The Landlord Protection Agency  
Main Menu, Landlord Protection Agency homepage Membership With The Landlord Protection Agency Free Landlord Services Member Services  

possible fake landlord reference? - Landlord Forum thread 331641

possible fake landlord reference? by Anonymous on March 2, 2015 @19:47

                              
Hello. My spidey sense is tingling. I have an application for a unit of mine. Prospective tenant cites reason for moving as "location, more space needed" and (as of today) said they could move in on March 15. I thought this was strange anticipating that they would need to give 30 days notice to current landlord. When I called to speak to the "landlord" to ask about notice, she said she was selling house and that tenant had already given notice. This was news. Then I tried to look up the property..zillow and trulia say "Not on the market". Can I also just say.."landlord" was weird to talk to - strange and reticent half answers and everything super glowing-- felt like I was being sold something...not like I was having a sincere conversation...something not adding up...
Any suggestions welcomed on how to verify info on app. Sorry if I sound daft...
thanks in advance!!
[ Reply ] [ Return to forum ]

Re: possible fake landlord reference? by Katiekate (New York) on March 2, 2015 @19:52 [ Reply ]
Look the property up on the town or county zoning map

Once you have the plot and plan number, you can take that to the assessor's books and get the name of the owner...and their address...with that you get the phone number and then you call them. If the phone number doesn't match...you know you are dealing with a con...you just avoid them.

I keep a note in my file of these applicants that lie. Believe it or not, they tend to come back around again a couple years later to take another shot.


Re: possible fake landlord reference? by Katiekate (New York) on March 2, 2015 @19:56 [ Reply ]
Oh...and once I run their credit...I get back current and past addresses from that too.

I make sure to get an application fee. I have to pay an agency to run these check, I am not paying for it. Once the applicant understands that agencies will be running the full credit/background/criminal checks....the ones that know they are trying to run a con on me leave right then, without submitting an application. Makes it so much easier to get rid of them before they take up any more of my time. For those that say they cannot afford the applications fee....well...then they cannot afford the rent either.
Re: possible fake landlord reference? by Lynn (IL) on March 2, 2015 @20:49 [ Reply ]
Find the PIN number of the property. Usually you can search for it through the recorder of deeds. Go to your states treasurer site and look at the property taxes using the PIN number. The property address is listed. If it is a rental usually the taxes are sent to a differnt address - where the landlord lives. I try to match these up. I once had an application that listed her previous rental address but she put a friend as the "landlord". so that was a very interesting conversation when she kept saying I dont know about her rental. All kinds out there Good Luck,
Re: possible fake landlord reference? by Anonymous on March 2, 2015 @21:54 [ Reply ]
So this is a bad reference. Take it that way.
Re: possible fake landlord reference? by Stanny on March 3, 2015 @01:37 [ Reply ]
You can also spot a fake LL ref with the LPA form Landlord Ref Qualifier that you use to eval them with.
Re: possible fake landlord reference? by Anonymous on March 3, 2015 @02:46 [ Reply ]
go to your auditor's site. Run the address and get the owner's information. If there is no address, I would tell the applicant the info can not be verified. Sorry.
Re: possible fake landlord reference? by John Brayton (Massachusetts) on March 3, 2015 @07:37 [ Reply ]
These are a few other things you can do:

¥ Verify that the applicant's phone numbers and the current landlord's phone numbers are different.
¥ Google the applicant and the landlord. Find them on LinkedIn, Facebook, and/or Twitter. See how the applicant's job in his or her online profiles compares with that on the application. Google the employer and verify that it exists.
¥ Proceed with verifying other information on the application, such as prior landlords and employers. If the application contains one enormous lie it probably contains a few.
¥ Drive by the current address late at night and see if the applicant's car is there.
¥ Verify that the email address from the applicant's current boss comes from the company domain name (@company.com). Contact that employer by both email and telephone, and use phone numbers found on the company's web site.

I think your suspicions are well-founded. I strongly suggest turning the applicant down no matter what you find. The only reason to continue the research is to protect yourself in case you need to defend against an unlawful discrimination claim.

John
Re: possible fake landlord reference? by MrDan (Georgia) on March 3, 2015 @15:49 [ Reply ]
You can always ask to see a copy of the applicants current lease or rental agreement, utility bills, etc. to confirm either the landlord or current address.

Check-Out
Log in

Look-up
Associations
Attorneys
Businesses
Rentals Available
Rentals Wanted
Realty Brokers
Landlord Articles
Tips & Advice
Tenant Histories

Other Areas
Q&A Forum
Free Forms
Essential Forms
Landlord Tenant Law
Join Now
Credit Reports
About Us
Site Help



Contact The LPA

© 2000-2023 The Landlord Protection Agency, Inc.

If you enjoy The LPA, Please
like us on Facebook The LPA on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter The LPA on Twitter
+1 us on Google