To gain more insight on how to navigate the complex world of renting apartments, we reached out to the team at liv.rent, a Canadian digital platform providing renters, landlords and property managers an all-in-one tool for finding, securing and managing rental properties. They were kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda, and explain some of the most common mistakes first-time renters make. "Many of the biggest mistakes people make when renting for the first time can be tied to a lack of education surrounding the rental process," the liv.rent team shared. "Unfortunately, the rental market is rife with scams that disproportionately target first-time renters – particularly students and newcomers to the country. These scams – which cost Canadians as much as $12.3 million in 2021 alone – often assume that renters aren’t familiar with their rights and what is expected of them during the application/leasing stage."

"This obviously isn’t the renters’ fault – but the reality is that those seeking rental housing need to be aware of some common rental scams and be able to recognize them in advance," the experts explained. "As an example, a common type of scam is landlords requesting an upfront cash deposit as an 'application fee'. Requiring this type of fee is illegal here in Canada and in most rental markets, but renters who aren’t educated on their rights and what’s expected of them may feel obligated to pay and end up falling victim to that scam."

"Before diving head-first into the rental process, it’s a good idea to study up on tenancy laws in your area and consult resources with tips for first-time renters. A little knowledge can go a long way in saving renters from losing their hard-earned money, or worse," the team at liv.rent added.

The experts at liv.rent also shared some of their best tips that can help the process of renting go much smoother for first-timers. "For any renters rightfully worried about encountering scams, we suggest using a platform that verifies both landlords and listings," they told Bored Panda. "To combat the growing risk of rental scams, some platforms like liv.rent have developed measures to keep renters safe by manually verifying the landlord’s identity and their ownership of the listed property through documents like Land Titles and government-issued photo ID. Choosing sites like these to conduct your housing search is a great way to avoid scams altogether and keep yourself safe."

But aside from scams, the team at liv.rent noted that it's always wise to know what you're looking for in a property and prepare accordingly. "Get familiar with the areas you’re planning on renting in and do some basic research on average rent prices, nearby transportation and amenities, and so on," they shared. "Knowing rent prices will help you avoid overpaying, while also helping you recognize listings that are too good to be true. Renters should also always ensure that they view the property either in-person or virtually before signing a lease, as this is the best way to tell if you’re dealing with a real listing."

"In more competitive rental markets, such as Vancouver and Toronto, renters should also come prepared with all the information landlords will ask for during the application process," the experts at liv.rent added. "Since many landlords receive dozens, even hundreds of applications for a single property, coming equipped with all your documents and pre-submitting your application will go a long way towards securing you a home to rent."

"Even before viewing a property, renters should show their interest by sending an application that includes things like basic identifiers, your employment/educational history, salary information, and other factors that show you’ll make a great tenant," they recommended. "It’s also a good idea to come prepared with any questions you have, since this further demonstrates your interest and shows you’re engaged in the rental process."

We were also curious what kinds of red flags potential renters should be on the lookout for when viewing spaces and speaking with landlords. "Rental scams can be hard to recognize during an already stressful rental process, but there are some key things renters should keep an eye out for," the liv.rent team told Bored Panda. "The first big warning sign is if the price is too good to be true. Obviously, a listing priced well below average can be tempting for renters on a budget, but it’s important to keep in mind the average rental rates in your area and steer clear of properties priced suspiciously lower than this." They went on to note that urgent demands for cash deposits or excessive personal information are almost always a bad sign, and urged potential renters to be careful not to reveal too much on applications.

"Renters should also be on the lookout for listings with blurry photos, hidden address details, or where it’s hard to find the landlord’s identity," the rental experts added. "Basically, if anything seems suspicious, it’s best to exercise caution rather than proceeding until it’s too late. This is also where researching your local rental market can be helpful, as it provides you with a good baseline for what other properties in the area rent for, so you can avoid the listings that are too good to be true."

The liv.rent team also warns readers to beware of landlords who are difficult to arrange viewings with or who are overly casual about the rental process. "Informality is a huge red flag when it comes to renting, as landlords should understandably be concerned with who they’re renting to and take steps to protect their property," they told Bored Panda. "If a landlord skips essential tenant screening steps like credit checks and calls to your references, or it seems like they’re rushing through the rental process, proceed with caution. For more information on common types of rental scams, red flags, and strategies for avoiding them, you can consult our post on the topic here."

We also asked the liv.rent team if everyone is bound to make some mistakes in their rental journey. "Renting can be stressful for anyone, let alone first-time renters, and small hiccups like forgetting to include references in your application or not knowing who’s responsible for fixing appliances are totally understandable and all but inevitable," they assured Bored Panda.

However, larger mistakes like sending over a cash deposit without first viewing the property or breaching the material terms of a lease agreement, are certainly avoidable by educating yourself in advance. "Renting is a two-way street, and renters should take the time to fill themselves in on what’s expected of both themselves and their landlord during the application process and the tenancy itself," the experts noted. "At liv.rent, we strive to ensure transparency at every stage of the rental process and actively promote our educational resources so that both parties can be aware of their rights & responsibilities."

"We’ve found that the majority of 'mistakes' that arise while renting don’t stem from malice, but rather from a lack of knowledge on one side or the other," the liv.rent team added. "Landlords are only human too, and are just as capable of making mistakes – which is why it’s important to protect yourself by knowing your rights as a tenant."

