How do I recognise a scammer?
There are many decent landlords whom you can trust, but there are also scammers on the housing market. Scammers often target people who are not aware of the rules. We have listed a few tips for you:
- If something seems too good to be true, then it probably is not true! Be extra careful and watch out. Advertising a great place for a rent that seems too low? This is rarely true; the chances are that this is a scammer. Compare the rental price with other offers. Is it a fair price?
- Check the photos and information of the ad and check if they match;
- It is possible to find out who the owner of the property that you are about to rent is. You can check who the owner is via the cadastral Agency (Dutch: het Kadaster). You have to pay a small fee to get this information. If this is not the person/organisation that you have been in contact with, it is important to be extra careful. Ask your contact person for an explanation;
- Check out the person or organisation that you are in contact with. Do you only have a phone number and no name? Then keep asking: honest landlords do not remain anonymous;
- Does the landlord ask for money before you sign a lease and get the keys? An honest landlord does not do this. A landlord may not demand key money (Dutch: Sleutelgeld). Also, an intermediary is not allowed to send an invoice for brokerage costs if you did not hire them;
- If possible, try to view the property before signing the lease. Does the landlord not allow this? Then something can be wrong. If you cannot view a property, but your family or friends are, then ask if it is okay for them to come and have a look. Even then, it is still possible to be scammed, but it does reduce the chance;
- Check if the address actually exists;
- Always draw up a written rental agreement. Do not provide a copy of your ID before you have signed the rental contract;
- Do not pay a deposit until you have signed the rental agreement;
- Do not agree with anonymous payment methods and be wary of landlords who do not reside in the Netherlands;
- If something does not feel right and you suspect fraud, do not take this up with the landlord yourself. You can always ask for advice via [email protected]
What can you do if you have been scammed?
If you have been cheated, you should report the matter to the police and also request free legal advice from Legal Aid (Dutch: het Juridisch Loket).