How to protect yourself against housing scammers
It’s a sad fact that whenever demand outstrips supply in any commodity, there will always be scammers ready to take advantage of people who are desperately trying to get hold of what they need. And in the case of limited supply of suitable rental accommodation in the Free Housing Sector in NL, many Expats searching for a suitable rental apartment fall victim to the notorious housing scammer.
We would recommend that you review trusted property websites such as www.funda.nl, www.pararius, www.kamernet.nl for available properties that suit your needs and contact NVM and KvK registered real estate agents or makelaars and housing agencies. ALWAYS keep as much as possible in writing by email and keep screenshots of rental listings you are pursuing. If things go wrong and you find you have been duped by a scammer, then you MUST report this to the police and use the evidence you have collected.
Despite all the obvious advice such as if something looks too good to be true, it probably isn’t and NEVER pay cash to reserve a property you have not actually viewed , it is probably STILL worth going over what to keep in mind when searching for a rental property in The Netherlands.
Follow these tips and guidelines to protect yourself and avoid falling prey to these dishonest housing operators:
- Remember to ALWAYS view the property in person before signing a contract or transferring any money – while video tours are a good way to see a space, you must NEVER hand over any money unless you’ve actually been inside the actual property you want to rent. If you are not in the country yet and are trying to pre-arrange your accommodation in The Netherlands before your arrival and are unable to view in person, then you will need to work with a registered real estate agent, housing agency, or a friend or family member to view on your behalf
- Check the photos and location of the property listed against the rental price and if these seem too luxurious for the price, then chances are this is a scam and NOT a real offer
- Be sure you are in contact with the actual owner of the property if the listing says “direct from owner” – for €2,80 you can double check the property’s ownership registration at Kadaster.nlhttps://www.kadaster.nl/producten/woning/eigendomsinformatie
- Be DOUBLY careful about renting from platforms such as FaceBook groups and prioritize joining private groups over public groups because the hopefully the Admins of private or closed groups do a vetting process before approving members wanting to list rental properties. That said, there are plenty of bonafide property owners who choose to rent their properties directly on FaceBook or Marketplace without using a real estate agents. Just go through the safety steps such as asking in person viewings and for proof of ownership from the person you are dealing with.
- Check whether registration is possible and how many people are allowed to register at the address you want to rent. Registering yourself with the Gemeente or local council is mandatory when you live in The Netherlands and you will need this in order to receive your BSN nr (personal citizen number necessary for dealing with Dutch authorities) so if the person renting the property says that registration is not possible, then this is a red flag and indicates something is wrong – either the rental is an illegal sublet or that the landlord does not want to declare they are renting their property. If registration is not an option, then move on and do not go any further with this property.
- Be very clear about what fees are involved: if renting direct from a private landlord, then they will only require a deposit to be paid at the time of signing. If dealing with housing agencies or real estate agents, then typically one month’s rent is charged to whichever party they are acting for. This means that the agent can only ask for fees from the landlord if they are engaged by the landlord to put the property on the market and find a tenant for them. Be very clear about what fees are involved apart from the rent and deposit.
- NEVER EVER PAY CASH without a receipt. The safest way of transferring your rent and deposit is by normal bank transfer using the name of the recipient that is mentioned on your contract. If you are asked to use Western Union or Airbnb or even to pay cash, then this is a sign that you might be dealing with a scammer, so insist on using normal banking channels to make payments and back away if you are pressurized to do otherwise. Scammers will use all kinds of excuses as reasons why using Western Union or Airbnb or cash can be easier, but don’t fall for this.