Learn to protect you from the rental scams of homes in Barcelona and make sure to rent a home without problems.
Rental scams housing in Barcelona are a very common practice in the current real estate sector. When renting a flat, it is important to be careful and to be wary of false advertisements that are on rental platforms, because these usually contact the supposed owner or tenant with the tenant.
Types of scams that can be found relate to phishing email or email for personal data and use of DNI and even passwords to transfer money from a supposed bail. Another fraud is the phantom rental, offering holiday accommodation at a price below the market, the leaser is cheated by not showing the flat and leaving no trace. In such cases, the person must be very careful not to fall into the trap.
At the time of looking at the floor, it is important to check the creditworthiness of the renter and verify that the price of the rent is similar to that of the market and is usually negotiable. In addition, before paying a bail, it is essential to validate through safe options such as PayPal, so that this transaction leaves no trace in the victim’s bank. If you detect having been the victim of a rental scam, you must report it to the police and the portal where the fake announcement was published.
The most common types of scams in rental housing in Barcelona
Balance Stat
This is one of the most common scams when renting a flat in Barcelona. The crooks ask for a bond to rent a house, but then disappear with the money without providing the keys or displaying the property. It is important to bear in mind that, in most cases, bail should not be paid until the property has been visited and a rental agreement has been reached.
Early rental snap
This scam implies that the crook requests a prepayment of the rent before the property can be visited. Once the money has been paid, the crook disappears without providing the property or keys. It is important not to make any payment until the property has been visited and a rental agreement has been reached.
Non-existing property scam
In this scam, the crook publishes an advertisement to rent a property that does not exist. The fraudster asks for a deposit or advance payment to reserve the property, but then disappears with the money. It is important to ensure that you visit the property before you make any payments.
Stolen property scam
In this scam, the crook publishes an advertisement to rent a property that has been stolen. The crook shows the property to possible tenants, but he is not actually entitled to rent it. It is important to verify that the owner of the property is who is offering the rent.
Hidden Expenses Stat
In this scam, the fraudster does not report the additional costs to be paid by the tenant, such as community expenses or cleaning costs. It is important to ensure that all expenses are known before signing a rental contract.
How to protect against scams
Verify owner identity
It is important to ensure that the person offering the rent is the owner of the property. The identity of the owner can be verified through documents such as the property register.
Visit Property
It is essential to visit the property before making any payment or contract signing. In this way, it can be verified that the property exists and is in the conditions described.
Don’t pay any amounts until you have visited the property
It is important not to make any payment until you have visited the property and have reached an agreement with the owner on the terms of rent, payment and other relevant details. It is also advisable to carry out a property inspection to ensure that it meets the conditions offered. Once an agreement has been reached and it is certain that the property complies with the agreed conditions, the corresponding payment may be made in accordance with the established contract.
Verify contract legality
Before signing a rental contract, it is important to ensure that it is legal and contains all the necessary information. The contract must include the terms of rent, duration, amount of income and any other additional expenditure.
Do not make cash payments
It is advisable to avoid making cash payments and instead use safe methods such as bank transfers or credit cards. In this way, you can have a record of the payments made.
Not relying on offers that are too good to be true
If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. It is important to be careful with excessively low prices or excessively favourable rental conditions.
Use a trusted real estate agency
If there is any doubt about the legality of the contract or the identity of the owner, it is advisable to use the services of a trusted real estate agency. These agencies can help verify the legality of the contract and provide advice on the rental process.
Keep a clear and written communication
It is important to have clear and written communication with the owner or property agency. In this way, misunderstandings can be avoided and proof of the talks being conducted.
Conclusion
Leasing a house in Barcelona can be a complicated and risky process if care is not taken. In order to avoid the most common scams, it is important to follow the advice mentioned in this article. Verifying the identity of the owner, visiting the property, verifying the legality of the contract and avoiding cash payments are some of the measures that can be taken to protect against fraud.
