Always see the property first before you give any form besides your contact information.

The problem is that needing to go through arduous checks is so normalized renting in many parts that it makes it easy to fall into a scam. Luckily BC has a standard application form, but this apply to a lot of aspects in life including banks (See How data privacy expert Cory Doctorow got scammed), on how the way systems are set up make personal vigilance difficult. (E.g. why do you only need 7 of the 16 digits of your debit card to get access to your credit union account)