Firstly Condolence to those people or Victims who have lost their money to these fraudulent developers. May they not go unpunished for causing misery and pains to so many families because of their greed and selfishness. But this Tenancy Scam has brought about some issues i wish to address to help people avoid such pitfalls next time it occurs. It is becoming very very rampant especially in Big cities in Nigeria where there is a mad rush for the limited apartments for rent and we all have to help ourselves to do something to prevent such sad occurence in future.
1. Before you rent an apartment your not too sure about, contact a lawyer to investigate the developers or Agent. He is in a better position to ask for certain tenancy agreements, leases, contracts or deeds of ownership that the Owner of Agent representative is asking for. He can spot out certain irregularities involved to assist you so as not to fall victim to these scumbags. Always ask questions when your not too sure about something. There is nothing like a silly question when your money is involved. Its better to ask a dumb question and get answers reluctantly than keep silent and presume all is well.
2.If your going it Alone without a Lawyer, make sure you visit the apartment personally. Inspect everything from the doors to the cupboards to the walls to see whether there are inherent defects in the building. Once you have done that, demand that you intend to pay for the apartment ONLY if you can see the Landlord or the Management team. If stories begin to crop out that the Landlord cannot be seen because he has travelled or that he stays in another state but you can pay the Agent and he will convey your wishes and money to the Landlord, be very suspicious and wary and walk away.
A landlord or Management team must always be accessible to a prospective tenant so that they can assess themselves who they want to lease the apartment too. No landlord wants to rent his or her apartment to just anyone, so they themselves would love to do background checks. When there is an absence of a proper question and answer session to know more about you, know its a scam if its only your money they are interested in. Once you hear 'PAY QUICK BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THE SAME APARTMENT AND ITS A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE THING' Without any special interest in you or your background, know its a sharp scam to get your money out quickly.
3. Dont pay for Uncompleted buildings too when you haven't seen the Owner or more especially Don't pay for an Uncompleted building when you know the apartment won't be completed within a reasonable period of time. An uncompleted building you could pay for should deal with only the interior part such as doors, windows, cupboards or sinks, not flooring, roofing, tiling, complete plumbing and major work that you should know will run into Millions of Naira before its completed. A scamming Landlord or Agent will just collect your money and use it to carry out minor works in the house and when your money is exhausted, they will go and look for other prospective tenants to use their money to complete the house and its the last set of people that paid money for the final completion of the House that will get the keys to the apartment and freeze you out. I should know what am talking about because i have also being a Victim of this particular Scam at KayFarm Estate Ogba and it was perpetrated by one manager at Sterling bank Marina. It took me 2 months to get 3/4 of my money back but at least i can count myself as one of the lucky ones. Please don't fall victim to these people after this.
4. Before you pay any Agent or Management Team make sure you visit the offices and ascertain the address of the Agents to confirm they exist. Also before any Agent or Management team collects your money make sure you ask them for a 'POWER OF ATTORNEY' duly signed and sworn to at a court given to the Agent by the Landlord. That will give you extra security to know your dealing with the right person or people and know who to hold responsible for any malfeasance but make sure you give the Power of Attorney to a Lawyer to help you check out the authenticity of it before you pay. A lot of Agents are running around claiming to represent the Landlord or have a direct link to him. Never pay an Agent without such Power of Attorney from the Landlord to do so on his behalf. Its not the Agent letting the house out but the Landlord and when wahala comes, you have no remedy to back you up.
5. Also before you pay for any Apartment,make sure you stay within the area and ask neighbors around about the apartment you intend to rent. Never Underestimate the power of getting friendly with the artisans living around that property because they have all the good juicy stories about the environment and people involv[b][/b]ed. A simple visit to the vulcanizer or woman selling minerals around in exchange for N100 can provide you with all the information the Agent won't pass across to you willingly. Once you hear frightening or skeptical stories about the Owner or apartment, its your Cue to disappear and run with your money.
6. If your paying for an Uncompleted building, never pay in full. If your so desperate and patient to wait for that uncompleted property you desire make sure you convey to the Owner or Agent that your paying part deposit to safeguard your interest too. If the Landlord is adverse to that and only wants the full payment without giving you any assurance or extra safeguard that the apartment will be yours, then walk away. He is only looking out for himself and your money. Who is looking after your own Interest and Your money?
7. If the house is not a new house, always ask for the tenancy agreements of the previous tenants there and past receipts of the previous tenants to know whether its the same Landlord or Agent that has been in charge of the property from time and not new people posing as owners with the intention of ripping you off. When you hear of more than 1 AGENT claiming to representing the Landlord then know something fishy is going on with that apartment.
8. Finally issuance of a receipt doesn't mean your the owner of that apartment. Make sure when your paying for an apartment, its operation collect receipt and collect the keys to take possession immediately. (No Dulling)
Don't collect receipt for an apartment whereby you cant take immediate
possession. Your just playing into the hands of these scammers because
they will do the same thing for hundreds of people until you realize you
are just one of the Victims that they have played a fast one over.With the above tips and advise, you will be able to avoid falling victim to these Tenancy Scams. Cheers...
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