How to Verify a Rental Apartment Ownership Before Giving a Deposit? (Chicago: apartments, rentals)

[SF to Chicago]

Hello everyone,

I am moving to Chicago from San Francisco and was there for the past 3 days looking for apartments. I found 2-3 units that might fit what I am looking for in the Lakeview / Lincoln Park area.

All those apartments were shown to me by either:

1. Property manager on behalf of the owner
2. An agent (again on behalf of the owner)

My question is: How do I verify if the person who claims to be the property manager, actually IS the property manager? I do not want to give a deposit + first month's rent to the wrong person and have him vanish with the money leaving me with no apartment. Could he be an impostor who somehow has access to that apartment, shows it to me, draws up a fake lease and vanishes with my money?

There were no tenants there so I could not ask them when I visited (that is what I did before renting in SF). I have already submitted my application and given a $65 check in his name as application fee. I would really like to verify his identity before sending a large check in his name as security deposit + first month rent.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much!

Ash

[Lookout Kid]

I have heard of this scam occurring through Craigslist listings, but I do think you can protect yourself a bit with some good internet research or a phone call or two. If it's an agent they should have a bona fide website and office that you could call to confirm. Don't work with agents who aren't at reputable companies. Additionally, most management companies have their names on signs somewhere on the exteriors of the buildings, and probably have an office or website that you could use to confirm.

[SF to Chicago]

Thank you. What if the person has not shown his office (and says he runs his own property management company)?

Many thanks

[ChicagoMeO]

Why don't you call some apartment buildings, and talk with the apartment building person themselves.

I would not use Craigslist if I were you.

I can recommend some buildings that looked pretty nice, since I study the apartment rentals a lot, I did that when I was really looking for a new place.. so I can recommend some for you to try that I think might be a good place to stay.. Of course you would have to talk to the building person yourself, but I can make some recommendations.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by SF to Chicago

Thank you. What if the person has not shown his office (and says he runs his own property management company)?

Many thanks

Does the company have a website? If it's just a single guy, it's hard to verify anything. So I guess that's a risk you'll have to weigh. But most of the places I've rented have at least had an office to call, or they had the name of the owner on the building with a phone number.