Don't get scammed! Protect Yourself Against Housing Scams

Unfortunately, scammers often exploit students' need for housing before the semester begins. They frequently try to rent out apartments that don't exist or that they don't have access to. Here is your guide to renting safely.

Three Golden Rules

Go to a viewing: Never pay a deposit or the first month's rent before you have seen the apartment in person. If you can't go yourself, ask a friend or relative to check it out for you. At the very least, ask the landlord if a viewing is possible just to see how they react to the request.

Trust your gut feeling: Does the landlord seem unprofessional or pushy? Say no. There will be other opportunities.

Get everything in writing: Always demand a written rental contract and receipts for all payments. You are welcome to use our contract templates available on our website.

Red Flags – Watch out if:

They pressure you: Scammers want you to make quick decisions so you don't have time to think. A legitimate landlord is rarely in that much of a hurry.

They have no requirements for you: If the landlord doesn't ask for proof of income or references, it’s a sign they are only interested in getting your money quickly.

Payments abroad: Be extremely cautious if you are asked to send money to foreign accounts or through services like Western Union or Moneygram.

Before You Sign or Pay

Always verify the landlord. Google the seller’s name, email, and phone number. If the same contact details appear in ads for apartments in several different cities, it is likely a scam.

Reverse Image Search. Use Google Images to see if the photos in the ad are stolen. If the images appear in other contexts for example, linked to a different business or another individual, it is probably a bluff.

Contact the property owner. Verify that the person has access to the home and has permission to sublet. If it is a rental apartment, contact the person's landlord. If it is a housing cooperative contact the housing association board. You can look up the property owner via the Swedish Land Registry (Lantmäteriet) service Vem äger fastigheten if you have Swedish BankID. We cannot help you with this since the service only is for personal use. 

Uncertain? Contact Kombo!

We are happy to help you review an ad or a contract if something feels "fishy." It is always better to ask one time too many than to lose your money.