Amsterdam Rental Scams

Amsterdam Apartment, Prime Location, € 800/month. Really?

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

DutchAmsterdam.nl — Amsterdam rental scams are common. Criminals actively target the tight Amsterdam housing market. They use online advertising-, real estate-, and booking websites to defraud people looking to rent a room, apartment, or house.

The rentals on offer either do not exist, or are already occupied by unsuspecting, legitimate renters or owners.

Apartment rental rates in Amsterdam are at a premium

Affordable housing is notoriously difficult to find in Amsterdam, particularly in the most popular areas of town. There are not enough affordable homes. Rent-controlled social housing is near impossible to come by. Rental rates in the so-called ‘free sector’ are sky high. In the Second Quarter of 2021, the average rental price of a 1-bedroom apartment in Amsterdam was €1,605, says HousingAnywhere ^{1 2}

Update, October 20, 2022: The share of social rental housing fell to less than 34 percent of the total number of homes in the Netherlands last year. In 2012, it was still more than 37 percent, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported. In Amsterdam, the share of social housing dropped from 61 percent to 47 percent. ³

Tourists, students, interns, expats, and even locals often turn to websites such as Craigslist, Kamernet, Marktplaats, or even Facebook as a source for rental apartments.

Most of the advertisements on these websites are legitimate. However, criminals bent on taking advantage of the stagnated housing market also advertise.

Many of the websites used in the housing rental scams say they remove obviously fraudulent ads. But ultimately they simply provide an advertising platform. Users of these services are themselves responsible for determining whether or not a deal is legitimate.

Amsterdam apartment rental scam: warning signs

How do you know whether an apartment for rent offer is mostly likely a scam? Typically, the offer will sound too good to be true.

The absent owner and his or her representative

False advertisers usually claim to be outside the country — whether for an emergency family visit, a business trip, or because they ‘live in London.’ Their emails tend to be in poor English, and are often overly friendly.

Since they are out of the country, they want to make a quick deal with you. You can send them your money via (anonymous and virtually untraceable) Western Union or MoneyGram and they’ll “send you the keys by courier.”

Alternatively, you are welcome to meet with a representative who works on the owner’s behalf. The ‘representative’ usually introduces him- or herself either as a ‘friend,’ a ‘solicitor,’ or a ‘courier.’ He or she is “in a hurry” and thus will meet you not at the apartment itself, but at a café downtown.

The rent application: Handing criminals your private information

All they need is for you to fill out and sign a rental application or contract. That means your identity, credit card details and other personal information is now in the hands of criminals.

Next they ask you for the rent money. You must pay at least first and last month plus a deposit. Perhaps even the cost of the courier service from London or elsewhere to Amsterdam. “Oh, and could you please pick up the tab for this meeting? I’m running late!”

Visiting the non-existing apartment

You might say you want to view the apartment before committing yourself to renting it. But the representative reminds you that he is in a hurry. He has “an appointment with another potential renter.” The message is clear: sign and pay now if you don’t want to lose this fantastic opportunity.

If you still insist on seeing the place first you must pay a “security deposit” for the keys. After you have checked out the apartment, the rep tells you, drop the keys in the mailbox.

Once you arrive at the address he provides you’ll find the place does not exist. Or the apartment is occupied by the legitimate (and puzzled) owners.

Scammers are difficult to trace and prosecute

Amsterdam police say they trace the vast majority of Internet addresses used in these scams to Nigeria. Many Nigerian scammers also operate from England, or even from within Amsterdam, using internet café’s, proxy services and other methods to make tracing them difficult, if not impossible. Give them your hard-earned money, and you can kiss it goodbye.

Many of the websites used in the housing rental scams say they remove obviously fraudulent ads. But ultimately they simply provide an advertising platform. Users of these services are themselves responsible for determining whether or not a deal is legitimate.

Protect yourself from Amsterdam housing scams

• If it sound too good to be true, it more than likely is
• Do not deal with people who claim, for whatever reason, not to be able to meet with you in person
• You must be able to see and inspect the apartment on offer
• Ask the person who rents out the apartment to introduce you to a neighbor. The reaction to this request may be telling. If you do get introduced to a neighbor, ask what they neighborhood is like, whether it is safe, and whether they would recommend you rent the place
• Don’t trust appearances. Most scam artists do not look like seedy characters. Just because a handsome guy shows up wearing a nice suit doesn’t mean you should trust him off-hand. (Not surprisingly, potential male housing scam victims are met by a charming woman)
• Make sure the key or keys you are given work
• When you sign a rental contract and provide your ID, ask for a photo copy of the landlord’s ID as well

Is That a Legitimate Website?

Mind you, criminals also set up their own websites. Don’t trust everything you see. For instance, check how long a certain website has been online by entering their web address into the Internet Archive’s “WayBack Machine.”

Nice photos! Is That Apartment For Real?

Fake ads for apartments, rooms, or houses often re-use photos in many different false ads.

If you use Chrome, right click on a photo. Then select “Search Google for Image.” Firefox fans can use the “Google Image Search” browser add-on.

Sometimes you’ll find the same photos are used in advertisements for rentals in places around the world. At times the images may be cropped, or flipped horizontally.

Don’t trust photos of the landlord either. These scammer usually engage in identity theft as well.

Additional rental tips

In addition, make sure the rental contract states what is and what is not included (utilities, use of the garden and/or roof terrace, cable TV, internet connection, et cetera).

Try to negotiate. While most legitimate landlords will not take less rent than what they advertised, you may be able to rent without paying a ‘last month’ in advance.

Make sure you get a detailed receipt for each rental payment as well as for your deposit.

Take photos of the property as soon you as you arrive — perhaps even upon first inspection. You could always say your parents are paying for the place, so you want them to see what it is like. Document everything: the walls, the doors, the floors, etcetera. If there is any damage, have the landlord note it on your rental contract.

How much money?

Scammers are in it for the money. So in addition to several months worth of rent, they usually try to get various other fees as well. Think deposits, contract fees, or agency fees. Those are all illegal, as are disproportionately high administration fees.

If you paid such fees, even for a legitimate rental, and you live in Amsterdam you can contact !WOON. They can help you reclaim unjust fees.

Amsterdam Rental Scams FAQ

Published July 2, 2021. Last updated July 21, 2021 to add information from HousingAnywhere.