Don't Get Scammed: A Renter's Guide to Renting in Las Veggas

I've been in real estate in Las Vegas for over 18 years and have spoken to many renters that have either almost been scammed, or did get scammed.

With the high demand for rentals and low inventory, unsavory characters are taking advantage of renters who are hoping to find a great deal on a rental. Don't let this happen to you! I'm here to help you with find your next rental, without all the hassles that come with doing it on your own.

The Most Common Rental Scams in Las Vegas

The Fake Landlord Scam

The scammer will copy a real rental listing and post it on Craigslist or Facebook with a lower price. When you try to reach them, they are usually 'out of town' and taking applications remotely. In order to ensure you have a chance at getting your application approved, they ask you to send them a holding deposit via Zelle, Cash App or Venmo. After that, crickets. You don't hear from them again and can't reach them.

The Home That Isn't For Rent

In this case, the scammer actually breaks into a vacant home, changes the locks and pretends to be the landlord. There have been people that have actually moved into these properties and been there for several months before realizing they have been scammed!

Fake Rent-to-Own Deals

"No credit check" lease-to-own or owner-financed deals. What do they say - if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is! If you've found one of these 'deals' your best bet is to reach out to a licensed real estate agent to be sure you are dealing with a legitimate owner.

Pretending to be a Licensed Agent

It's not hard to find the name of a real estate agent, so it can be easy for a scammer to impersonate one and take advantage of a renter. You can verify the license of an agent at red.nv.gov. Most importantly, never send money via Zelle, Venmo, Cash App or any other app without meeting someone in person.

Self-Tour Scams

This is the one I've heard of a lot lately. Because there are property management companies that allow the self-tours, it's actually easy for a scammer to get access to properties, advertise them and then steal your identity or take application fees that are never processed.

Companies such as Invitation Homes, First Key Homes, MYND, and others give you access to their homes once they confirm your identity. You can find their listings on Zillow and other platforms. But before you follow a link or use an app to setup a tour, make sure you are actually looking at homes that you can find on their websites.

Need Help Renting in Las Vegas?

I specialize in rentals throughout the Las Vegas Valley and you can work with one agent to find your next home. Visit my Rental Page for more information and to get my free Rental Guide.