How do I check if a flat for rent really exists?
Pay only after you have visited the flat and confirmed that the person renting it is the owner or a real broker. A rent far below the market and a request for a token amount by UPI before the visit are the classic signs of a rental scam.
In the rental scam, the fraudster copies photos from a real listing, sets an attractive rent and says they are posted elsewhere – often claiming to be in the army or transferred to another city. They ask for a token amount or deposit to "block" the flat and then disappear.
How to check
- Visit the flat in person or ask someone you trust to visit it.
- Ask to see the sale deed and a recent property tax receipt, and check that the owner's name matches the person renting it. An encumbrance certificate shows whether the property is really in their name.
- If it is a broker, visit the office and check that it exists; ask for their RERA registration number where your state requires it.
- Do a reverse image search of the listing photos: if they appear in another listing, be careful.
- Never pay a token amount, deposit or rent before seeing the flat and the rent agreement.
Frequently asked questions
- The owner is in the army, posted elsewhere, and will courier the keys. Can that be true?
- It is one of the most common stories in the rental scam. Do not pay anything without a visit.
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