How to Avoid Rental Scams in Germany: Warning Signs You Should Know
- Barbara Okwufulueze
- Nov 30
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 30
Germany is generally safe, but its competitive housing market—especially in cities like Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, and Hamburg—creates opportunities for scammers. Immigrants and international students are frequent targets because they are still learning the system.
Let’s discuss the most common rental scams in Germany and how to avoid them.
1. Never Pay Anything Before Viewing the Apartment
This is the number one rule in Germany.
A real landlord will never ask you to:
Pay a deposit
Pay rent upfront
Pay “reservation fees”
before you have:
✔ Viewed the apartment
✔ Signed a proper Mietvertrag (rental contract)
If someone insists on early payment, it is almost always a scam.
2. Beware of “I’m Abroad, I’ll Send the Keys” Scams
This common fraud looks like this:
Scammer says they moved abroad
Cannot show the apartment
Offers to send the keys via DHL or an Airbnb “agent”
Requests upfront payment to “secure” the unit
No legitimate German landlord operates this way. Never send money to someone you cannot meet.
3. Unrealistically Low Rent = Red Flag
If the apartment:
Is large,
Newly renovated,
In a prime city location,
AND costs far below market value…
…it is almost certainly fraudulent.
Tip: Compare prices on platforms like:
Immobilienscout24
Immonet
Immowelt
If the price is “too good to be true,” it usually is.
4. No Contract or Fake Contract
A real German rental always includes a detailed written Mietvertrag, listing:
Warmmiete / Kaltmiete
Deposit (Kaution)
Hausordnung (house rules)
Duration
Cancellation terms
Scammers avoid documentation or rush you to sign incomplete forms.
5. Landlord Refuses to Provide Their Identity
Real landlords have no issue providing:
Full name
Address
Phone number
Property manager contact
Scammers often hide behind:
Only emails
No phone calls
No video calls
Fake names
Trust your instincts.
Germany has strong tenant protections, but scammers still target newcomers. Knowing what to expect — and what is unusual — will keep you safe throughout your housing search.
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