When A Scam Comes Home The Man Of St. John Spotted A Suspicious Rental Ad For His Mom S House

Ronnie Gosse, a construction demolition supervisor who lives in St. John’s, has been looking for an apartment since last Christmas. During this investigation, he was staying at his mom’s house downtown. So Gosse was surprised when he spotted a rental ad online for this very house. “He doesn’t have an apartment to rent. He only has a two-bedroom house,” Gosse said. “And I know he doesn’t rent to anyone.” Gosse decided to contact the person who posted the ad. “I was driving him a little bit, just to see what he would say,” Gosse said. “And right after that, he asked me for a down payment on the place. He said, ‘I can hold it for you today,’” Gosse said. At this point, Gosse revealed that he knew the rental ad listed his mother’s home. In response, Gosse said, the person immediately blocked him on Facebook. Goss said he called the RNC about the ad. An officer said Gosse’s case will be added to an ongoing investigation into rental ads, according to Gosse. Given the current demand for rental housing in the metro area, Gosse fears more people could be vulnerable to this type of scheme. “It’s scary because, you know, people who are trustworthy would go ahead and put a down payment without even seeing or seeing the apartment or the house,” Gosse said. “They might lose their money and then have to start over.”

Bidding wars, rent hikes and more

Gosse searched high and low for an apartment to call his own. And as a construction demolition supervisor, he has more cash to play with than some struggling to find housing. Gosse said he is willing to pay up to $1,700 a month for a two-bedroom apartment. However, Gosse doesn’t find many rental options in the metro area. And in many cases, he said he believes landlords are asking too much of prospective tenants. “I know one place was looking for a credit check and I mean, it’s fine and dandy,” Gosse said. Ronnie Gosse is looking for housing in the St. Louis metro area. John’s since last December. (Submitted by Ronnie Gosse) “But then they asked for my social security number. And you and I know that the only people who should have your social security number are the government or your employer for tax purposes,” Gosse said. Another prospective owner said she would go for monthly inspections without giving advance notice, according to Gosse. This is at odds with the Residential Tenancies Act, which says landlords must give tenants at least 24 hours’ written notice before moving into rental properties. Then there’s what Gosse calls apartment “bidding wars.” He said that in some cases, landlords do not set rental rates in advance. Instead, Gosse said, landlords ask prospective tenants what they would choose to pay. “I think that’s what’s driving some of the rent increases,” Gosse said, noting that he sees a “pretty run-down” basement apartment going for $2,000 a month plus utilities.

Scams, rising rents linked to limited housing supply

Sherwin Flight has run the Newfoundland Landlord and Tenant Support Group on Facebook for nearly a decade. He said the housing situation has gotten much tougher in the past year — and he said the lack of housing supply is his No. 1 concern. “No. 2 would probably be affordability,” Flight added. “Affordability has always been an issue for some people. But unfortunately when the supply of rental units decreases, the cost of those available tends to increase.” Sherwin Flight is the administrator of a Facebook group dedicated to renters and owners. (Ted Dillon/CBC) Flight said the shrinking supply of rental units is likely to spur an increase in fraud as well. “We see a lot of inquiries on our team where people say, ‘I saw this ad online and they want me to send a deposit,’” Flight said. “It’s always a big red flag if someone wants money before you even see the place.” Flight also warned of an increase in rental ads with photos and descriptions from property listings. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Flight said. Flight would like to see tougher penalties for landlords and tenants who break the rules of the province’s Residential Tenancies Act. He would also like to see more non-profit and social housing. But ultimately, he suggests that this problem could have a fairly simple solution. “To improve the housing situation, I think we just need more housing,” Flight said. “I really think it’s a matter of supply.” Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador

title: “When A Scam Comes Home The Man Of St. John Spotted A Suspicious Rental Ad For His Mom S House " ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-30” author: “Sherry Vaughn”

Ronnie Gosse, a construction demolition supervisor who lives in St. John’s, has been looking for an apartment since last Christmas. During this investigation, he was staying at his mom’s house downtown. So Gosse was surprised when he spotted a rental ad online for this very house. “He doesn’t have an apartment to rent. He only has a two-bedroom house,” Gosse said. “And I know he doesn’t rent to anyone.” Gosse decided to contact the person who posted the ad. “I was driving him a little bit, just to see what he would say,” Gosse said. “And right after that, he asked me for a down payment on the place. He said, ‘I can hold it for you today,’” Gosse said. At this point, Gosse revealed that he knew the rental ad listed his mother’s home. In response, Gosse said, the person immediately blocked him on Facebook. Goss said he called the RNC about the ad. An officer said Gosse’s case will be added to an ongoing investigation into rental ads, according to Gosse. Given the current demand for rental housing in the metro area, Gosse fears more people could be vulnerable to this type of scheme. “It’s scary because, you know, people who are trustworthy would go ahead and put a down payment without even seeing or seeing the apartment or the house,” Gosse said. “They might lose their money and then have to start over.”

Bidding wars, rent hikes and more

Gosse searched high and low for an apartment to call his own. And as a construction demolition supervisor, he has more cash to play with than some struggling to find housing. Gosse said he is willing to pay up to $1,700 a month for a two-bedroom apartment. However, Gosse doesn’t find many rental options in the metro area. And in many cases, he said he believes landlords are asking too much of prospective tenants. “I know one place was looking for a credit check and I mean, it’s fine and dandy,” Gosse said. Ronnie Gosse is looking for housing in the St. Louis metro area. John’s since last December. (Submitted by Ronnie Gosse) “But then they asked for my social security number. And you and I know that the only people who should have your social security number are the government or your employer for tax purposes,” Gosse said. Another prospective owner said she would go for monthly inspections without giving advance notice, according to Gosse. This is at odds with the Residential Tenancies Act, which says landlords must give tenants at least 24 hours’ written notice before moving into rental properties. Then there’s what Gosse calls apartment “bidding wars.” He said that in some cases, landlords do not set rental rates in advance. Instead, Gosse said, landlords ask prospective tenants what they would choose to pay. “I think that’s what’s driving some of the rent increases,” Gosse said, noting that he sees a “pretty run-down” basement apartment going for $2,000 a month plus utilities.

Scams, rising rents linked to limited housing supply

Sherwin Flight has run the Newfoundland Landlord and Tenant Support Group on Facebook for nearly a decade. He said the housing situation has gotten much tougher in the past year — and he said the lack of housing supply is his No. 1 concern. “No. 2 would probably be affordability,” Flight added. “Affordability has always been an issue for some people. But unfortunately when the supply of rental units decreases, the cost of those available tends to increase.” Sherwin Flight is the administrator of a Facebook group dedicated to renters and owners. (Ted Dillon/CBC) Flight said the shrinking supply of rental units is likely to spur an increase in fraud as well. “We see a lot of inquiries on our team where people say, ‘I saw this ad online and they want me to send a deposit,’” Flight said. “It’s always a big red flag if someone wants money before you even see the place.” Flight also warned of an increase in rental ads with photos and descriptions from property listings. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Flight said. Flight would like to see tougher penalties for landlords and tenants who break the rules of the province’s Residential Tenancies Act. He would also like to see more non-profit and social housing. But ultimately, he suggests that this problem could have a fairly simple solution. “To improve the housing situation, I think we just need more housing,” Flight said. “I really think it’s a matter of supply.” Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador