Rent Dodgers | Rental Nomads | Rental Fraud

Landlords and estate agents are naturally interested in solvent and reliable tenants. In recent years, however, they have increasingly fallen victim to rental fraud. The IHK-certified investigators of Kurtz Detective Agency Erfurt and Thuringia support you on two levels: We screen prospective tenants before the contract is signed and assist you in providing court-admissible proof of rental fraud or locating absconded rent dodgers if you have already become a victim: +49 361 2243 0020.

Rent Control Does Not Solve The Problem

For decades, social housing has been neglected nationwide. Private landlords who maintain their apartments and houses understandably expect appropriate rent payments for comfortable properties and attractive locations. As with income development, the social gap in Germany is also reflected in rental prices. Thuringia is no exception in metropolitan areas with housing shortages such as Jena or the state capital Erfurt. Media reports about first-year students in Jena sleeping in gymnasiums, campsites or caravans due to a lack of housing illustrate the situation. The so-called “rent control” measures, primarily introduced for large cities, were intended to counteract the widening gap in rental pricing. In practice, however, the theory cannot simply be implemented, as higher earners are still able to afford high-priced properties in prime locations. As is generally the case in the housing market: demand determines supply.

In the course of increased migration, it became evident that social housing was insufficient. Many low-income individuals accumulate debt because they can no longer afford the rent. The landlord issues reminders and files claims – eviction becomes imminent, sometimes prompting tenants to disappear. Tracing such debtors is one of the tasks handled by our experienced corporate investigators in Erfurt and Thuringia. However, assignments to locate socially disadvantaged tenants are significantly less common than the following cases:

From A Good Impression To A Costly Deception

In most cases, rent arrears are not the result of unavoidable social hardship but of deliberate rental fraud. The term “rental nomads” describes intentional and socially harmful conduct. Such individuals present themselves as respectable during property viewings, sometimes provide forged income statements or references from previous landlords and create the impression of being reliable and financially stable employees. In many cases, they skillfully avoid credit checks and are even willing to pay a deposit – often obtained through false statements elsewhere. Faced with a cheque or cash payment, private landlords may be inclined to trust the applicant and forego a thorough background check. A comprehensive tenant screening conducted by our professional investigators in Erfurt and Thuringia can save you considerable trouble, time and expense. Contact us if required at kontakt@kurtz-detektei-erfurt.de.

If the fraudulent tenant has already moved in, you may soon find that rent payments are partially withheld – allegedly due to defects in the property – or not paid at all. Calls and reminders are ignored, and personal visits result only in standing before a locked door. The legal path to regain possession of your own property can be lengthy: reminder notice, enforcement order, eviction action, court ruling and forced entry by a locksmith – only to discover that the tenant has vanished and, in many cases, left the property severely damaged.

The qualified investigators of Kurtz Detective Agency Erfurt and Thuringia assist you in locating rent dodgers, examining their financial and professional circumstances and identifying attachable income or assets. With the court-admissible evidence we provide, you may in many cases obtain compensation for damages from the perpetrator. We are happy to explain the case-specific procedure in a personal consultation. Call us without obligation at +49 361 2243 0020 or use our contact form.