Avoidhousingscam.com

​Avoidhousingscam.com is an international website that was created to minimize cheating in relation to renting of housing. We will be grateful if you link to this website and help prevent housing scams. Thanks a lot in advance.
 

Unfortunately, a lot of people looking for housing rentals are contacted by fake landlords, that attempt to cheat the housing seeker for his deposit. The problem is big and international, and has been described by the FBI.
 

When you rent a housing, it is therefore very important that you check the landlord before you transfer money to the landlord. You should be extra aware if the landlord is a private person - and for example does not have a legitimate website. 

Below is a short guide to everything you should be aware of, when you rent a housing.
 

Don’t ever do these things!
1: Never transfer a payment for a rental to a foreign bank account.
2: Never transfer a payment for a rental to a person that you have never met in person.
3: Never transfer a payment for a rental before having a lease contract which has been signed by both parties.
4: Never transfer a payment for a rental without checking that the landlord has the right to let the rental to you.
5: Never transfer a payment for a rental that you have not visited.
 

This is a good process when renting
1: You find one or more apartments that fit your need.
2: You contact the landlord and the apartment is shown to you.
3: If you reach an agreement with the landlord, the landlord should send you a lease contract.
4: Read the lease contract thoroughly and consult legal assistance to help you. Among other things, you should pay attention to whether the apartment is taken over reconditioned or not – since this can have a great impact on the expenses imposed on you, when you are moving out again at some point.
5: Check if the landlord in fact has the right to let the apartment to you. This information can often be found on public websites.
6: If the landlord is renting the apartment himself, he may not have the right to sublease it to you. Ask to see the permission to sublease the apartment.
7: If the landlord owns the apartment, he still may not have the right to sublease it to others. Check the statuses of the housing association of the apartment, to see if there is any preventions in the right to lease.
8: When both you and the landlord have signed the lease contract, you will usually have a couple of days to transfer to the deposit. In this case, you should never make the transfer to a foreign bank account.
9: Be sure to make a clear agreement with the landlord about the handover of the apartment. When can you move in? When will you receive the keys? Etc.

Remember to always get legal assistance when renting a housing.