How to avoid uni accommodation scams: A guide for UK students
3 July 2025By Amelia. A, Staff writer at Unite Students
Your university experience should be filled with new lessons, exciting ventures, and fond memories — not derailed by a uni accommodation scam. According to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, young people between 18 and 39 account for nearly three-quarters of rental fraud cases.
But don’t be put off by the rising cases of rental scams, there are ways to avoid falling victim to them. This helpful guide will discuss how to protect yourself from losing money or your peace of mind. We’ll highlight all the signs students and parents should look out for – from social media scams to unofficial listings. Find out more below.
In this guide:
What is a uni accommodation scam?
A rental scam is a type of fraudulent scheme that people use to deceive students looking for university accommodation. The aim is to trick renters into paying for a property that either doesn’t exist, is unavailable for rent, or misrepresented.
Scammers typically pose as landlords or letting agents and ask students for deposits or payments – then they disappear once payments have been made, leaving renters in the lurch. International students are particularly at risk of uni accommodation scams, as scammers seek to exploit their need for housing and their lack of knowledge of how the UK rental market works.
Uni accommodation scams usually take the form of fake listings, cloned websites, or real properties rented out multiple times.
7 signs you might be dealing with a uni accommodation scam
When it comes to choosing university accommodation, you’ve got to have your wits about you. There’s likely to always be signs that a listing isn’t legit. In this section, we’ll help you identify some of the most common ones.
To avoid uni accommodation scams, look out for the following red flags:
1. You’re asked to pay before viewing
Never make any form of payment before you’ve viewed the property at least once in person or virtually. This is a common sign of a scam. Avoid sending any deposit, making first rental payments or signing a lease before you’ve seen and assessed the accommodation yourself, or got someone you trust (like a parent) to do it for you.
2. The price seems too good to be true
If the rent seems too good to be true, especially for the area, it’s probably a scam. Scammers often use unbelievably low prices to attract renters and encourage them to act quickly. It’s a good idea to research what the local rental rates are, as this will give insight into what’s normal and what may be fraudulent.
3. The listing has no photos, or uses poor-quality ones
All listings should have clear, up-to-date photos – how else will you know it’s suitable for your needs? If a property has no images or uses low-quality ones with blurry or poor resolution, it could be a scam. Fraudsters won’t want to show you too much detail about the property, either because they don’t have access to the information or because it doesn’t exist altogether.
You should be able to view a gallery of property photos, including communal spaces, bathrooms, and bedrooms. For safety reasons, avoid arranging a visit to a property that doesn’t provide enough detail in the listing.
4. The advert has odd spelling or grammar
As expected, a scammer wouldn’t put as much care and attention into their listings. This can result in spelling mistakes as well as bad punctuation and grammatical errors. If a listing has a few mistakes and errors or any strange wording, it can be a red flag. In this case, conduct further research or rule out the listing completely.
5. They pressure you to ‘act fast’
Scammers want to access your money quickly, so they often create a sense of urgency for you to send them funds. Not only do they get your money faster, but it also prevents you from conducting due diligence and identifying warning signs. Scammers may say there are many other people interested in the property and that you need to secure it ASAP with a deposit. Don’t fall for it – always take time to conduct proper research and weigh your options.
6. The landlord refuses to speak on the phone or video
If a landlord is genuine, they’ll be more than willing to speak with you directly — over the phone or via video call. They’ll want to provide you with ample information about their listing to ensure that you have everything necessary to make the correct decision.
A landlord avoiding phone calls is a red flag. Scammers often insist on communicating via text or email only to keep their identities hidden. Always be cautious if you’re unable to have a direct conversation with a landlord or letting agent.
7. They want payment via bank transfer or cash apps
A scammer may ask you to transfer payments via direct bank transfer to a personal account, cryptocurrency, or even gift cards if they’re particularly audacious.
Don’t send money like this, as it can be difficult to reverse. Instead, secure your deposit payment through a government-approved deposit protection scheme and ensure you sign an official tenancy agreement.
