Local students warned about rental scams ahead of new academic year

Students has been urged to remain vigilant as the annual search for accommodation ahead of the new academic year gets into gear.

The warning comes for students as national housing charity Threshold partners with the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) and Aontas na MacLéinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), as part of its 2026 Scamwatch Campaign, to raise awareness of rental scams and help students protect themselves when searching for accommodation.

As part of a press release issued for the Scamwatch campaign, students has been told to be aware that scammers often target those under pressure to secure housing.

The press release stated that with student accommodation in short supply across the country, many students are turning to the private rental market to find somewhere to live.

'Limited availability, rising costs and the pressure to secure accommodation quickly can leave students more vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated scams. Threshold, ICOS and AMLÉ are urging students to remain vigilant when searching for accommodation and to seek immediate advice if they encounter a suspicious advert or are unsure whether a property listing is genuine', the press release said.

As part of the wider Scamwatch campaign, Threshold has developed a dedicated Scamwatch toolkit to support student unions, accommodation officers and others working directly with student renters.

The campaign materials, including resources translated into various languages - including Irish, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and German - are designed to help students from Ireland and abroad identify warning signs and avoid rental scams.

Commenting on the campaign, Threshold campaign officer Cat Clark said: “Students entering the rental market for the first time can be particularly vulnerable to scams, especially when they are under pressure to find somewhere to live before term starts. Unfortunately, scammers take advantage of this urgency by creating fake adverts and using tactics designed to convince renters to hand over money quickly or risk losing their accommodation.

“Through the campaign, we want to make sure all students know what warning signs to look out for and where they can turn for support if something does not feel right. While renters can take practical steps to protect themselves, the advice remains straightforward: if it appears too good to be true, it likely is. Threshold is encouraging anyone who is unsure about a property or advert to reach out to seek advice and support.”

ICOS also said that international students can face additional risks. It works to support international students while they study in Ireland.

Orla Lehane, acting executive director at ICOS, said: “International students can face particular challenges when looking for accommodation. Many begin the search before they arrive in Ireland and may be unfamiliar with the rental market here, and can feel enormous pressure to secure somewhere to live before starting their studies. Unfortunately, scammers can exploit that combination of urgency and uncertainty.

“We would strongly encourage students not to transfer money simply because they are afraid of losing an accommodation offer. Take the time to verify who you are dealing with, ask questions and seek advice if anything seems unclear or suspicious. At the same time, we cannot separate the prevalence of rental scams from the wider shortage of affordable student accommodation. When students are competing for a limited supply of housing, it creates exactly the kind of pressure that scammers can exploit.”

Daniel Walsh, president at AMLÉ, said: “Over the coming weeks, thousands of first-year students and their families will begin the search for accommodation and will be immediately confronted with the depth of the student accommodation crisis. This environment can create a sense of urgency, pushing students to enter more precarious rental agreements, and leaving them vulnerable to scammers. Students and their families should remain vigilant to rental scams and take practical steps to verify any offers or advertisements seen online.”

The campaign said that three crucial rules should be followed when searching for accommodation: inspect the property in person, use secure payments methods and a contract that outlines rent, deposits and fees, and trust instinct and seek help, if in doubt.