Renters Beware

[wranglers]

Please read this if you are another victim of a Smithville landlord that requires a deposit when submitting a rental application. Applications do NOT require deposits. His scheme is to tell you that you have the apartment, keep putting you off getting it ready for occupancy, then when you have to find a place to live and can't wait any longer, he keeps your deposit. According to the Landlord & Tenancy Board, as long as you do not take occupancy of the rental unit, this is not legal. Seek legal advice is this has happened to you. He has done this to numerous tenants.

[Dudemanbrah]

Really? If this was more than just your encounter with this landlord, then there might be something to this. However, if it's supposed to be some sort of "off-the-record" bribe to get the apartment sooner, he just got some free money out of you and is in no way obligated to refund that money. However, if he was legit saying you get the apartment after paying, then there might be some legal repercussions he could face. It's better if the money was sent in cheques, and or something was in writing so you could get him better.

[ontario fatgyrl]

Hopefully you have a RECEIPT of the deposit paid. There are deposit laws to protect you.

[wranglers]

We had a hearing before the Landlord & Tenant Board and the ruling was in my favour. It wasn't bribe money. It was a deposit for last month's rent. I have since found out since it happened to me that he has done it to numerous people and I am not the first one to take him to the court. I wasn't venting about what happened to me, I'm trying to prevent it from happening to others, and so that he doesn't get any more tenants.

[juliepie]

There's a lady scamming renters in Hamilton, she gets a deposit and then when you show up to move, she says she never agreed to rent it to you and has no idea about the cash you gave her. Tanya Schaisson is her name. She makes sure to do the deal in person so that there's no paper trail. Beware!!!