Stay safe and smart in your housing search. This section offers practical advice on spotting scams, protecting your information, and following best practices to secure a rental with confidence.
The information in this guide should not be interpreted as legal advice, and is provided for informational purposes only. If you’re in need of legal advice, contact your local legal aid provider.
Red Flags in Landlords and Listings
There are some common red flags to watch out for when looking for your next rental.
- Too Good To Be True: If the rent is way cheaper than other places in the area, it might be a red flag. Check the photos to see if they look real and not overly staged. If the amenities seem too fancy for the price, it could be a scam. While it could be okay to move forward with a rental property that raises these red flags, you should proceed with caution.
- Lack of Viewings: Always try to see the place in person. If you’re not in Nova Scotia, ask for a virtual tour. Be wary if the landlord can’t show you the unit or keeps making excuses. Scammers might list places they don’t own or can’t show.
- Illegal Fees: Watch out if a landlord asks for an application fee, a key fee upfront, or a damage deposit that’s more than 50% of your monthly rent. It’s illegal for them to ask for more than the first month’s rent upfront or any extra deposits beyond the security deposit. If they do, you can apply to the Residential Tenancy Board to have the payments returned.
- Lack of Transparency: A good landlord should answer all your questions. If they seem shady or rush you to sign the lease, take it as a warning. Don’t feel pressured to sign immediately; take your time to review everything and make sure the landlord is being honest.
- Unverified Payments: Never send money before signing a lease. The only payments you should make at the start are the first month’s rent and the security deposit (half a month’s rent). Avoid paying in cash or wire transfers, as they’re hard to track. Use traceable methods like e-transfer, cheque, or bank draft for safe and documented transactions.
Tips For Verifying Authenticity of Landlords and Listings
- Check the Landlord’s Profile: If you find a rental listing on a site like Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace, take a close look at the landlord’s profile. Make sure their profile picture looks real and they have some activity. A stock photo or a barely-used profile can be a red flag. Be careful if they’re hard to communicate with or seem evasive. Some websites, like Kijiji will also have ratings available for potential tenants to view.
- Verify the Unit: Always try to see the actual rental unit in person or through a live video call. This helps confirm that the place is real and matches the listing.
- Avoid Sending Money to Third Parties: Never send money to a third party or someone claiming to be a representative. Scammers might ask you to send payments to unverified accounts or companies. Make sure all transactions are done directly with the landlord and use secure, traceable methods.
- Watch for Multiple Listings: Be cautious if you see the same listing on multiple platforms with varying information. It’s common to see a rental listing picked up on aggregate sites, but if you notice that the rent price or key details differ from site to site, use caution.
Heads up! Platforms like WhatsApp may be common in places outside of Canada, but it is highly unusual to be asked to wire payment or provide sensitive information via WhatsApp. Use caution when communicating by any electronic platform.
Verbal Lease
A verbal lease is an informal lease agreement that is legally binding but lacks written documentation. It can be harder to enforce and prove in disputes.
You may find many month-to-month rental options on Facebook Marketplace being offered without a written lease agreement. While we don’t recommend these options because of the risks associated with them (like sudden rent increases or eviction without legal protection), if you do pursue them, it’s important to keep a few things in mind:
- Make sure that you do your due diligence of the place.
- Research more about the leaseholder’s background.
- See if you can reach out to past tenants to get more information.
- Document everything through email to have a written record.
Disclaimer Against Arriving in Halifax Without Pre-Arranged Housing
- You should only use short-term housing as a temporary solution between arrival and your lease start date. Short-term accommodations are costly, have limited availability, and don’t have the same legal protections as a lease.
- If you haven’t arranged long-term housing before arriving in Nova Scotia, be ready to stay in temporary accommodations for at least a month.
Considerations When Booking Short-Term Accommodations:
- Reviews and Ratings: Check online reviews to get a sense of the place. Reach out to the host or owner If you have concerns about the property or neighborhood.
- Booking Time: Book your stay in advance to avoid higher prices and limited options, especially during busy times (late August to early September and late December to early January).
- Location: Try to find a place close to your campus.
- Budget: Keep an eye on your budget and compare prices on different websites. Look for student discounts and find out if you need any special documentation for them, such as student ID or proof of enrollment.
- Age Restrictions: Confirm if there are any age restrictions for check-in before booking.
- Payment Methods: Many places require a credit card for booking and holding payments.