Students told to look out for scams when seeking home

STUDENTS getting ready to start college are being warned to be vigilant for scams as they try to secure rental accommodation.

These scams can take different forms, but can include renters being issued with keys that don’t work, or a person posing as a landlord and disappearing with their deposit.

The national housing charity Threshold, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and Daft.ie have launched an awareness campaign to help people in their quest to secure somewhere to stay during term time.

Entitled ‘Scamwatch’, the checklist for wouldbe tenants, which includes: “Be aware of offers that appear too good to be true.”

Caution

Threshold chief executive John-Mark McCafferty said: “While rental scams occur throughout the year, we are asking people looking for rented accommodation to exercise particular caution at this time of year, when there is a spike, due to a new generation of third-level students looking for somewhere to live.

“We strongly advise people to be cautious of a landlord who claims to be out of the country and can’t show you the property and requests a deposit.” People need to establish the house is available to rent, he added.

USI President Síona Cahill warned: “Availability and affordability of suitable accommodation is a huge issue for students, and many are finding themselves priced out of higher education because of the rental crisis.”