"For renters, this means being able to recognize common signs of rental scams and studying up on things like average rent prices, what’s on a lease agreement, and what types of deposits are permitted in your area. In short, renting is much safer and easier when you equip yourself with the right knowledge & tools."

"For Canadian renters looking to stay safe while renting, liv.rent was designed from top-to-bottom for easy, convenient, and stress-free renting. Our strict, manual verification processes are unique among Canadian rental platforms and seek to eliminate the risk of rental scams altogether by carefully checking landlords’ identities and property ownership," the team told Bored Panda.

"For landlords, we request that users upload a picture of their government-issued photo ID, which we check against the name on their profile as well as a selfie they upload to confirm a match. For property listings, we require landlords upload documents that prove ownership – like land title documents or property tax forms. Once we’ve confirmed a match, both profiles and listings receive a ‘verified checkmark’ icon which is conveniently displayed so renters can recognize it at a glance," they explained.

"On top of this, we’ve added features to streamline the application process and help renters on the liv.rent platform find their perfect home faster," the experts added. "Rather than spending all their time repeatedly filling out different applications, liv.rent renters only need to fill out their profile once and can then apply to as many listings as they want with just a few clicks."

If you'd like to learn more about liv.rent and how to be an educated renter, be sure to visit their website right here.

We also reached out to Parker Cox at Tenant Planet to gain some more insight that might be helpful for first time renters, and he was kind enough to have a chat with us. When it comes to the most common mistakes renters make, Parker said they can be broken down into three categories. The first one being "Property Condition/Expectations". "Generally, people will do a walk through but not thoroughly check the home and therefore miss a chance to discuss with the landlord things like: Are screens going to be placed on the windows, are there going to be shower curtains, will the carpets be cleaned? It is very common for someone who has never rented to be surprised when they get handed the keys on move-in day and its not 'perfect' in the way they were expecting," Parker told Bored Panda. 

"Especially for people moving from their parents home, the landlords expectations of 'move in ready' are often different than your mom’s," he added. "Another key point on this is that when people move in, they often don’t perform a move-in move-out form to document condition. TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES. OF. EVERYTHING—before your stuff is moved in. Those pictures are your proof of the condition to protect you when it's time to move out and receive your deposit back. There is no such thing as too many pictures."  

The next step Parker noted that renters commonly make mistakes during is the signing of the contract. "It is shocking how many renter’s don’t read the lease. For most people, it is the largest single contract they have ever signed. READ IT. It is extremely rare that a landlord is trying to pull a fast one, but understanding your responsibilities, their responsibilities and having discussions to make sure everyone is on the same page is a key driver in a good outcome for all parties," he told Bored Panda.

Finally, Parker added that the third category of mistakes that can be made along the rental journey encompass anything and everything else: "Who your roommates are. What the neighborhood is like—which isn’t just safety, but is there parking? Is it walkable? Is it private…etc?"

"These are all questions that you need to make sure you have thought through," he noted. "Oh, Brian doesn’t clean up much, but its not a big deal because he is so funny. Well, when you see a cockroach on a plate in the sink for the first time, and then you have to split the bill for pest control, Brian is going to be hard to put up with for another 9 months. Also, you think you want to live 'in the heart of the fun?' Turns out, people puking on your driveway at 4am and police sirens are not most peoples’ ideas of fun."

Parker also provided some tips for how renters can make the process run more smoothly. "Talk to the landlord a lot before you move in—especially if they are a self-manager/the homeowner," he told Bored Panda. "Building a good relationship is paramount to a positive renting experience. Also, if you and they have misaligned expectations, it is much better to know before you have signed a lease." He also wanted to remind readers that, "There is no such thing as too many pictures when you are recording the condition of the home."

"Go to the neighborhood at a few different times of day," Parker added. "You might notice that there is always a noise issue you want to avoid at 5pm every night, or that parking is terrible, etc. You want to see the house in the morning, in the evening, weekends versus weekdays, etc. You’re making a long term commitment; make sure you understand what that is going to entail."

When it comes to red flags to look out for, Parker says, "If your landlord doesn’t respond during the application and showing process, they are going to be a worse communicator when you have a maintenance or payment issue that needs to be addressed. Good communication is more important than a perfect home."

"If the home seems poorly maintained—loose cabinets, windows that don’t fully shut, doors that stick, etc. that means the landlord doesn’t prioritize maintenance of the house and prioritizes cost savings over living quality," He added. "Everyone can look past a door that sticks, but if that's how they treat the doors, then the plumbing, HVAC, (and the other big ticket items) those are treated the same way and those lead to much bigger headaches for tenants."

"Remember that there is no such thing as the perfect home. If you’re leaving Mom’s house and venturing out for the first time, it is going to be different," Parker added. "Your roommates are different, the person in charge is different, the way the home is kept and maintained is different. Anyone can adapt to these issues if they have appropriate expectations. The main mistake almost everyone makes is expecting it to be exactly what you were used to before. If you can keep an open mind and adapt to the situations presented to you, you are going to be fine."

If you'd like to gain more guidance from the experts before renting your next place, or you're a landlord looking for additional resources, be sure to check out Tenant Planet's website right here.