Are student accommodation scams common, especially for international students?
Yes. International students who need housing before arriving in a country are prime targets for rental fraud.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Explanation
International students face a difficult housing market and may need to secure accommodation before arriving, making it impossible to view properties in person. Scammers exploit this by listing properties on student housing platforms and legitimate classifieds sites with attractive prices and often stolen photos of real properties. They ask for a deposit and first month's rent upfront by bank transfer, then disappear. Some scams provide a fake address that the student arrives at to find either occupied by another family or entirely non-existent. The safest approach is to book through your university's verified accommodation service, contact the local authority housing register, or only use landlords who can provide a verifiable lease contract and references from a university housing office.
Timing pressure is the scammer's structural advantage here: listings surge just before term starts, genuine rooms do disappear within days, and applicants several time zones away feel they must secure something immediately. Fraudulent listings are written to amplify that pressure with below-market rents and mentions of other 'interested applicants'. It is worth remembering that losing a genuine room costs you a longer search; losing a deposit to a fake one can cost a term's budget. Universities maintain accommodation services precisely because arriving students are targeted, and even late in the season they can point you to vetted options and emergency housing.
Common red flags
- Landlord or agent cannot meet in person or arrange a verified viewing
- Price is significantly below comparable local properties
- Deposit and advance rent requested by bank transfer before any paperwork
- Communication is only by email or text with no phone number or physical address
- Landlord is 'abroad temporarily' but can arrange to send keys after payment
What to do now
- Use only your university's official accommodation service for initial housing
- If using private listings, insist on a video tour with the landlord present and live
- Never pay a deposit without a signed tenancy agreement referencing a verifiable property
- Report suspected scam listings to the platform and your university's accommodation office
Frequently asked questions
My university recommends a private housing portal — is it safe?
University-endorsed portals are generally safer but are not immune to fraudulent listings. Still verify the landlord and never pay a deposit without a signed contract.
I arrived and the address doesn't exist or is occupied — what do I do right now?
Contact your university's accommodation office immediately — they deal with this scenario and can arrange emergency options. Report the fraud to the police and the listing platform, and notify your bank at once, as fast reporting gives the best chance of tracing the transfer.