Rental and Landlord Scams
A great flat at a low rent, a landlord abroad, and a deposit to secure it. How rental and landlord scams work, how to check a listing and a landlord, and how to pay safely.
Finding somewhere to live is stressful, and in busy cities good places go fast. Rental scammers use that pressure. They advertise attractive properties at low rents, then ask for a deposit, first month's rent or a "viewing fee" before you have seen the place or met a real landlord. When you arrive with your bags, the property belongs to someone else, or does not exist.
Common rental scams
- Copied listings: photos and descriptions stolen from real listings or holiday rentals, with a lower price.
- The absent landlord: "I am working abroad. Pay the deposit and I will post the keys."
- Viewing or application fees for properties that are not available.
- Multiple tenants: a real property "rented" to several people who all pay deposits.
- Fake agents: people posing as letting agents or caretakers who collect money and vanish.
- Holiday rentals: fake listings for short stays, especially around events. See travel booking scams.
Illustrative example
- A landlord who cannot show the property.
- Payment before viewing, with keys by post.
- A price below the local market and pressure to decide today.
Do not pay before you have seen the property and confirmed who you are dealing with.
How to check a listing and a landlord
- Reverse image search the photos to see if they appear on other listings. See how to use reverse image search.
- Search the address to see if it is listed elsewhere, perhaps for sale or as a holiday let.
- Compare the rent with similar properties nearby.
- View in person, or through a live video call where you direct the camera, including outside and the street sign.
- Check ownership through the land or property registry where available, and ask for ID from the landlord.
- Check the agent on official registers or professional bodies where they exist, and contact the agency through its own website.
How to pay safely
- Pay only after viewing and signing a written agreement.
- Use traceable methods, and be wary of cash, gift cards, crypto or transfers to personal accounts abroad.
- Where your country has a tenancy deposit protection scheme, check the deposit is protected.
- Get receipts for everything.
Our checklist of questions to ask before sending money works well for rentals.
If you have paid
Contact your bank immediately, keep all messages and listing screenshots, report the listing to the website, and report the scam. See how to report a scam.
Found a rental that seems too good? Paste the listing or message into CyberWatch AI Scan for a free check.
Rental scams are among the most common types of online scams. Read our complete guide for the others.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to pay a deposit before viewing a property?
It is a major warning sign. Try to view the property in person, or through a live video tour you control, and confirm the landlord or agent before paying anything.
How can I check who owns a property?
In many countries, land or property registries let you check ownership. You can also verify letting agents through official registers or industry bodies where they exist.
The landlord says they are abroad and will post the keys. Is that a scam?
Very likely. 'I am abroad, pay the deposit and I will send the keys' is one of the most common rental scam stories.
Sources
- Rental Listing Scams, US Federal Trade Commission
- Buying From an Online Marketplace, US Federal Trade Commission
- Check if something might be a scam, Citizens Advice
