How an Agreement Lease Should Be Made?

Question

Hello, BP!

I am currently looking for a place to live. Having a couple of options, a landlord sent to me a lease agreement made on Word.

Is it a bad sign or can a lease made in Word be acceptable.

The "landlord" does not seem to be professional.

Do you know what can I ask him or do to protect myself for any fraud?

The landlord tells me that I have to make a security deposit of $700, but I just did not trust him since the lease was made in Word.

I would be glad to send a lease to one of you so you can tell me if it is not a fraud.

Thank you so much!

Will Fraser · Answer

Hi @Jose Antonio Flores!  You have a keen sense here . . . using Word to craft a lease isn't a non-starter, but beware exchanging Word files (i.e. editable and hard-to-trace-revisions files) back and forth.  At the point where you are going to sign or substantiate it with money being exchanged it needs to become an un-alterable file format.

As to the authenticity of the person you are interacting with. . . check the county records and see who (or what) owns the property.  If it is the same person you are speaking to FOR SURE then you're probably just dealing with an out-dated or un-professional landlord.  If it is someone else, then the key question is "what gives you the authority to lease this home?"  If they are a Property Manager then they should have an agreement and a license.  If they are neither a proven manager or a proven owner then it is unlikely that you are dealing with a legit person.

Keep your wits about you.  Scammers are savvy and as cunning as ever these days!

Jose Antonio Flores · Answer

Thank you for you thorough response Will!

I will make sure who the owner of the house is and ask him more about the lease he made.