Renting in Manhattan - Searching for a Sublet, Leased, No Fee, Vacation Rental or Home, Corporate Housing



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IS IT SAFE? NYC Daily Crime Reports Avoiding Scams FAQ Stories Maps NYC S ubway Map

One victims unit says that one of the biggest warning signs of potential rental fraud is when the "owner" or "landlord" is insisting on a months rent/damage deposit in cash and is resisting accepting checks. As I said, I'm a psycho for safety, so if you want to attack the rental process like a combat tank, then follow everything to the letter. If not, well, maybe my tips will help if you are more laid back too. I always have to step back and remember that most people are good and are not trying to scam me. So that being said .... First, go into the renting process as if you were preparing to take the people to court. What I mean is START A PAPER TRAIL AND KEEP RECORDS - with details and DATES. Being complete and prepared saves time. In the end, if someone really wants to scam you and they are skilled, they'll probably be able to do it.... but that doesn't mean you have to make it easy for them! 1. Save ALL e-mails in your rental hunting process. Keep them in a separate folder. When you finally find a rental, start a new folder and NEVER delete your e-mails. Why? Because if you do run into a criminal situation, you can hand over the e-mails to authorities and they may be used to trace the e-mails back to their origin, providing yet one more piece to the puzzle. 2. Write down little things that come up in normal "get to know you" conversation such as where the occupants / roommates work, where they grew up, what they do for work and anything else. E-mail these things TO YOURSELF and keep them in your rental folder. E-mailing to yourself also helps you create a "date" timeline without having to go back through your things and figure out times and dates things occurred. 3. Bring a camera. Take pictures of the neighborhood and the inspection documents that should be posted on the wall when you enter the premises. Take more than one picture as the letters tend to get blurred on some shots because of the close range. 4. Keep copies of all documents, including checks. 5. Ask the person's first and last name. Google them. 6. Reverse lookup the phone number here http://www.whitepages.com/reverse_phone

Avoiding Scams: Precautions When Renting:
1. Ask for the property owners name 2. Be careful of Yahoo addresses and other easily cloaked e-mails. 3. NEVER, EVER send money to ANYONE you don't know by moneygram or wire transfer. How about payment by credit card through PayPal (may even have problems with this). 4. NEVER deposit money in anyone's bank account. 5. Hosting guests is not illegal, however, it is no welcomed by some landlords and may violate someone's lease which in turn may get you kicked out, if caught. 6. Start a paper trail. Start by writing out the address of the property on your check. 7. Turn over your check and below the signature line, write "FOR DEPOSIT ONLY". That way, they will be forced to place it in an already existing account at a bank. PROTECTING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER Instead of giving your SSN, see if they will take your driver's license number. Offer to order the credit reports yourself and bring them to the landlord. YOUR HOME; Tenant Privacy And Landlords Time Magazine Article A Landlord's Suspicious Request Who's Got Your Number? Qualms About Providing Social Security Number to Landlord When are Social Security Number Required? What is I have no social security number? Personal Information Protection Act (effective Jan 1, 2004) more research needed. Nightmare on Orchard Street http://www.scamvictimsunited.com www.scambusters.org http://www.homegain.com/realestate-blog/hi-honolulu/camillenaluai-5137458/rental-scams?post_id=606 Three Victimized in Tisbury Rental Scam May 8, 2008 DO NOT RENT AT 120 W58th Street. Money was stolen from vacationers. KNOWN SCAM: Thieves use someone elses photos taken from another website, changed the contact info, collect money and then disappear.

did you know that in most cases anyone who signs the lease is responsible to pay the entire amount? This issue is particularly sticky in roommate situations. In practice, it means if you lose your roommates or they become unemployed and are unable to pay the rent, you will be legally responsible for the entire rent.

Scams: Video Reports and Blogs

http://cw11.trb.com/news/local/newsatten/wpix-hotels,0,1542055.htmlstory?coll=wpix-home-1

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/court-blocks-3-illegal-upper-west-side-hotels/

If you suspect your landlord is renting out apartments in your building as hotel rooms, you can report it to:

Housing Conservation Coordinators
777 10th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
212-716-1665 (office)
212-541-5966 (fax)

For tips from Frommer's on how to protect yourself from staying in unsanctioned hotels, log onto their website at:
www.frommers.com

For tenants who rent out single rooms in Manhattan, and are experiencing a range of problems with their landlord, for assistance call:
Westside SRO Law Project
(212) 799 9638 X225

If you are a victim of rental scam:
1. Go to the area police station and file a police report
2. Contact the District Attorney's Office New York County District Attorney
3. If you are the victim of an internet rental scam report it at: Internet Crime Complaint Center: www.ic3.gov

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