How do I know a roommate from a Facebook group is legitimate?

Check that their profile name matches its URL, that the account has years of history and real friends, and that they are not in dozens of housing groups in different cities. Then have a video call, meet in person before signing anything, and put the arrangement in writing.

Is subletting through a Facebook group safe?

Yes, when you deal with the person who is actually on the lease, see the place in person or on a live video call, confirm the landlord allows subletting, sign a written sublease, and pay by a traceable method only after signing. Never wire money to hold a place you have not seen.

How should I pay a sublet deposit?

By a method that leaves a record and that you could dispute: a bank transfer to a named account, or a payment app with purchase protection. Avoid gift cards, cryptocurrency and cash for anything paid before you have keys, and get a receipt.

What should a sublease agreement include?

The names of the leaseholder and subtenant, the address, the dates, the rent and when it is due, the deposit amount and how it is returned, who pays utilities, house rules, and written permission from the landlord if the original lease requires it. Both people sign and keep a copy.

How to Find a Sublet or Roommate on Facebook Safely

Sublets and roommate searches are the most common posts in Housing Rocket's college groups and a large share of the city groups. They are also where a careless deal costs the most, because you are trusting another renter rather than a landlord. This guide covers how to screen a roommate or a subletter, how to pay, and what to put in writing.

Where to look

Join the group for your city and, if you are near a campus, the college group, where sublets cluster around semester dates. Search inside the group for "sublet", "roommate", "room" and the month you need, and post your own ISO ("in search of") message with your budget, dates and area. The directory lists every group by country, state and city.

Screening a roommate

Check the profile. The name should match the profile URL, the account should have years of posts and real friends, and it should not be in dozens of housing groups across different cities. Those are the same checks our moderators run.
Video call first, then meet. A short call weeds out fake accounts. Meet in a public place or at the apartment before anyone signs.
Talk about the boring things. Work or class schedule, guests, cleaning, noise, smoking, pets, and how bills are split. Most roommate problems are one of these.
Agree in writing. A one-page roommate agreement covering rent share, deposit, bills, notice period and house rules. Ideally everyone is on the lease with the landlord.

Screening a sublet

Deal with the leaseholder. Ask to see the lease, and check that the name on it matches the person you are talking to. A friend "helping out" the leaseholder is a red flag.
Confirm subletting is allowed. Many leases require the landlord's written permission. Get it, or at least confirm it with the building, so you are not evicted mid-term.
See it live. Tour in person, or on a live video call where the host walks through every room and opens the front door from outside. Pre-recorded videos and photos prove nothing.
Sign a sublease. Dates, rent, deposit terms, utilities, and who is responsible for damage. Templates from your university housing office or a local tenants' association are fine.
Pay traceably, after signing. Bank transfer or a payment app with buyer protection, never gift cards, crypto or cash for anything before you have keys, and always with a receipt.

Red flags that mean walk away

Any request for money to "hold" a place before you have seen it or signed.
The person is "out of the country" and cannot show the place.
Rent well below everything else in the group for the same area.
Photos that appear in other listings or in a reverse image search.
Pressure to decide today, or a story about many other people interested.
A profile created recently, with no friends, or in dozens of city groups.
Requests for a copy of your ID, bank details or social security number before a viewing.

Report any of these with Facebook's report button and the group moderators will review the account. If you have already paid, our guide Scammed Online. Now What? lists who to contact, and Detect Facebook Housing Scams shows the profile checks in detail.

Posting your own sublet or room

If you are the one offering the place, expect the same scrutiny from the people who reply, and make it easy for them: say you are on the lease, offer a live tour, and never ask for money before a viewing, which moderators remove on sight. Our guide on writing a post that gets approved has a sublet template you can copy.