Private rental houses

This company is a scam I did my application for them they denied me because they said a third-party denied me which I never heard of a third-party denying someone so be careful of these people they’re taking your money and denying you for no apparent reason when I’ve been in my place that I’m in now for almost three years and before I moved into my place I was in another place for two years so how is it that I got denied from a third party be careful of these people they’re scamming you out of your money

Victim Location 33637

Total money lost $150

Type of a scam Travel/Vacations

Initial means of contact Not applicable

Found a house listed on multiple rental websites that directed me to this company. I called and they directed me to watch the walk through video and apply online and pay the application fee of $75 per adult, $150 total. We did so, were charged the fee, but credit was never checked and they called about 2 days later saying we were not approved but couldn’t give a reason why. They said we should get a cosigner to apply. I asked what the criteria to get approved was and they replied with a tenant to pay rent on time and keep up with the property…but still no definite answer.

Victim Location 33881

Total money lost $150

Type of a scam Credit Cards

Initial means of contact Not applicable

My girlfriend and I paid a $150 for an application in order to view a property. We were interested in several properties that this company advertised on many sites such as MLS and trulia. We both have an excellent rental history as I owned a home for 11 years previously. We also have excellent credit and make way more than the required 3x more than rent. We were denied and given no reason. drake the scam leader had insisted I drive by the property on oak cluster then retracted. well I did drive by and 3 other properties they had advertised as theirs and available for rent as I had spoken to 2 of his agents the day I drove by the properties. 2 of them were occupied. this is false advertising and completely illegal. how are they still in business and not in jail? its blatant and open. I have contacted my attorney and local news stations so hopefully more attention is drawn to this and they will be shut down

Victim Location 78727

Total money lost $75

Type of a scam Rental

Initial means of contact Not applicable

I found several rental properties on Hotpads.com and Zillow and when I inquired about them, “Randy” (no last name provided) said I needed to go to https://www.privaterentalhouses.com/ to see a virtual tour and to apply. I specifically told him that I lost my job because of COVID, that I have plenty of savings to cover rent for more than a year, that I’m a private lender and receive decent monthly distributions and that I have excellent credit. I asked him if it would be a problem if I couldn’t show steady employment income.
He emailed back and said, “no problem yes one application is good for all of our properties now and coming up and We are private owners and overall we are looking for a good tenant to pay rent on time and take care of our property
that’s fine again We are private owners and overall we are looking for a good tenant to pay rent on time and take care of our property call me at 813 4747410 if you have any questions”
There is absolutely nothing that should have disqualified me from tenancy so I paid the $75 app fee and submitted it. Randy emailed me and asked what name is on the application. Really? He then called me the next day and told me that I didn’t qualify and didn’t give me a specific reason. He said he would contact their 3rd party processors to see if there were other options and he never called me back. I emailed, called and texted him a few times to follow up and he never replied back. In hindsight, I now realize that the app never asked for my SSN or DL # so that they could do any kind of thorough background check. They did request my last four pay stubs and proper ID (my passport) which I emailed to them at [email protected]
I then found another property on Zillow (https://www.zillow.com/homes/4116-McTavish-Pl,-Tampa,-FL-33624_rb/2084141697_zp…⇄ and the listing agent’s name was “Drake W.” He said I needed to go to https://www.privaterentalhouses.com/ to see a virtual tour and to apply. I told him about my unsavory experience with Randy and he asked if I could get a co-signer on the lease. I asked him if that would cost another $75 and he said “yes.” When I called what I thought was Drake’s phone # (813.802.8519), it was Randy who answered and I believe that it was Randy all along who I was communicating with via text messages and there is no Drake W (again, no last name provided).
I believe that this a scam to continually get people to pay $75 for an app fee and there really are no rental properties to lease. Their website is in all caps (https://www.privaterentalhouses.com/), they don’t provide a physical mailing address on their website, they don’t provide their last names on anything, they don’t have a company email address, they don’t have their company name/logo in their emails, the emails are totally unprofessional and loaded with grammar mistakes, and they don’t follow through with what they say they’re going to do. So I was scammed out of $75, which I’m going to dispute with my credit card company.
I can provide proof of all the above via text messages and emails. This scam needs to be shut down immediately and this guy(s) needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Victim Location 14615

Type of a scam Rental

Initial means of contact Not applicable

I was looking for a house to rent in Florida. I came across a house on appartments.com for 895 a month and found a different add online same place with Zillow for 995 a month. They both had different numbers but was the same company. They also are listed as houses4rentflorida. I had spoken to joseline and they will give me the 895 price. I had a 75$ fee each person. Had to submit pay stubs and Id. I had submitted everything friday evening and monday morning I was told we didnt get the place. They couldn’t explain why we weren’t approved. Could be credit, job info, background or a landlord issue where we are at now. After I had paid and submitted the info I looked them up and saw they could be scam. When they called me Monday I told them what I had found and that I will report them and want a refund. They did send me the money back but was 6$ less. But at least I got most of it back. My boyfriend and I have great credit, been in our place for 4 years and never missed a payment, been at our jobs for 3 yrs. There should have been no reason for us to get denied. They told me it would take 7 to 10 business day to find out if we were approved and I got a call back not even 24hrs later. I just wanted to report them so the next person wont go threw this. It’s hard looking for a place out of state as it is with out having to worry about scams.