Housing Scams Targeting Students

Moving to a new city to study is an exciting time in life, but it can also bring challenges, especially when it comes to finding somewhere to live. Unfortunately, some scammers target new students with fake housing ads.

Common Types of Housing Scams

1. Fake ads

Scammers post ads for homes that don't exist, or copy real ads and change the contact details. They may ask for a deposit or the first month's rent before you have even seen the flat.

2. Advance payment scams

Sometimes scammers demand that you pay a deposit or the first month's rent before you can see the flat, often arguing that the housing market is very competitive and you need to act fast.

3. False claims about first-hand contracts

In Sweden, the difference between a first-hand contract (förstahandskontrakt) and a sublet (andrahandskontrakt) is whether you rent from the property owner or from the person who lives there. People renting out a flat they own as a tenant-owner (bostadsrätt) sometimes claim it's a first-hand let, since they own the home. But this is also a sublet. With a first-hand contract, any rent increases are negotiated between the property owner and the Swedish Union of Tenants (Hyresgästföreningen), and you have security of tenure. This means the landlord can only end the contract if you have behaved badly, damaged the home or broken the contract. With a sublet, you do not have security of tenure, and your landlord can choose to end the contract whenever they like.

Bluffkollen's advice for new students:

Check the ad's photos and address

You can use Google image search to search for the photos used in the ad and see whether the same photos and description appear on several sites. If they do, check which ad is the real one.

Meet the landlord in person

Always visit the home and meet the landlord in person before you sign anything or pay any money.

Be sceptical

Be careful with ads that seem too good to be true, especially if the rent is much lower than average for the area.

Ask for a contract

Before you pay anything, ask to see a rental contract and read it carefully. Make sure it has the right address, correct details about the landlord and all the terms you agreed on.

Get help

If you are unsure, ask someone you trust to look at the ad or contract. In some cases you can also contact the student union at your university for advice.

Don't let scammers ruin your, or anyone else's, exciting new start as a student. Know someone who is about to start studying? Feel free to share this article or our page about housing scams with them.