How to avoid student rental scams: Key tips
Scammers are becoming increasingly creative with their tactics for tricking students out of their money. It’s more important than ever to stay vigilant and aware of how to spot their schemes.
Here are a few tips and tricks of your own to help you avoid student rental scams:
Only use verified student housing platforms. To be on the safe side, we recommend only looking for accommodation on verified student housing platforms. Substantiated companies like Unite Students offer a range of award-winning accommodation across the UK, so you can have ultimate peace of mind.
Always request a tenancy agreement before paying. Your agreement should be documented in the form of a formal lease agreement before you make any payments.
Pay the deposit by credit card or bank transfer. Never pay your deposit or first rent payment in cash or cryptocurrency. Consider making the payment by credit card, as you should receive additional consumer protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. This means you may be able to get your money back if something goes wrong.
Look out for memberships with official bodies. Check to see whether the landlord or provider is a member of a recognised industry body like Accreditation Network UK (ANUK) or Unipol Student Homes. These can provide you with an extra sense of security as these bodies set high standards of service and safety for student accommodation.
Check reviews. As with any other purchase, take time to check reviews for accommodation to protect you from getting scammed. You can use websites like Google Reviews, Trustpilot, StudentCrowd, and Facebook groups to find honest feedback from people who have lived in the property before. Be sure to look for patterns in reviews or complaints, such as poor maintenance, loud noise or hidden charges.
Be careful when sending your documents. Particularly relevant for international students, you should be careful who you send documents like your passport or proof of student status to. Always use a secure way to share documents, password-protected PDFs for example.
Looking for your home away from home? Explore Unite Students accommodation options
What to do if you think you’ve been scammed
In the unfortunate event you fall victim to a uni accommodation scam, try not to panic. There are a few things you can do to get help and avoid further issues:
Report the scam. First things first, report what’s happened immediately. You’ll need to contact your bank or payment provider to let them know you’ve been scammed. In some cases, if you act quickly enough, they may be able to freeze the transaction or recall the funds.
Get in touch with Action Fraud. Action Fraud is the UK’s fraud reporting body and they’ll be able to provide you with further guidance and support. In some cases, they’ll file a police report for further investigation. You could also report the scam to UCL’s Crime Prevention and Personal Safety Team.
Report the listing. Ensure you report the listing on the website or platform immediately. This can help to protect other students from falling victim, and stops the scammer from stealing money from anyone else.
Notify the university’s accommodation or wellbeing team.
Remember to let your university’s accommodation or wellbeing team know that you’ve been scammed. They’ll be able to offer advice, recommend potential alternative housing options, guide you on next steps, and provide support during this stressful time. This can all help to limit the impact the incident has on your studies.
The key thing to remember if you’re the victim of a uni accommodation scam is that it’s not your fault. The incident could have happened to anyone, and the scammers are at fault here, not you. Your university should be able to support you through this, as well as some of the official bodies we mentioned.
How Unite Students keeps you safe
When you rent student accommodation with Unite, you can have total peace of mind in knowing that you’re not at risk of being scammed. We’re the UK’s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation, and we’re trusted by students in 23 cities across the UK. We’ve housed over 68,000 students in our fully managed and secure apartments.
Our dedicated staff will deal with your accommodation application directly – you’ll never have to engage with any third parties or private landlords. We’re also completely transparent with all our fees, and all parts of your application, including the tenancy agreement, are designed to be simple, seamless and stress-free.
FAQs
How do I know if a uni accommodation listing is real?
To find out if a university accommodation listing is real, you can conduct research online to verify the property's existence and check the landlord's or agent's credentials. You can also contact the landlord or letting agency to get further information about the property and arrange a viewing.
What happens if I fall for a student rental scam?
If you think you’ve been targeted for a student rental scam, you should report what’s happened immediately. Contact your bank to let them know, and get in touch with Action Fraud and the police for further advice. You should also contact your university to tell them what’s happened.
Should I pay a deposit before viewing?
No, it’s advised that you do not pay a deposit for a property before viewing it. Not only can this help to prevent you from being scammed, but it can also ensure that you’ll be satisfied with your space and not caught off guard by its condition or the area it’s in.
