The competition is fierce, the housing market in big cities such as Hamburg or Berlin is tight, and in between lurk scammers who want to rip off unsuspecting seekers with fake apartment listings. But how do you recognise fake listings? Here are five clear signs that help you not to fall for a scam.
1. The rent is suspiciously cheap
You've found a dream apartment? Right in the middle of the city and at an incredible price? A price that's almost too good to be true? This is where the alarm bells should immediately start ringing, because that's exactly where the problem lies buried! Scammers often set unrealistically low prices. With this they lure in as many interested parties as possible.
If a listing is far below the average price (rent index) of the respective district, you should always be sceptical. Compare with other property platforms and research the respective provider of the apartment.
2. No in-person viewing possible
The alleged landlord is "unfortunately abroad" or "currently not available"? That's a huge warning sign! Fake landlords often ask for a deposit before you can even view the apartment.
Always insist on an on-site viewing. If that's not possible, keep your hands off it! An honest landlord will never demand an advance payment before you've viewed the apartment.
3. Advance payments or money transfer via bank transfer
"Please transfer the deposit in advance, then I'll send you the key by post." Statements like this or similar are a sure sign of a scam. Especially when payments are demanded via services such as Western Union or other hard-to-trace methods. Even a mere bank transfer to a German bank account does not reduce the risk.
Reputable landlords do not demand advance payments before a tenancy agreement is signed. Never pay money before you've viewed the apartment and signed a legally valid tenancy agreement.
4. Unprofessional or copied listings
Scammers often use stolen images and copied text. One indication of this can be if you find the same images in other listings with different addresses or prices. Often these fake listings are also full of spelling mistakes or sound conspicuously impersonal.
Use a reverse image search (e.g. Google Images) to check whether the photos also appear in other listings.
5. Communication only by email and in poor German
If the alleged landlord only wants to communicate by email and his replies are phrased in poor German or with strange grammar, that's another indication of a scam. Particularly suspicious are texts that seem translated from English.
Insist on contact by phone or in person. A reputable landlord has no problem talking to you or giving you a real address for a meeting.
Be vigilant and protect yourself from scams
Fake apartment listings are unfortunately a daily danger during the apartment search. Scammers are becoming ever more creative and exploit the desperation of many apartment hunters. Be attentive and take the signs discussed above to heart.
Make sure to never transfer money in advance - certainly not without having had a viewing or signed a contract. Stay suspicious of listings that sound too good to be true. Never let yourself be put under pressure! A reputable landlord will give you enough time to make a decision.