Finding rented accommodation can be challenging at the best of times. In the current rental market, it is easy to fall victim to a scam. We have the 3 Rules of finding a home and staying safe.
The 3 Rules to Avoid Rental Scams
- Inspect the Property in Person: Whenever possible, visit the property in person and take a picture of the landlord or letting agent’s photo ID before making any payments. Don’t feel rushed to make a quick decision and to rely on online photos or virtual tours.
- Use Secure Payment Methods and a Contract: Use secure payment platforms or methods that offer you protection. Avoid making cash payments or transferring money directly to someone without verifying their identity or their account details, especially if that account is a foreign bank account. Additionally, request a written contract that clearly explains the terms and conditions of the rental agreement, including rent amount, deposit and any additional fees.
- Trust Your Instinct and Seek Help: If something feels too good to be true, trust your instincts and investigate further. Scammers often try to rush you into making decisions but take your time and seek advice if needed. Threshold is happy to offer you advice if you are unsure about a property.
Threshold is available from 9am-9pm on our freephone helpline, 1800 454 454 or via email on our website, www.threshold.ie/get-help.
Types of Rental Scams
Rental scams occur throughout the year and fall into three broad categories:
- The scammer claims to be out of the country and can’t show you the property and requests a deposit
- The scammer is living at the property and shows a number of people around, gets a deposit from several people and disappears with the money
- The transaction appears normal until the renter finds that the keys don’t work and the landlord has disappeared.
What To Do
Rental scams are easy to fall victim to. Your reporting could mean stopping a scammer altogether and helping to prevent other people from becoming victims.
If you come across an ad you are suspicious of, contact us.
While we cannot help you recover money lost or track down a scammer, we can help get the word out about scams to other potential renters.
If you think you have been a victim of such a fraud please report to your local garda station.
Get the Word Out About Scams
Scamwatch is a public information campaign run by AMLÉ, ICOS and Threshold. Our goal is to educate first-time renters on how to protect themselves from online rental scams.
See the ways you and your organisation can get involved by visiting our Scamwatch Toolkit page.