Rental Scam – Be Fraud Smart
27 August, 2025
Be Fraud Smart: Student Rental Accommodation Scam
Scammers are everywhere, and they are always finding new ways to trick people out of their money. A common scam right now is a rental scam, where a scammer pretends to have a property or a room to rent out. Often, that property doesn’t exist, or the person advertising it has no right to rent it our.
If you are a student on the hunt for a place to rent, here is what to look out for to protect yourself and your money.
What to Watch out For with Rental Scam
- You can’t see the property in person. This is one of the biggest red flags. A scammer may ask for a deposit and a months rent to secure the room before you ever get to see it or sign a lease. They may even send you a fake contract to sign or a bogus set of keys to make it more convincing.
- The rent is too good to be true. If a rental property is advertised for a price that seems much lower than similar properties in the same area, it is likely a scam. Scammers use low prices to attract as many potential victims as possible.
- The landlord does not ask you any questions. Legitimate landlords want to verify your references and get to know who they are renting to. If a landlord is willing to rent to you without asking for a reference or doing a background check, be wary.
- They only communicate via email or messaging apps. Scammers often avoid phone calls because it is easier to mislead you through email or text. Ask for a phone number to talk to a real person.
- The property is only advertised on social media. While many legitimate listings are posted on social media, be extra cautious if a property is only advertised on social media, especially if the ad looks generic or low quality.
Golden Rules for a safe Rental Search.
- Research the property, use online maps to verify if the property exists, and if you can, go view it in person before you hand over any money. You should also research the average rent for that area to make sure the price is reasonable.
- View the property yourself. Never hand over a deposit or rent until you have viewed the property in person.
- Get a written lease or rent book. Ask for a written lease before you pay any money. You should also get a proper, written receipt for any payment you make.
- Pay with a secured method. Only pay by card or bank transfer. This may allow you to get the money back if something goes wrong.
- Keep all records. Hold on to all contact details for the landlord, or advertiser. Keep copies of any emails or messages between you and them.
Did you know?
Landlords must register their tenancies annually with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). You can check the RTB Register to see if the property you are look at is Registered.
What do I do if I think I have fallen for a Scam?
If you think you have fallen for a scam, report it to us by using the details on our contact us page and report it to your local Garda station immediately.
