We've all heard stories about less-than-honest landlords, but one renter's viral video on social media has fired us up. It's a shocking reminder of why it's essential to keep yourself protected when it comes to rental properties.

An Australian called @kig0404 on social media gained over 5.3 million views on her video when she uploaded her cautionary tale. Her viral warning—to always take photos and videos before turning over the keys to an apartment—is proving to be an important reminder for renters everywhere.

'Lol they thought they had a dummy...you all need be careful with these apartments,' @kig0404 captioned the video, which shows a slideshow of photographs she had taken after packing up her belongings. The images make it crystal clear that her apartment was left empty and spotlessly clean.

Witness how this tenant unveiled a stunning scheme involving security deposits. Source: Erik Mclean of Unsplash

But then, she revealed another slideshow—this time, showing pictures her landlord had allegedly provided. In these photographs, the apartment appears in complete disarray, with belongings and rubbish strewn everywhere. Astoundingly, the landlord claimed those were the conditions she had left the apartment in. Watch the video below:

​

Taking swift action to defend her security deposit and her reputation, @kig0404 shared the letter she sent to her landlord after receiving a paltry security deposit cheque for merely $40.96 rather than the $500 she was owed.

After involving both the rental office and the corporate office, she was eventually reimbursed for the full amount, showing that persistence and attention to detail pay off.

Thousands weighed in on the dramatic turn of events, many of them offering words of warning and advice to fellow renters. One user wrote, 'I recorded a whole video with the maintenance man standing right there, and I'm like 'man, what's today's date' and filmed EVERYTHING i don’t care.'

Another suggested, 'Next time, also do a video walk-through and don't stop recording until you drop the keys at the office.'

Unfortunately, this experience is by no means unique, as another person shared their own tale of woes: 'I am LITERALLY going through this right now!! Paying off a 3k lawsuit due to it and regret so sooo bad that I didn't take pics/vids upon moving out.'

Common Rental Scams​

Knowing the signs of a potential rental scam before you sign a lease or hand over a security deposit can help you protect yourself from a difficult and costly situation. Here are some common types of scams and how to avoid them:

Fake Listings​

One of the more common rental scams is the use of fake listings, where a scammer puts up an ad for a property that isn’t actually available. The perpetrator will often have the person fill out an application and even have them sign a lease before asking for the security deposit or rental fee. The best way to avoid a fake listing scam is to visit the property or research it online to confirm it’s not a hoax.

Low Rental Fees​

Another common rental scam is to solicit tenants with extremely low rental fees, which can indicate that the place is not a legitimate property. Always look into rental rates for nearby properties in the area to ensure that the fee is reasonable.

Double Bookings​

Scammers may advertise properties that are already rented, and have multiple potential tenants visit the apartment or house to collect multiple deposits. Investigate the rental owner or real estate agent before submitting rental forms or paying money.

Fake Rental Agreements​

Beware of rental agreements that are not properly formatted or contain odd language or grammar. Always have the agreement reviewed by a trusted third-party before signing it.

Protecting yourself from rental scams requires diligence and research. If something looks suspicious or doesn’t seem quite right, it’s best to take a step back and investigate further before signing anything.

Knowing these common rental scams and being aware of the red flags will make the difference in finding a safe place to call home. If you are aware of any other common rental scams that we haven’t touched on, please share it in the comment section below.

Key Takeaways

• A tenant warned fellow renters to always take photos and videos before turning over the keys to their apartment in a viral video.
• The tenant shared photos of her clean and empty apartment and revealed the photos her landlord allegedly provided, showing the apartment in disarray.
• The tenant received a security deposit check for $40.96 instead of the $500 she was allegedly owed until she contacted the rental and corporate offices with her evidence.
• The viral story has prompted other renters to share their experiences and words of warning, emphasising the importance of documenting everything.

At the Seniors Discount Club, we believe it's vital to stay empowered and knowledgeable about your rights as a renter. So, please take note of this story and always document the condition of your living space before moving out. Good-quality photos and videos can make all the difference if your rental experience turns sour.

We also encourage our members to share their experiences and advice with one another. Together, we can help ensure renters are protected from unscrupulous landlords and dodgy security deposit scams.

Stay safe, and keep advocating for your rights, dear SDC members!

 

[OldBells]

We've all heard stories about less-than-honest landlords, but one renter's viral video on social media has fired us up. It's a shocking reminder of why it's essential to keep yourself protected when it comes to rental properties.

An Australian called @kig0404 on social media gained over 5.3 million views on her video when she uploaded her cautionary tale. Her viral warning—to always take photos and videos before turning over the keys to an apartment—is proving to be an important reminder for renters everywhere.

'Lol they thought they had a dummy...you all need be careful with these apartments,' @kig0404 captioned the video, which shows a slideshow of photographs she had taken after packing up her belongings. The images make it crystal clear that her apartment was left empty and spotlessly clean.

View attachment 20314

Witness how this tenant unveiled a stunning scheme involving security deposits. Source: Erik Mclean of Unsplash

But then, she revealed another slideshow—this time, showing pictures her landlord had allegedly provided. In these photographs, the apartment appears in complete disarray, with belongings and rubbish strewn everywhere. Astoundingly, the landlord claimed those were the conditions she had left the apartment in. Watch the video below:

​

Taking swift action to defend her security deposit and her reputation, @kig0404 shared the letter she sent to her landlord after receiving a paltry security deposit cheque for merely $40.96 rather than the $500 she was owed.

After involving both the rental office and the corporate office, she was eventually reimbursed for the full amount, showing that persistence and attention to detail pay off.

