RentSwap
Nov 22
4 min read

Updated: Dec 8

Many students in the Netherlands search for rooms online, which makes scam listings a real risk for internationals.

Moving to the Netherlands for university comes with excitement, new opportunities, and the challenge of finding a place to live. If you have already started searching for student housing in Amsterdam, Groningen, Rotterdam, Utrecht, or any other Dutch city, you probably know how competitive and confusing the housing market can be.

What many first-year and international students do not realise is how common scam listings are. Fake landlords, fake rooms, fake contracts, and fake deposits appear every semester, and scammers specifically target students who are stressed, new to Dutch housing, or searching from abroad.

The good news is that fake listings are predictable once you know what to look for. Read on to discover the most common red flags, real scam examples, and how platforms like RentSwap help you avoid housing fraud by connecting you with verified, real tenants.

The Most Common Red Flags in Fake Housing Listings

1. Upfront Payment Before Viewing

This is the biggest and most common scam.If someone asks you to pay before seeing the room in person or through a live video call, it is almost always fake.

Real examples students have encountered:

“You need to send a 600 euro deposit today or I will give the room to someone else.”
“I am abroad but if you pay now, I will mail you the keys.”
“Pay the reservation fee and my agent will show you the room later.”

Legitimate landlords do not work like this. Never send money before viewing the apartment.

2. Prices That Are Too Good to Be True

If the price seems unrealistically low, it is likely a scam. Scammers intentionally post extremely cheap rooms to attract students who are tired of high living costs.

Examples that should make you suspicious:

A private studio in Amsterdam for 600 euro
A fully furnished apartment in Utrecht for 700 euro
A large room in central Groningen for 300 euro
Rooms that include “all bills, furniture, WiFi, registration and cleaning service” for an extremely low rent

Always compare prices with similar listings in the same neighbourhood.

3. Missing or Vague Information

Real listings include details. Scam listings do not.

Examples of vague descriptions:

“Nice room for student, good location, contact fast”
“Everything included, no worries, trust me”
“The room is comfortable and safe, message me”

Missing details usually include:

No address
No room size
No registration rights (inschrijving)
No photos of the real property
Only stock photos or random interior images
No contract information

If the listing looks rushed or unclear, it is not worth pursuing.

4. Suspicious or Unprofessional Communication

Scammers often copy and paste messages, avoid answering questions, or give very strange explanations.

Examples students have received:

“Hello dear, I am honest man. You can trust me.”
“My uncle will meet you later but first you must pay.”
“I cannot show the room because I am on a business trip.”
“Send payment with Western Union because my bank is blocked.”

Real landlords communicate clearly, professionally, and with proper documents.

5. No Option for a Viewing

If they refuse to show the room, even over a quick video call, stop immediately.

Common excuses from scammers:

“I already moved abroad, so I cannot show the room”
“I lost the keys, but you can view after paying deposit”
“The current tenant does not want visitors”

No viewing most likely means no deal.

Not able to attend a viewing? Domakin offers trusted remote viewings to verify the property and answer all your questions.

How to Protect Yourself While Searching for Housing

Here are practical tips every student in the Netherlands should follow:

Always request a live video tour if you are not in the country
Ask for the exact address and check it on Google Maps
Search the landlord’s name, phone number, and email
Save screenshots of messages and listings
Be alert of landlords who only accept payments such as cryptocurrency or.
Check whether the room includes inschrijving (important for residence permit and BSN)
Make sure the contract is legitimate and consistent with Dutch rental rules. you can contact us to have a look and verify its legitimacy

Staying cautious can save you hundreds of euros and a lot of stress.

A Safer Option: Find Verified Housing Through RentSwap

RentSwap was built to make student housing safer, more transparent, and easier for both Dutch and international students.

Here is how RentSwap helps you avoid scams entirely:

Verified listings only

Every room is checked to ensure it is legitimate and linked to a real outgoing tenant.

Direct communication with real tenants

You speak with students who are moving out, not fake landlords.

No upfront cost

You only pay when RentSwap successfully finds you a room.

Safe and stress free experience

No bidding wars, no suspicious contracts, no vague agents.

Earn 200 euro when you move out

When it is time to leave you can pass on your room to a next tenant and receive 200 euros.

Renting in the Netherlands should feel secure, simple, and fair. RentSwap helps make that possible.

Where to Go from Here

Finding a student room in the Netherlands can feel intimidating, but once you learn how to recognise fake listings, the process becomes much easier. Whether you are moving to Amsterdam, Groningen, Utrecht, Rotterdam, Leiden, Eindhoven, or any other student city, staying informed will help you avoid scams and find a verified place to live.

If you are looking for student housing or planning to move out soon, RentSwap is here to guide you every step of the way.

RentSwap. Making student housing swaps easy.