Study: More people renting; How to avoid money mistakes while apartment hunting

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — A recent study signals which zip codes across the US are primarily occupied by renters, opposed to owners, meaning more people are navigating the online rental marketplace.

People living in D.C.’s Capitol Hill neighborhood are among the top 20 U.S. zip codes that saw a majority of people renting versus owning in 2020, according to a 2022 RentCafe analysis using the latest census data.

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The data indicates more people are navigating the rental marketplace, and even using social media to search. In the meantime, law enforcement divisions urge consumers to be cautious during housing searches.

Adam Teitelbaum, director of the Office Consumer Protection with the District’s Attorney General says, over 100 rental scam complaints have been filed in recent years, but described the figure as “the tip of the iceberg.”

“Look out for inconsistencies with postings, google the landlord to make sure they’re a real landlord. Call a number that you find independently that’s not on the listing,” Teitelbaum said.

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“What we strongly suggest is that folks not actually pay the security deposit until they have a fully signed and executed lease in place, adding that consumers should avoid using mobile payment apps like Zelle and Venmo where it is harder to track the movement of money,” he added.

Touring apartments is also key, and out-of-towners can either ask a friend or family member to visit on their behalf or ask the landlord for a live video call of the listing.

Any complaints of fraud should be reported to police or state attorneys general offices for review.

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