Amid an increase in accommodation scams, students are being urged to “always inspect a property in person” when looking for a place to live.
Around 70,000 students are due to receive their Leaving Cert results on Friday, with the rush to secure accommodation for the new college year already under way.
Student accommodation is in short supply across the country and many students are turning to the private rental market to find somewhere to live. Limited availability, rising costs and the pressure to secure accommodation quickly can leave students more vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated scams.
Threshold, Irish Council for International Students and Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn are urging students to remain vigilant when searching for accommodation.
Threshold said scammers can take advantage of the urgency to find accommodation by creating fake adverts and using tactics designed to convince renters to hand over money quickly or risk losing their accommodation.
Threshold Campaigns Officer Cat Clarke said it is getting increasingly competitive for students to source accommodation and becoming more difficult to decide between renting or living at home.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Ms Clarke said: “As we know, that is not possible for everyone, especially international students.”
She said it is important to inspect the property in person.
“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,” she said.
Ms Clarke advised getting a photo of the landlord or agent’s ID.
She also advised ensuring there is a secure payment method in the contract from the accommodation provider.
“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 said.
Ms Clarke said a foreign bank account may not actually be an issue, but it may be a red flag.
“Make sure to trust your instinct,” she said.
“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.
If a student is the victim of a scam, she said any recourse after sending money over to a landlord or agent who may be fake is “quite limited”, which is why Threshold is “working on prevention”.
Ms Clarke said the housing charity is seeing an increase in rents across the country and that there is a wide range of student accommodation – from digs to purpose-built, which leads to vastly differing rates.
She said that while the new rent rules mean rents cannot be reset, it has done nothing to help students avoid accommodation scams.
Ms Clarke said many students started searching for accommodation in late spring or early summer and that student toolkits were sent to students’ unions and accommodation officers to help watch out for scams.
ICOS works to support international students and protect their rights while they study in Ireland.
ICOS Acting Executive Director Orla Lehane said many international students begin their search before arriving here and can feel enormous pressure to secure somewhere to live in an unfamiliar rental market.
In a statement, she said: “We would strongly encourage students not to transfer money simply because they are afraid of losing an accommodation offer.
“Take the time to verify who you are dealing with, ask questions and seek advice if anything seems unclear or suspicious.”
AMLÉ President Daniel Walsh said that thousands of first-year students and their families will begin their search for accommodation over the next few weeks “and will be immediately confronted with the depth of the student accommodation crisis.
“This environment can create a sense of urgency, pushing students to enter more precarious rental agreements, and leaving them vulnerable to scammers.”
Three rules to avoid rental scams
Inspect the Property in Person: Visit the property in person and take a picture of the landlord or letting agent’s photo ID before making any payments. Don’t rely solely on online photos or virtual tours if possible. While this may not always be possible for international students securing accommodation from overseas, students should take extra care to verify the property and seek advice before transferring any money.
Use Secure Payment Methods and a Contract: Use payment methods that offer protection. Avoid cash or transfers to unverified or foreign bank accounts. Get a written contract that outlines rent, deposits, and fees.
Trust Your Instinct and Seek Help: If it feels off, it probably is. Don’t rush. If in doubt, contact Threshold for free, expert advice.
Threshold’s helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am-9pm at 1800 454 454, or online at www.threshold.ie/get-help for any private renter in need of advice or support.