Thousands weighed in on the dramatic turn of events, many of them offering words of warning and advice to fellow renters. One user wrote, 'I recorded a whole video with the maintenance man standing right there, and I'm like 'man, what's today's date' and filmed EVERYTHING i don’t care.'

Another suggested, 'Next time, also do a video walk-through and don't stop recording until you drop the keys at the office.'

Unfortunately, this experience is by no means unique, as another person shared their own tale of woes: 'I am LITERALLY going through this right now!! Paying off a 3k lawsuit due to it and regret so sooo bad that I didn't take pics/vids upon moving out.'

Common Rental Scams​

Knowing the signs of a potential rental scam before you sign a lease or hand over a security deposit can help you protect yourself from a difficult and costly situation. Here are some common types of scams and how to avoid them:

Fake Listings​

One of the more common rental scams is the use of fake listings, where a scammer puts up an ad for a property that isn’t actually available. The perpetrator will often have the person fill out an application and even have them sign a lease before asking for the security deposit or rental fee. The best way to avoid a fake listing scam is to visit the property or research it online to confirm it’s not a hoax.

Low Rental Fees​

Another common rental scam is to solicit tenants with extremely low rental fees, which can indicate that the place is not a legitimate property. Always look into rental rates for nearby properties in the area to ensure that the fee is reasonable.

Double Bookings​

Scammers may advertise properties that are already rented, and have multiple potential tenants visit the apartment or house to collect multiple deposits. Investigate the rental owner or real estate agent before submitting rental forms or paying money.

Fake Rental Agreements​

Beware of rental agreements that are not properly formatted or contain odd language or grammar. Always have the agreement reviewed by a trusted third-party before signing it.

Protecting yourself from rental scams requires diligence and research. If something looks suspicious or doesn’t seem quite right, it’s best to take a step back and investigate further before signing anything.

Knowing these common rental scams and being aware of the red flags will make the difference in finding a safe place to call home. If you are aware of any other common rental scams that we haven’t touched on, please share it in the comment section below.

Key Takeaways

• A tenant warned fellow renters to always take photos and videos before turning over the keys to their apartment in a viral video.
• The tenant shared photos of her clean and empty apartment and revealed the photos her landlord allegedly provided, showing the apartment in disarray.
• The tenant received a security deposit check for $40.96 instead of the $500 she was allegedly owed until she contacted the rental and corporate offices with her evidence.
• The viral story has prompted other renters to share their experiences and words of warning, emphasising the importance of documenting everything.

At the Seniors Discount Club, we believe it's vital to stay empowered and knowledgeable about your rights as a renter. So, please take note of this story and always document the condition of your living space before moving out. Good-quality photos and videos can make all the difference if your rental experience turns sour.

We also encourage our members to share their experiences and advice with one another. Together, we can help ensure renters are protected from unscrupulous landlords and dodgy security deposit scams.

Stay safe, and keep advocating for your rights, dear SDC members!

It also helps to take pictures of the place when you first move in so that you don't get blamed for existing damage when you move out

 

[Sherza]

Absolutely take as many pics and videos a you can, also read the power and water meters and take pics of them too. The water is another way they try to scam you.
in general, the best advice is DO NOT TRUST REAL ESTATE AGENTS

 

[Ladyjay]

There are a lot of shonky ones around these days, it all about $$$$

 

[Loubeauxarts]

What ever happened to sealing a deal with a handshake and knowing it to be binding? I, like so many other older Australians, am glad that I actually experienced those days. Unfortunately, for young Aussies, they seem to be destined to spend their lives trusting nobody and always trying to stay ahead of the next scam. Sometimes I rejoice at the fact that I am at this end of my life and not the beginning, it is just too tiring.

 

[Ashmenou]

They are all in it: landlords, real estates or strata’s.

 

[RTS]

Email any documents and photos back to real estate agents. This gives you proof, and it's dated.

 

[Cyberchook]

And on the flip side, my friend rented her investment home after she had completely upgraded and renovated it as she would her own home, kept up to date with all maintenance and reasonable tenant requests then the third tenancy had a tragic event happen . Now she has lost 8 weeks' rent and had to spend thousands to restore the property, fortunately, she had Landlords Insurance that has covered most damage but she is still out of pocket a couple of thousand. She and her husband repainted the outside again this time too, new carpets had to be installed and the interior was also restored and repainted offering the best conditions one could ask for in any rental. The rent is very reasonable for the area, she is not greedy but expects a fair rental as we all would. She has just re -leased the property to a young couple she hopes will actually treat her property as they claim they will on their application. Both have a good rental history. The Agent turned away over 20 applicants as unsuitable. That is also a worry as to where do those people go? There are good and bad in all circumstances. Too many landlords are sharks as well we know. Then you find a gem! like S.
I am sure she would support the renters also taking videos of the property when they leave too.

 

[Defiant540]

And on the flip side, my friend rented her investment home after she had completely upgraded and renovated it as she would her own home, kept up to date with all maintenance and reasonable tenant requests then the third tenancy had a tragic event happen . Now she has lost 8 weeks' rent and had to spend thousands to restore the property, fortunately, she had Landlords Insurance that has covered most damage but she is still out of pocket a couple of thousand. She and her husband repainted the outside again this time too, new carpets had to be installed and the interior was also restored and repainted offering the best conditions one could ask for in any rental. The rent is very reasonable for the area, she is not greedy but expects a fair rental as we all would. She has just re -leased the property to a young couple she hopes will actually treat her property as they claim they will on their application. Both have a good rental history. The Agent turned away over 20 applicants as unsuitable. That is also a worry as to where do those people go? There are good and bad in all circumstances. Too many landlords are sharks as well we know. Then you find a gem! like S.
I am sure she would support the renters also taking videos of the property when they leave too.

tragic event?