Guide to Avoiding Common Lease Scams for Houston Students: Where to Start

Students moving to Houston have a range of off-campus housing choices, and it helps to know what to watch for before signing anything.

Begin your search at Off-Campus Universe, where you can browse current listings near Houston.

Finding Housing Near Houston

Students moving to Houston have a range of off-campus housing choices, and it helps to know what to watch for before signing anything.

Guide to Avoiding Common Lease Scams for Houston Students: Where to Start

A guide to avoiding common lease scams for Houston students should start with a simple rule: never wire money or pay a deposit before seeing the unit in person or via a live video tour. Verify the landlord's identity and cross-check the listing against other sites before committing.

Tips for Avoiding Lease Scams

• Never send money before touring the unit in person or via live video

• Search the listing photos online to check they aren't reused from elsewhere

• Confirm the landlord's identity matches public property records

• Get everything in writing before paying any deposit or fee

For more on housing near Houston, see our Off-Campus Housing Guide: University of Houston.

Ready to find your place? Browse all listings at Off-Campus Universe.

This article is provided by an independent housing resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the University of Houston.