(UNDATED) — Monday, August 22nd is the first day of class for students at Iowa, Iowa State, and U-N-I — and college students who are looking for apartments for the school year should be careful not to get scammed.
Consumer advocate Lara Sutherlin says crooks are making fake apartment listings online and asking people for up-front fees to rent a place. She warns people to not give in to high-pressure tactics if a landlord wants you to hurry up and sign a rental agreement or lease. Sutherlin advises going into the apartment yourself before renting, make a checklist, and take pictures of all existing damage.
Sutherlin says renters should also carefully look over their lease before signing it, including all of that fine print.
