Rental application (Calgary)
 

Hi,
We are going to rent a condo and they are asking for a lot of personal information on the rental application: SIN Number, Driving License, Date of birth, Salary...
The place is rented through an agency.
Now, we have seen the place, it is a brand new condo, so the guy has the keys.
The problem is that we cannot find any information about the agency, we have only a phone number and an email address (gmail), and the name of the agent. That's all.
Any advice on this? Should we ask for any proof of identity?
Having the keys of the condo should be enough?

Thanks for your help

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

i was advised only to give my SIN number when applying for a loan or mortgage, or to my employer

on the rental applications i didn't fill out the SIN number or my driving license number, just showed the agent my ID and that was all good

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

That does sound a little bit strange. Are you living in Calgary at the moment? Have you tried googling all the names, phone numbers, etc.? Have you asked about ownership?

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

Sounds a bit dodgy to me. You shouldn't be giving your SIN number out to anyone.

We weren't asked for this when we rented. We did have to provide a letter stating the salary my husband was on. He also asked us to send him our new driving licence numbers which we never did. A landlord doesn't need that type of info.

We met with our landlord and gave him postdated cheques and he handed the keys to us straight away. He wouldn't have got the cheques without the keys.

If you are wary then do what we did. Meet in person and exchange money for keys. Is that an option?

Hope that helps.:)

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

I would want to know for certain that the agent is acting for the owner. I find it very strange that you can't find out anything about the agency.

Ask to see a copy of the lease, ask for confirmation he is acting for the owner and don't give personal info like your SI # - they cannot insist on it.

You should try reading some of the info on these websites:

http://tenant.landlordandtenant.org/...onrenting.aspx

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/reh...h/fash_001.cfm

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

Hi,

Thanks for your replies.

We are relocating to Calgary, we are now in a hotel until we find something.

We have seen the apartment already and meet him in person.
We asked him for evidence that he is the representative of the owner, and he said something like: "oh yes! It is just a paper", but did not seem very happy about the question.

What make me feel suspicious is:
-I cannot find any information about the agency or his email address.
-At the bottom of the rental application, in small print, there is a different email address with a different agency name.
-We only have from him a telephone number, a name (Jacky), and an email address (gmail).
-He has on the net some other apartments available, all of them available on the 1st of April. When we asked him if he had some other aparments to rent he said "no".

Finally I sent him the rental application without filling the SIN number and the driving license.

I don't know, maybe we are being a bit paranoic. If finally we sign a rental agreement I guess we will ask for proof of identity.

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

Sounds way to much like a scam. Personally I would walk away from this as fast as I could.

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

Red flags abound.

Different email address and agency name on the application form? If nothing else, I would be asking him about that before you sign anything or pay any money over.

Have you tried googling the actual address of the property to see if it is a genuine rental property or if there is another rental agency that is handling it?

You could also contact the agency that was on the application form and ask if this person represents them.

There are some useful tips to ascertain whether it's a scam or not here: http://www.fraudguides.com/tips/august7.asp

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

In complete agreement with the above plus with some of the information requested i.e. SIN Number, DL and D.O.B. likelihood of identity theft is a possibility.

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

Although I agree with the obvious comments to be careful I do think maybe others on here are not really in the same position so are not understanding why the info is being asked for. I moved to Calgary in September and at every apartment viewing I went to, there were at least 6 or 7 others trying to get the same place. It was ridiculous. Thankfully I was living with friends so was not too pressured. But it was explained to me that because there is so much demand, the onus is on the renter to prove they can afford the property and not only afford, but can prove they have a good credit record as well. As we had only just arrived we obviously had no credit and in the end paid 4 months rent in advance to get a place. The rental market in certain parts of Calgary is ridiculous, it moves extremely fast so although the advice to be careful is correct, unless you are trying to rent in this market you may not understand what the OP is saying.

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

i have

twice

never gave them any of the information that the OP is saying has been asked for - only thing i told them was my monthly wages and who my bank account was with

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

Sigh. There are obviously always anomolies. Are you honestly saying that back in the UK if you rented your house out you would be fine renting to someone who had just arrived in country with them telling you their wages and which bank they were with and give no other proof?

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

i don't know, never owned a house!

but two separate landlords in Calgary were obviously okay with it. Both the viewing times there were at least 4 other people/couples there at the same time

I did give them my employers phone number though, i dare say they could call up and confirm my wage...and with them being a reputable employer, that may have helped too?

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

I did say "if". Im pretty sure that if someone has the ability to move to another coutry they just might be able to answer a hypothetical question........... maybe not.
Id suggest you got lucky. My advice was more for the general person and what they have to provide. I have met a lit of expats here from the UK and elsewhere, they all have similar experiences in renting.

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

I don't dispute that in the rental market there is a need to 'prove' oneself. When I first arrived in Canada I was stuck in a hotel for weeks because nobody wanted to rent to me and I ended up having to pay 12 months in advance to obtain an apartment.

However, the fact that this so-called agent has a gmail email account, has no traceable office, is using forms issued by a different agency and is vague about whether he is acting on behalf of the owner all ring major alarm bells.

Whilst there is undoubtedly a need to give details to establish your credibility, I would not be giving someone with such undefined credentials any personal information. If they are a legitimate agent then they should have no problem showing proof that they are.

