For the uninitiated, renting out a property for the first time can be daunting. Even seasoned landlords can fall victim to rental fraud if the right checks and balances aren’t in place.
According to Catherine de Villiers, Rental Consultant at Jawitz Properties, the one tangible fraud that a landlord may experience is when a potential tenant deliberately misrepresents themselves financially with the view of moving into a property and then not paying rental.
SEE: Buying or renting property: Who pays for what?
“Estate agencies use credit bureaus and the Tenant Profile Network (TPN) to evaluate potential tenants, with the permission of the tenant as required by POPIA. Most agencies are listed on the TPN, where tenant-specific profiles linked to rental payments are created so that agents can access data to see if they have been flagged for non- or erratic payment.
“It also links to their payment profile on other loans, such as clothing accounts, credit cards, car repayments, etc. This then gives us a good holistic view of the person’s financial character and a credit score is allocated to them based on their previous payment history,” says de Villiers.
The vetting process should not stop there, it is vital to directly appraise employer and salary records and speak to reference provided to fully ascertain the calibre of tenant, a good-paying tenant that does not look after your asset can also cost you dearly.
“A good credit report, sufficient affordability and good references are non-negotiable. Using a reputable agency will minimise the risk of falling victim to fraudsters, loss of rental and the unpleasant experience and costs associated with trying to evict a defaulting tenant”.
There are also documented incidents of fraudsters sending through falsified bank statements, payslips, IDs, as well as proof of payments. “As an additional precaution, we get a bank code on potential tenant’s account that verifies that the bank account belongs to the applicant in question so we know we are looking at the correct bank statements.”
READ: A beginner’s guide to finding the right a rental property
“If landlords choose to rent their properties out privately, as an added safeguard, I would advise that a tenant only be allowed to move into the property once the deposit and the first month’s rental reflect in their bank account. Do not rely on a proof of payment being sent through as it is very easy for fraudsters to produce false proof of payments,” says de Villiers.
Tips for moving
No matter the situation, moving into a new home can be a huge task to fulfill, especially when there are roommates to think about. Having to move with roommates brings along a whole new list of planning to ensure that everyone is on the same page, says Biggles Movers.
Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks you can use to ensure a smooth move between you and your roommates.
1. Start early
It’s important to start planning as early as possible to ensure everyone is aware of what is happening and by when everything must take place. Starting as early as possible will help you to avoid packing boxes at 4 am the day before the move. Consider a team of professional movers to take some of the stress of the big day. They're trained to pack personal belongings and furniture safely and efficiently, making sure your personal items arrive at your new home safely. Even if you don’t have a huge budget, a team of movers can assist you with the bigger furniture that doesn't fit into your car while you and your roommates can focus on packing and moving the smaller items yourself.
2. Create a detailed checklist
Get the pen and paper out, sit down with your roommates and discuss all that must be done before the big day. Who will pack the common spaces? Who will go out to collect some boxes? Who will cancel the utility bills? This part is essential in getting everything as organized as possible. If everyone has their designated tasks to complete, then the move will go a lot faster.
3. Discuss bills, cleaning and more
Make sure that you are both clear on whether you are sharing the cost on all of the bills, including a discussion on how you will share food (or not) and how you will split up the costs of other household items like toilet paper, paper towels, etc.
Other things to discuss:
- Wake-up times
- Cleaning routines and household chores
- get togethers at the house
- guests sleeping over
- work schedules
- general wake-up times
Communication and respect with your roommate will go a long way to ensuring this is a win-win situation, so be sure to designate communal items and which items are off-limits to each person.
Hire a professional cleaner
You’ve moved just about a million boxes, and now you have to clean? At some point, it’ll seem like the work will just never stop. Luckily, professional cleaners have become quite popular nowadays and are easy to find.
Get into touch with a professional cleaning company to do the work for you, either in your new home or to help with cleaning up the old space you're leaving behind. Local company SweepSouth offer discounts on your first booking. Take a look here.
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