A home is a primary need for each and every one of us. We can live off ramen if need be, but not having a place where we can heat it up, a place where we can curl up in a blanket and scroll peacefully on social media whilst the food cools, is inconceivable. With rising prices, however, the options have become a lot more limited, prompting some to consider co-living.

Sadly, some people see an opportunity to scam fellow roommates out of their money by pulling a few strings in the agreement. This is exactly the situation we’re speaking of today, as Twitter user @chlosarge shared a post she found by the scammer in question, and the internet had more than a few words to say.

We’ll be looking at the discussion that took place—with some people being absolutely appalled, and others seeing nothing wrong with the tenant’s actions. Make sure you leave your thoughts on this in the comments below, dear readers, and if you’re interested in another article similar to this, we have you covered with a story right here. Now let’s get into it!

The housing market is a chaotic mess, further worsened by people trying to make a quick buck through scams. One such instance was showcased in this tweet:

Image credits: chlosarge

A “head tenant” was looking for advice online after “forgetting” to tell their roommates that they’d been collectively paying an additional person’s rent

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As my mom used to say—don’t look for friends where there’s money involved. The greed within human nature seems to find a way to creep out, regardless of the kind of relationship you may have with a person: be it a family member, a friend, a lover, a random acquaintance, or a new roommate. Some may call it being smart; others, however, find it despicable.

A heated debate broke out online after Twitter user @chlosarge shared a post she found on the “Sydney Inner West Housemates” Facebook group. One “head tenant” was looking for advice as to how to approach their roommates after the four of them had been paying enough to ensure the head tenant was living in the home for free.

As the opinions of humans from both Twitter and Facebook fill up this article, let’s talk about rental scams and how to avoid them, regardless of whether you’re a tenant or a landlord. According to Stephen Michael White of RentPrep, rental scams can hurt both tenants and landlords, although the way these scams occur differs depending on the target.

The situation very quickly escalated into a discussion online, with a majority of the people criticizing the lead tenant’s actions, especially in this economy

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Rental scam artists are usually trying to make a quick buck when scamming tenants. They tend to collect application fees or deposits and then disappear. Tenant scammers are typically trying to live rent-free, like the person in the tweet, but others will sometimes try to steal appliances or money from the landlord.

Let’s look at some of the most common scams that everyone should be aware of. The first one—sending too much money in the form of a check. The tenant suggests that the landlord simply refund the difference. In reality, the check is not real, and the landlord will lose money if they pay the difference. Always return this kind of check and provide receipts when possible.

Another scam comes in the form of faking employment, credit, and rental history. Applicants can write anything on their rental application, and that leaves room for lies. Some applicants will even suggest providing a copy of their credit checks rather than paying another application fee, but that can hide their true identity or financial troubles. Thus, make sure you’re always screening potential tenants.

Last but not least, is the “swap to sublease” scam. Scammers may rent out property only to illegally rent it out to someone else. Subleasing is not illegal in and of itself, but it is illegal if it’s forbidden in the lease agreement or not disclosed to the landlord. So the terms regarding this need to be clarified in the contract to ensure one can pursue eviction and restorative compensation.

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Although a lot of these scams concern landlords more often than tenants, it’s good to be aware of the scams out there, as it’ll help you not get caught in nasty situations in the long run, especially if you’re opting to rent a room in a house full of others. Make sure a proper contract is established between all parties involved, including the landlord, and that you read the fine print. May not be the most entertaining piece of your life, but heck is it important.

For renters, USA.gov has some pointers as to what to look out for before putting down a deposit. Be suspicious if the advertised price is much lower than that of similar properties, the ads for the property have grammatical and spelling errors, and if the agent says that the owner is too busy, out of the country, or otherwise unavailable to handle the rental.

Never sign the lease before you see the property yourself or have someone trustworthy go see it for you. If people can catfish, they can housefish! Also, run for the hills if the owner or agent isn’t able to let you into the property or charges you to view it. And lastly, if the owner or agent is using high-pressure sales tactics. Yes, rentals tend to go quick, but if the place isn’t for you, it ain’t for you.

If you find yourself in the middle of a scam, losing money, you should always contact your local authorities. Unless it’s signed off on paper, it’s negligible and potentially illegal, so know you have the chance to press charges and possibly get back any money you may have lost. Also, contact the listing website where you found the rental so they can take it down and report the lister.

It’s unclear what will happen to the “head tenant” and their roommates, but we can hope that justice will be served. Make sure to leave your opinions on this in the comments section below, and I shall hope to see you in the next one! Stay safe, y’all!

However, there were those that saw nothing wrong with the lead tenant having the roommates pay extra, it covering the added responsibility and risk

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The original poster came back to the comments to add her final thoughts. Leave us your opinion on this in the comments below!

Image credits: chlosarge

Image credits: chlosarge

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