Students warned over accommodation scams as college search begins

As thousands of students prepare to receive their Leaving Cert results and begin the search for university housing, a sharp increase in accommodation scams has prompted urgent warnings. Prospective tenants are strongly advised to inspect properties in person before handing over any deposit, a crucial step often bypassed by scammers. "One of the most popular scams that we see... is people being pressured to put down a first month’s rent and deposit after only seeing photos or a video of the place," explained Cat Clarke, Threshold Campaigns Officer.

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always inspect a property in person

Clarke noted that scammers often use excuses, such as the landlord being out of town, to pressure students into quick decisions. She emphasized the importance of verifying the identity of the landlord or agent and ensuring that payment methods are secure and align with the accommodation provider's identity. "Is the name on the bank account the same as the person you are speaking to or the landlord they say is the landlord?" she questioned, adding that while a foreign bank account isn't automatically a red flag, it warrants caution.

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As we know, that is not possible for everyone, especially international students.

"Make sure to trust your instinct," Clarke urged. She highlighted that suspiciously low prices, such as a three-bedroom apartment in a desirable area like Ranelagh for €1,000 per month, are likely indicators of a scam. The housing charity is also observing rising rents nationwide, making the search even more competitive. "If you see a place that is a three-bed in Ranelagh that is going for €1,000 per month, that is probably not real," she said.

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One of the most popular scams that we see... is people being pressured to put down a first month’s rent and deposit after only seeing photos or a video of the place because maybe the landlord is out of town or some excuse

Threshold is focusing on prevention, as recourse for victims of scams is "quite limited" once money has been sent to potentially fake landlords or agents. While new rent rules aim to stabilize rental costs, they have not addressed the issue of accommodation scams. The charity has distributed student toolkits to help students and accommodation officers identify and avoid fraudulent listings during this critical housing search period.

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Is the name on the bank account the same as the person you are speaking to or the landlord they say is the landlord,