How do I check if the person renting out the unit is the real owner?
Ask for the Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) or the Condominium Certificate of Title (CCT) and compare the name with the person's ID; you can request a certified true copy at the Registry of Deeds. For a condo, the building admin can also confirm who owns the unit and whether it is for rent.
Scammers copy real listings, so the photos and the unit may exist; what is fake is the person. Documents sent by chat can be edited, so the point is to compare: the name on the title, the name on the ID, the name on the contract and the name on the account must all match, or the difference must be explained in writing.
How to check
- Ask for a copy of the TCT or CCT and the owner's ID. Compare the names.
- For a condo, ask the admin office if the unit is for rent and who the owner is.
- If the person is an agent, ask for the authorisation letter and check their PRC license.
- Visit the unit; the person should have the keys and be known to the guard or the admin.
- Only sign and pay when all the names match. Veritaza can check a photo of an ID for signs of tampering, but never says it is genuine.
Frequently asked questions
- The owner is abroad and sent me a copy of the title. Is that enough?
- A copy by chat can be edited. Ask the admin or the Registry of Deeds, and do not pay before a viewing.
Want to know if there are warning signs about the person you are talking to? Veritaza checks the photos, the messages, the number, the email, the name and the ID, for ₱199.
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