Protect Yourself From Vacation Rental Scams. Here’s how:
Verify the owner of the property here: qPublic.net – Monroe County, FL – Map (schneidercorp.com)
Verify the address of the property offered matches the actual property. Google maps, zillow, or other sites should have updated photos.
If the ad is on facebook or some other site be careful. Ligit people will forward you to the actual property website for payment.
Red flags: They want to meet at the property and collect cash. They want you to send money by gift card or pay app. They are out of the country. They are subletting their rental because some emergency that came up (I don’t know of any vacation rental that allows subletting).
The biggest red flag is they want you to rent direct by-passing the normal rental site. Often a last minute cancellation will be advertised on sites like facebook. But the link should take you to a legit site. If you call a number don’t send money until the above questions are answered. A legit site wont pressure you to send money now or push an unreasonable sense of urgency.
Finally: make sure the property you are renting has a rental license. There are 2 types of license. Transient and Non-transient. Non Transient just means it must be rented over 28 days so check both lists. The City of Key West requires a license issued to the verified owner of any property that rents. Find licenses here: Licensing Division | Key West, FL
Once you have rented from a private owner you are often able to work out great discounts for future repeat business, especially if you go directly thru the owner and not a 3rd party site or rental company. The management fee at local vacation rental companies is 30% or more. Add that to the fees of credit card companies (2.5%-3.5%), VRBO or other websites (up to 10% and/or a yearly fee), and the property owner can easily be out over 40%. Plus the owner carries the utilities, the cost of furnishings, pool cleaning and upkeep, taxes, insurance, and on and on.
Update: VRBO and other sites now charge the renter a rental fee. Just another reason to rent directly from the owner.