Student accommodation scams are rampant these days, as many unsuspecting students, especially people moving to a new country for the first time, can fall into these housing scams. When fake house agents notice that a student is in urgent need of housing and do not bother to do a proper check, they trick them into signing a lease agreement and take their money with false promises.
If you are travelling abroad as an international student for the first time, it is important to know how to spot a student accommodation scam. When the agent gives you an offer that looks too good to be true, that is exactly what it is: a scam.
Here are some of the red flags you need to know on how to spot a student accommodation scam and how to avoid them:
Requesting Upfront Rental Payment
One of the housing scams you should look out for as an international student moving abroad for the first time is an agent requesting you pay first before seeing the house. Many people have fallen into these types of scams because they believe that this is how the housing system works in that country.
Also, because they cannot visit the house in person to see for themselves and are in a hurry to secure a space, many students may decide to pay the rental fee first.
What you should instead do in the case an agent is requesting upfront payment is to politely ask the agent for a virtual tour of the space. Ask them to give you a tour of the space via video call so you can see it. Also, request to have the leasing agreement sent to you so you can understand the terms and conditions.
A genuine housing agent will comply with your requests. However, when the agent begins to give you excuses, it is best that you find another and not rush into paying for a space with no proper agreement.
False Rental Listings
With artificial intelligence and Photoshop tools, fake housing agents can take pictures of genuine homes or accommodation spaces for students and create fake listings. For unsuspecting students, they may fall victim to these scammers and make payment for spaces that do not exist.
This is why it is important to do a proper background check on any accommodation listings before making payment. Find out if the house or space exist, who is the landlord or agent in charge. Also, ensure that you request all the relevant documents before paying the rent.
Cheaper Rent Fee
Let’s take, for example, the rental fee for a shared room for students is $100 per week, and then you find an agent or listing claiming to offer that same space for $50. It may seem like a fantastic offer, and because you don’t have so much budget, you are quick to take the offer.
Everything may seem fine after taking the offer, and then one day, the real landlord comes to take payment and tells you that you owe them for the previous months. They give you the ultimatum to leave the space or pay off the debts of previous months before you can stay.
That is the need to confirm if a listing is genuine or not before making payment. Also, when the offer seems too good to be true, it is most of the time not real.
Read Also: How to Find Student Accommodation in Australia
No official Rental Website
In today’s digital age, almost every business, organisation or company is online. In fact, a 2022 report from iProperty Management claims that there are over 140,000 rental companies online, most of which are small businesses. So, if an agent claims their company isn’t online and that you have to make all transactions in cash, that is a huge red flag.
If they have a website, visit it, and ask friends and family if they have heard about the website. Also, you can read reviews online to ensure that you are dealing with genuine people and not scammers.
No Rental Agreement
For every space you want to rent, there should be documents to show the rental agreement in case of a dispute or legal issues. A landlord or agent insisting that you do not need to have a rental agreement may be fake. Ensure that you get these documents and verify that they are genuine.
Key Points to Note On How to Avoid Student Accommodation Scams
- Don’t trust housing agents or landlords based only on their words.
- Request for a housing or rental agreement.
- Do not rush into making payments before you confirm the house exists.
- Rent your accommodation through the right channels (website or housing schemes).
- Don’t be pressured to make payments.
- Start your search for accommodation on time to prevent a rush and falling into the hands of wrong agents.
- Pay through a secure channel to the rightful owner of the space.
- Ask any necessary questions about the house and other bills to be shared during your stay.
How to Get a Genuine Student Accommodation
To avoid housing scams, especially as an international student, here are some of the methods you can consider:
On-Campus Accommodation
As an international student going abroad to study for the first time, getting an accommodation on campus may seem like the best option. To get this type of accommodation, contact your school or their accommodation office to see how you can secure a space. This will also remove the fear of housing scams and help you settle in the country faster.
Consider Student Housing Platforms
There are so many student housing platforms online that assist students in getting accommodation that fits their budget. Platforms like Student.com, Uniplaces and so on rank high in helping students get proper housing abroad. Consider searching for accommodation with these platforms as they will only give you properties that they have checked to be genuine.
Contact Your Student Organisations
When you arrive at your school, you can seek help in getting proper housing through your student union organisations. Speak to fellow students, and they will guide you on how to go about the entire process. They may also be able to suggest shared housing opportunities for you with other students off campus.
Read Also: How to Study Abroad on a Low Budget
Stay with Family or Relations
Staying with family or relatives abroad while you go to school is another great alternative to avoid housing scams. For those who have people they can stay with, this will also reduce the cost of living and help them to settle faster in their new environment.
In Conclusion,
Housing scams are real, and many students have fallen into these due to a lack of guidance or because they are in a rush to get accommodation. That is why we have handpicked some of the ways to spot a student accommodation scam and how to avoid them. Depending on your country of study, find the popular housing platforms to help you or contact your university for support.
