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Students Urged to be Wary of Rental Accommodation Scams

Briain Kelly, 31 Aug

As a new academic year approaches, the IPOA is warning students across

Ireland to remain vigilant and wary of rental scams.

Mary Conway, Chairperson of the Irish Property Owners Association (IPOA)

has warned students, “If the rental accommodation you are offered seems

too good to be true, it probably is”

As thousands of students across Ireland currently search for accommodation

ahead of the academic year. The IPOA is warning students to exercise

caution.

Amid a nationwide housing shortage, caution is the safest way for students

to secure reliable and legitimate rental accommodation and avoid scams

which could result in lost deposits, distress and the potential to disrupt

studies.

The unfortunate reality is that availability does not meet rising demand,

as many landlords continue to leave the rental market.

The IPOA advocates annually for students to be wary of the current rental

environment where renters are increasingly vulnerable to unscrupulous

actors.

To safeguard against potential losses and prevent fraudulent payments

being made, prospective tenants are encouraged to follow some practical

advice and use common sense:

Request proof of property ownership from potential landlords. This may

include verifiable insurance records or Local Property Tax (LPT) receipts.

Be wary of accommodation only advertised on social media or if the person

offering a rental will only communicate with you via messaging

applications like WhatsApp.

Be vigilant if there is an unusual sense of urgency by the ‘landlord’ in

securing a deposit or if the deposit requested is worth more than

one-month’s rent.

Be wary of rents that are ‘too good to be true’. Sense-check an

advertisement with a friend or family member if you are unsure whether

it’s legitimate.

Inspect the property before you pay money to the landlord. When satisfied,

make payment and ensure you receive a receipt from the person you have

identified as the owner or agent.

Be cautious if the property owner is consistently unable to or refuses to

meet you in person.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, a legitimate property owner will be

happy to answer.

Know your rights – familiarise yourself with the Residential Tenancies

Board.

Watch out for illegal subletting agreements – all agreements should be

made directly with the property owner or with their consent.

Speaking on the topic Mary Conway said, “As students across Ireland

prepare for the academic year, fears of securing rental accommodation

should not be another added stress, but the reality is that young people

are at risk of being scammed in the rental market as the competition

between renters is higher than ever.”

“Students are in direct competition with demand from young professionals

and newcomers moving to Ireland’s biggest cities, while landlords

unfortunately cannot meet the demand, and affordable housing is hard to

come by.”

“There is always a threat of rental scams and unscrupulous landlords or

fraudsters taking advantage of post-secondary students and those living

far from home.

“Protect your hard-earned money and begin the academic year on a high by

securing suitable accommodation”.

“We want to take this opportunity to remind you to ensure that your

potential landlord is following the law and abides by all relevant safety

measures.”

“Legislation exists to protect landlords and tenants, and a legitimate

landlord should be upfront and communicative with prospective tenants.”