There are several scams that are instigated by someone legitimately 'renting' an apartment then showing that apartment to potential renters; obtaining security deposits, first and last months' rent etc., (and from several different renters, not just one) and then they take off with the money.

At least think ahead and use due diligence and check up on the person beforehand.

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

I agree with using caution and making sure the agent is above board. My point was do not dismiss it on what he is asking for in terms of information like a few posters on here were suggesting.

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

This sounds to me like someone sub-letting something they perhaps shouldn't be/aren't allowed to?

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

Three major red flags that should not be asked for, SIN Number, Drivers Licence number and Date of Birth. None of those items are information a landlord or agent should want or need.

Add to those a so called agent who will not willingly give anything other than his first name, a phone number (likely a Cell) and a GMail email address this deal stinks big time.

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

Id simply ask you when you last rented in Calgary. Unfortunately the market moves so quickly that refusing to give out this info (and the big rental companies like Boardwalk and Mainstreet ask certainly for all three) is absolutely fine. But it lowers your chances of getting an apartment. Age - a lot of buildings dont want to rent to under 25's because that increases the risk of deliquent tenancies and damaged property. Driving License - photo proof of who you are. SIN - credit check is easier plus if you run away easier to track you.

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

And, depending on your personal attitude to risk exposure, you'd presumably have no problem passing on those three pieces of information to a "big rental company" such as those you mention. But the OP is being asked to hand over valuable personal information to somebody who appears not to have any recognizable credentials of their own. Doing so would, IMHO, be an act of considerable folly more likely to result in ID theft than taking possession of a lovely apartment.

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

When I last rented is immaterial see Oakvillians reply, he is echoing my sentiments.

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

Erm well actually if you bothered to look at my first post I agreed to use caution to make sure the agent was real. I was simply cautioning against those (like you) who with seemingly no knowledge of the current rental market are advising you should never provide sin, driving license and age - when all those are required by the majority of landlords both small and large here. You are obviously unaware of that. Perhaps because you havent rented here recently. Maybe you not renting here recently is material........

To the OP - I would suggest getting some proper advice. There is a landlord and tenancy advice centre on McLoud near the Holliday Inn opposite Hooters. Drop in there or call them, they will be far more knowledgeable about the current market conditions and will also give you advice about what information to request from any landlord or agent. Renting in Calgary is hard at the moment, huge demand and not enough supply of smaller properties.

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

Not sure how long you've been here but you seem to be unaware of certain facts regarding SIN. So read this: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/s.../provide.shtml

As for Drivers license information I see your point as far as photo ID goes, but putting you DL number on an application form does not provide picture ID, so what is it for?

I still disagree with asking for age but if you or someone else feels comfortable with this then go for it.

My main objection to this is the shadyness of the so called agent plus the information requested, my suspicions are as stated previously, this info would be ideal for identity theft.

A legitimate rental agency I would still have problems with SIN and DL info in on application form.

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

Oh jeez if Id have known you were one of those types who just has to continue trying to prove himself correct even though he admits he hasnt been in the situation I really wouldnt have bothered.
But I will do so for one good reason: PEOPLE LIKE YOU MADE MY FIRST FEW WEEKS HERE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT BY GIVING INFORMATION THAT WHILST TECHNICALLY CORRECT DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

So I am simply trying to help a poster who is in the same situation I was in. Your information simply makes a newcomer overly fearful when agencies do ask for the info and then it will take them longer to actually find a property to rent. Is that clear enough for you?

1. SIN Yes, service Canada advise not to give SIN out. However when the vast majority of private landlords and all landlord companies require this - refusing to give it, whilst your right - will not get you a property.
2. Driving License - I was asked for a photocopy of this as proof of identity. Not to put the number on the form. However Boardwalks form ask for the number and permission to get a copy of the current license information from the registry. I assume others may do as well.
3. Age - many apartment blocks in Calgary state they do not take anyone under 21. Some put this restriction at 25. Again you can refuse to state your age, however if you actually want to get into a property Id suggest this may not be helpful.

This forum is fantastic for people who move abroad, however giving information that is contary to what the newcomer will find when they arrive is just not helpful. How can you not see that?

As has been reiterated before many times I agree completely to get more information from the landlord or agent before passing over any information.

More so contact the tenancy information centre, they will tell you the situation on the ground and give you proper advise. They are free.

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

LOL Pot Kettle. ;)

You're sounding more and more like a shill for the rental agent, your name wouldn't be Jacky would it? :rofl:


PLONK!!!!

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

Hi again,

Thank you very much for all the replies.

Just an update.
Finally we did not sign any contract because the guy was telling us that it would take a few days, but could not give us any date, and we didnt want to wait anymore.
Probably it wasn't a scam, just a very unprofessional "agent". Since this is a landlord market, they don't really care.

Apparently asking for SIN normal and driving license is something very usual, although you don't have to provide with this information if you dont want.

:starsmile:

Re: Rental application (Calgary)
 

okay, the other 3 people i asked, who've just moved to Calgary...2 from the UK and one from Manitoba, also got rentals quickly and had refused to give this information

i'd suggest it's more than luck :thumbup: