Property managers who give keys to prospective tenants !!

I was just talking on the phone to my nephew who lives in Wagga NSW, he 's goiing on 24yo and himself and GF are looking at houses to rent.
Anyway he tells me that today a Real Estate agent gave him and his girlfriend keys to a unit that was for rent and they go look for themselves !

I was astounded to hear this ! I told him I hoped he locked the doors when he left as there would be no one to check.
He said " oh this is common down here at Wagga Wagga"

When I get my IP thats exactly what I dont want, any Jim or Larry walking through my property unsupervised !
Is this common in other areas? I didnt know some estate agents do this ?

 

I had a RE agent in Canberra do this nearly 20 years ago, when I was looking to rent. I agree that if I were the landlord, I would not be happy at all about that!

 

Obviously they photo copy ID etc but still your risking theft or damage .

 

Used to be common but now not best practice for an agent

 

Very common years and years ago, now it's very uncommon. Although; I'm not in a regional town.

I wouldn't ever dream of doing that, far too risky!

 

Would place the agency at risk.

 

no way!

 

I think it still might be common in regionals. I've had a few home open situations in rural WA where I was just given the keys and told to head over myself.

To be honest, if it was my IP and vacant, I wouldn't be that bothered. Its just not a big deal to me in the scheme of things.

 

Heard of but not common. If you're worried, call your agent as a potential tenant. Ask to see a property they have advertised and say you can't attend the inspection time, can you collect the keys? Then you'll know for sure.

 

I did several selfies when I was looking to rent in Newcastle (years ago).

I thought those agents were lazy.

 

Will insurance cover the property if something was to happen?

 

Do you think that helped or hampered your application?

 

On the most part they were dives. Not warranting an application

 

Used to be the norm decades ago when I rented and before the internet if the property was vacant. If it was occupied the agent would come along - no open houses.

 

Haven't rented for ~20yrs (damn! I'm getting old)

Pretty rare a rental advertisement doesn't include the address, 1st Q I'd normally be asked "Have you driven past the property to ensure its suitable?" meaning they don't want to waste their time meeting you there only to hear before going inside "Oh its a bit messy" or "wow that train-line/airport/hwy is noisy" or "oh? it has a cemetery next door" etc etc etc.

Through phone inquiry would-be A-holes know whether the place is occupied of vacant, when available, wouldn't need a key.
Neighbors become immune with many coming and going including any trades etc for R&M.

Insurance (should) covers a certain period of vacancy.

 

Right, but insurance would - I should say "may", depending on your policy - still cover you for burglary if somebody finds out it's vacant and breaks in and causes damage.

I suspect very few insurance policies would cover you for damage caused by an invited guest. (Which is what a prospective tenant is when you give them a key.)