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Rental verify guides

The warning-sign check works anywhere. These guides add the local steps: who to check with, how deposits should be handled, and where to report.

Three rules that stop most scams, anywhere

  • View the property in person (or have someone you trust view it) before paying anything.
  • Pay only against a signed contract — to the landlord or a licensed agency, never a personal or third-party account.
  • Never pay by wire service, gift cards, crypto or a payment app to someone you haven't met.

United Arab Emirates — emirate-by-emirate guide

Ad permits and Madmoun QR, broker licences, title deeds and lease registration (Ejari, Tawtheeq, attestation) for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah.

Open the UAE guide

Other countries

United Kingdom

  1. A tenancy deposit must be protected in a government-backed scheme (within 30 days in England and Wales). Ask which scheme, and check it yourself after you pay.

  2. In England, a holding deposit is capped at one week's rent and most other upfront fees are banned. A fee to view, or a 'deposit' before any viewing, is a warning sign.

  3. Letting agents in England must belong to a property redress scheme. Ask which one, and check the agent is listed.

  4. Not sure the 'landlord' owns it? In England and Wales you can buy the title register from HM Land Registry to see who owns the property.

  5. England, Wales and Northern Ireland: report fraud to Report Fraud (it replaced Action Fraud in Dec 2025) or call 0300 123 2040. Scotland: call Police Scotland on 101.

  6. For free advice on what to do next, contact Citizens Advice.

Pack: gb@0.1 · Links checked: 2026-10-26

United States

  1. Search the address with the owner's or company's name. The same place listed elsewhere with a different owner or price — or listed for sale — is a warning sign. County property records show who owns it.

  2. See the place (or have someone you trust see it) and sign a lease before paying. Never pay by wire transfer, gift card, crypto or a payment app to someone you haven't met.

  3. United States: report it to the FTC — even if you didn't pay. Reports help warn others.

  4. If you lost money online, also file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

  5. You can also report to your state attorney general or consumer protection office.

Pack: us@0.1 · Links checked: 2026-10-26

Europe (Netherlands, Germany, France)

  1. View the place and sign a written lease before paying. Pay only to an account in the landlord's or agency's name — a 'landlord' abroad who wants a deposit first is a common pattern.

  2. Netherlands: check or report the scam with the Fraudehelpdesk and file a report with the police. The Huurcommissie explains rent rules.

  3. Germany: report it to your state police online (Onlinewache). Police and consumer advice centres publish guidance on rental fraud.

  4. France: report a fake rental ad on THESEE (report, or file a complaint online), and see Cybermalveillance's guidance on rental scams.

  5. Booked a stay in another EU country? The European Consumer Centres network can help with cross-border problems.

Pack: eu@0.1 · Links checked: 2026-10-26

India

  1. Visit and meet the owner before paying any token or advance. Ask to see ownership papers (e.g. sale deed or property-tax receipt) and sign a rent agreement registered or stamped as your state requires.

  2. If a broker is involved, ask for their RERA agent registration number and check it on your state's RERA website.

  3. Lost money? Call 1930 straight away and report on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

  4. Report a suspected fraud call or message on Sanchar Saathi (Chakshu).

Pack: in@0.1 · Links checked: 2026-10-26

Australia

  1. Inspect the property in person (or send someone you trust) before paying. Check the agent's licence with your state or territory fair-trading or consumer-affairs body.

  2. Your bond should be lodged with the state or territory bond authority — you get a receipt from the authority, not just from the agent or landlord.

  3. Report the scam to Scamwatch — it helps warn others and take down scam ads.

  4. Lost money or details online? Contact your bank and report the cybercrime through ReportCyber.

  5. Sent ID documents in reply to a suspicious listing? IDCARE offers free identity support.

Pack: au@0.1 · Links checked: 2026-10-26

Anywhere else

  1. Report the ad to the platform where you saw it, and never pay before viewing and a signed contract.

  2. Check who owns the property and whether the agent is licensed using your country's government land registry and licensing bodies. A real landlord or agent will give you what you need.

  3. Report it to your local police. For a scam across borders, you can also report to econsumer.gov, run by an international network of consumer-protection agencies.

Pack: global@0.2 · Links checked: 2026-10-26

Already paid, or something feels wrong?

Stop, don't send more money, call your bank, and report it.

How to report

Links open each service's own website in a new tab. Rentalsafe is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any of these bodies. Each country pack is versioned; we checked its links on the date shown.

Rental verify guides · Rentalsafe