reserve hotel rooms sight unseen.

creepydata 9y ago

Just touring somewhere isn't going to help, you have to make sure the person who is showing you the apartment owns the apartment, look up real estate records and ask their the landlord's ID. I say this because there is plenty of cases where scammers will break into vacant buildings and "rent" them as long as possible. Heard of a story where a guy was living overseas for a few months and came home to a family living in his house which had been "rented out" by a scammer who broke in and changed the locks.

KekDemaga 9y ago
I believe in some states its not even a matter of saying "Hey this is my house get out" you have to go though eviction processes to remove them as well. What a mess.
- creepydata 9y ago
  Yes, absolutely. Tenantancy is usually established after around 30 days of continued occupancy and once they are tenants, even if they aren't paying rent, you can't legally kick them out without going through the proper legal channels. There's even been cases of people posing as fake real estate agents to "rent" apartments. If your dealing with a real estate agent then ask for their ID like you would a landlord, and the license number, and look up their real estate license online.