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Is it dodgy to pay a deposit in cash without a contract/lease?

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  • 29-06-2015 1:12pm
    #1
    MonkeyBalls
    Registered Users Posts: 437 ✭✭


    Summary: moving into a shared flat in Galway, just met the owners yesterday, seem like nice people, they want a deposit but there's no contract/lease.

    I know I'm probably being paranoid, but what's to stop them from scamming or doing me, when there's no paper trail?

    Is there some proof or guarantee I should ask from them in writing?


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    #2
    jimmii
    Registered Users Posts: 14,810 ✭✭✭✭jimmii


    Get something written down even if its just a receipt saying deposit paid, the amount then get them to sign and date it. Its not much but at least then you can prove you have paid them. Its not that much to ask I don't see why anyone would refuse to do it.


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    #3
    athtrasna
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,420 ✭✭✭✭athtrasna


    Are you moving in with the owners? If so it would be almost standard not to have a lease as you would be a licensee


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    #4
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,967 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    Why not pay with a bank draft, rather than cash?


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    #5
    masterboy123
    Registered Users Posts: 5,781 ✭✭✭masterboy123


    Use bank draft or online transfer.


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    #6
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 24,714 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Its par for the course in shared accommodation not to have any contract or lease. Rooms rented separately with one months notice required to move out, generally a turn over of people over time etc so it suits both tenants and LL's to keep it simple.

    In these situations the deposit is often sorted out by giving it to the person vacating the room and then in turn if you move out you get it from the person taking your place but obviously the LL is dealing with it in your situation.


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    #7
    MonkeyBalls
    Registered Users Posts: 437 ✭✭MonkeyBalls


    athtrasna wrote: »
    Are you moving in with the owners? If so it would be almost standard not to have a lease as you would be a licensee

    Not the owners, as far as I know. The owner is a landlord who lives elsewhere. So I guess I should ask for a rentbook at least?
    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    Why not pay with a bank draft, rather than cash?

    Apparently the guy prefers cash (which spurred me to write this post...), though I could insist on a bank draft.


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    #8
    MonkeyBalls
    Registered Users Posts: 437 ✭✭MonkeyBalls


    Adrien Brief Ramrod wrote: »
    Its par for the course in shared accommodation not to have any contract or lease. Rooms rented separately with one months notice required to move out, generally a turn over of people over time etc so it suits both tenants and LL's to keep it simple.

    In these situations the deposit is often sorted out by giving it to the person vacating the room and then in turn if you move out you get it from the person taking your place but obviously the LL is dealing with it in your situation.

    Cheers, that makes sense. I don't know the involvement of the LL, all I know is we are supposed to give the money to one of the guys who then pays the LL.

    I just want to ensure there's some documentation and everything is above board.


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    #9
    ted1
    Registered Users Posts: 23,536 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    Why not pay with a bank draft, rather than cash?

    I wouldn't accept a bank draft. Cash or electronic funds transfer


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    #10
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,967 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    ted1 wrote: »
    I wouldn't accept a bank draft. Cash or electronic funds transfer


    Why? It's effectively a bank-guaranteed cheque, made out to you.


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    #11
    ted1
    Registered Users Posts: 23,536 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    Why? It's effectively a bank-guaranteed cheque, made out to you.

    Because it's a lot of hassle and are often involved used in fraud.


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    #12
    ohnonotgmail
    Registered Users Posts: 40,442 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    are you sure that the "owners" you talked to are actually the owners? It wouldnt be the first time that somebody who wasnt the owner took a deposit in cash and did a runner.


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    #13
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,967 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    ted1 wrote: »
    Because it's a lot of hassle and are often involved used in fraud.

    Eh? I've never heard that before.

    To get a bank draft, you need to give the bank cleared money, ie it cannot be from a cheque or transaction that has not yet fully cleared. I cannot see how that can be linked to fraud.

    And hassle? You just have to deposit it - worse case, you post it to your branch with a deposit slip.

    Electronic transfer may seem safe, but they can be reversed if the bank later find that the funds used to do the transfer weren't cleared.


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    #14
    mid
    Closed Accounts Posts: 146 ✭✭mid


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    Eh? I've never heard that before.

    To get a bank draft, you need to give the bank cleared money, ie it cannot be from a cheque or transaction that has not yet fully cleared. I cannot see how that can be linked to fraud.

    And hassle? You just have to deposit it - worse case, you post it to your branch with a deposit slip.

    Electronic transfer may seem safe, but they can be reversed if the bank later find that the funds used to do the transfer weren't cleared.

    I think they mean a fake bankdraft, sometimes these can even be accepted by your bank (eg fake BOI bankdraft lodged to your AIB account) but once AIB realise its fake the amount will then be removed from your account.

    Though I think this is unlikely with rental deposits (long term accommodation) as within a week you should know that it was fake and you could report the tenant to the gardai for fraud.

    http://www.independent.ie/life/motoring/car-news/garda-warning-criminals-buying-and-selling-cars-privately-in-car-parks-with-fake-bank-drafts-30365141.html


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