How Students Can Reduce Rental Scam Risk

Do not send a deposit based only on social messages, copied photos or urgency.

This page is designed for planning, not prediction. Rules, programme details and institutional procedures can change, so the current official source and the student’s written university documents take priority.

A legitimate-looking listing does not prove the advertiser controls the property. Overseas students are particularly exposed when arranging housing remotely.

Where a detail is not published clearly, ask the responsible institution or authority for written confirmation. Do not turn an estimate, marketing statement or another student’s experience into a rule for your own application.

Prefer university-recommended channels, verify the agent or owner, obtain a written tenancy agreement and receipt, and independently confirm payment details.

Record the source URL, the date checked and the name of any staff member who confirms a material point. Keep the complete response rather than a cropped screenshot, especially for eligibility, payment, refund and immigration matters.

What applies to my exact nationality, qualification, programme, campus and intake? Which part of this information is confirmed in writing, and which part still needs verification?

What is the deadline, what documents are required, what costs are non-refundable, and who makes the final decision? What should I do if the process changes or is delayed?