Housing scams

^{(Photo from realtor.com web page)}

Housing scams

Students looking for accommodation on the private market should be aware of potential fraudulent housing offers. It is important to never transfer money before having a signed lease.

Before signing a lease:

•View the property before signing the lease or transferring money to the landlord

•Use common sense; if the rent seems too good to be true, it may a scam. Make certain that the rental agreement and the property are in sync

•Inspect the property at the start of the rental period and document any potential flaws. Take photographs and share them with your landlord to limit your liability at the end of the lease

Do not:

•Do not pay in cash, and make sure that the funds are transferred to a Latvian bank account. This ensures that you will always have proof of what has been paid and when it was paid. Only do this after you have viewed the property and are completely satisfied with everything

•Do not pay through an online payment service or international wire transfer services that cannot be traced

•If the landlord is pressuring you to sign the lease or transfer funds before you are confident that you have all the information you need to make an informed decision, take this as a red flag

•Finally, paying under the table is illegal. Hold onto receipts or proof of payment in case something goes wrong

We remind students of the student housing options, and of the Erasmusplay platform.