Rental scams
The landlord wants a deposit before I see the apartment. Is that a scam?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Treat it as a scam until you can prove otherwise. Legitimate landlords and property managers show a unit before taking money, because they need to meet you and you need to confirm the place exists. A request to pay to "hold" a place you haven't seen is one of the most common rental scam patterns.
Scammers usually explain the request away: other people are interested, the owner is out of town, or the deposit is "fully refundable". None of that changes the risk. Once the money leaves your account, getting it back depends on the person who asked for it.
There are narrow exceptions. Some large apartment communities take an application fee or holding deposit after you tour, through their official leasing office or portal. If you're moving from far away, a friend can view the unit for you. Either way, pay the company rather than an individual, and only after someone you trust has been inside.
- Ask for an in-person viewing, or a live video tour plus a friend's visit if you can't go yourself.
- Check who owns or manages the property before you commit.
- Pay only after the viewing and a signed lease, by a method that leaves a record.
In Housing Rocket groups, posts that ask for money before a viewing are removed. If someone sends you that request by private message, report the profile and let the group's moderators know.
Want the whole picture? Read How To Avoid Housing Scams.