Where demand is high, scammers follow. In the rental market the most common trick is simple: they ask for money for a flat that isn't theirs, or doesn't even exist. The good news is that the warning signs are usually easy to spot.
The most common tricks
- A deposit up front. "Lots of people are interested, but if you transfer one month's rent today, it's yours." No viewing, no contract.
- An owner who's abroad. They can't meet you, they'll post you the keys, you just need to pay first.
- A flat that's too cheap. A lovely city-centre flat at a third of the market price.
- A copied listing. Photos and text from a real ad, reposted under another name with different contact details.
- Pressure. "Today only", "decide now", "don't tell anyone".
How to spot them
Be suspicious if:
- the price is well below what's typical in the area,
- you can't see the flat in person,
- they only communicate by message and can't be reached by phone,
- they want an unusual payment method, like a courier, gift cards or a foreign bank account,
- the text is sloppy and reads like machine translation.
The three golden rules
- Don't pay before the viewing. Nothing, not a single forint.
- Don't pay before the contract. Pay the deposit and first month's rent only against a signed contract.
- Check who owns the flat. The land registry extract (tulajdoni lap) shows who owns it. If the person renting it out isn't the owner, ask for a power of attorney.
What to watch for at the viewing
Ask about the flat's details, the utilities, the neighbours. Someone who really knows the flat will answer easily. Our viewing checklist is here.
Be suspicious if the "owner" can't open every door, doesn't know where the meter is, or the flat is full of someone else's things.
Landlords can be victims too
Scammers sometimes pose as tenants: with fake documents, under someone else's name. That's why landlords check applicants. It isn't distrust, it protects both sides. What a landlord can legitimately ask for is covered in this article.
If it has already happened
- Call your bank right away, the transfer might still be stopped.
- Report it to the police.
- Tell the listing site so they take the ad down.
- Keep every message, ad and transfer detail.
FAQ
Is a holding deposit always a scam?
No. After a viewing and with a written reservation agreement, it's accepted practice. The problem is paying without seeing the flat.
How do I know the flat really belongs to the person renting it out?
From the land registry extract. If they're not the owner, ask them for a power of attorney, or talk to the owner too.
Is a flat I found on a listing site safe?
Listing sites filter, but they don't catch everything. The three golden rules apply there too.
Rentkey
In Rentkey, the Verified landlord badge shows that we've checked the landlord's identity. Tenants apply with a Rentkey Passport, so the landlord can see they're dealing with a real person too.
