Pitfalls To Lookout For When Searching For Accommodation

Finding accommodation is a crucial part of student life, especially when you are not a local student. Many students even fall prey to scams while they are desperately looking for a place to stay. It is quite disturbing to learn how scammers mint money out of someone’s misery, at the same time it is important to be aware of such fraudulent activities taking place around us.

With the given situation, and scarcity of accommodation in Dundee city it is already an umpteen challenging task to find a decent living space and to add these, ongoing scams make it more difficult to have a way forward. In this post, I will talk about a few ways scammers approach students to help you stay aware and also talk about a few facts for your to be mindful of when you rent a property at Dundee.

4 Warning Signs Your Rental Could Be a Scam

1.) They don’t demand credit checks or references: The majority of agents and landlords will demand a quick credit check, a reference or a  guarantor before they agree to lease the property. So check thoroughly if you have not been asked to do any of these.

2.) The landlord asks you to pay in advance:  I have come across many cases especially those posted on the Facebook Marketplace, where the landlord pretends he is from some other country and can’t come to give you a property tour but can offer a video and picture. Then he insists to pay a full deposit in advance. Insist on viewing the property and have an agreement before the deposit payment if you see a such red flag.

3.) The pictures seem to be too good at the lower price: The scammers make it look attractive, comfortable and too luxurious at a very cheap price. If you see such adverts, try to verify them or just skip them. Trust your intuition.

4.) Ready to accept any foreign currency or cash:  You may contact the bank to cancel the transaction and choose not to pay in cash unless you have a contract in your name that states clearly how much and when you paid prior to you handing out the money.

A few things you can note as a safety measure:

1.) Check the landlord’s registration number.

2.) Insist on visiting the property or having a tour.

3.) Report any such suspicious interaction to the University or DUSA Advice and Support team.

4.) The best way to deal with deposits is to go through a scheme like Deposit Scotland.

5.) For general accommodation queries, you may contact International Student Accommodation Co-ordinator at - isac@dundee.ac.uk 

6.) You may also reach out to the Advice and Support Team at DUSA.

Useful Resources:

1.) DUSA Housing and Accommodation Advice Page

2.) Join DUSA hosing Facebook Page

3.) Read about the University of Dundee Rent Guarantor Scheme 

4.) Renting in the Private Sector

5.) Housing Advice from Shelter