House Hunting 101: Avoiding Scams and Securing a Safe Rental

Written by: Sharone Pandori, 4th year Media, Information, and Technoculture (MIT)
Photo by: Unsplash

Being a university student and getting to experience living away from family is exciting—but let’s be honest, it’s also a bit overwhelming. While residence life makes the transition to adult life easier, moving off-campus is a next step that comes with many to-do list items.

I remember scrolling through rental listings, feeling completely lost. Should I live alone or with roommates? What if I ended up in an unsafe neighborhood or signed a lease I didn’t fully understand? It was a big step, and I felt excited and anxious and SO stressed handling it alongside first year and midterms. Something I didn’t even think about as I dealt with all of this was the possibility of being scammed – and unfortunately, the odds on that aren’t zero.

I’ve learned a lot about finding a house in my time at Western and a lot about avoiding scams in my role as an intern with Western Technology Services and their #CyberSmart program – and I’m happy to share these tips with you!

My Experience Navigating Off-Campus Housing

When I transferred to Western in my second year, I was excited to move into my new apartment, which I had finalized over the summer. But upon arrival, I was told there was a last-minute plumbing issue and was placed in a different unit at the back of the building with no sunlight. A few days later, I noticed someone else living in the apartment I was originally assigned. When I confronted the manager, he admitted there had been a double booking. Feeling frustrated and uncomfortable, I turned to Western’s Off-Campus Housing Office, where I learned about my tenant rights. With their help with listings and lease review, I found a better place within days—one that I’ve happily called home for the past three years.

My advice?

If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is – trust your gut and use your best judgement before committing anything! Scammers often post fake listings with low rent to gain access to your information (like your SIN number which should NEVER be provided) or money (a deposit or “application fees”).
Take your time - I made sure to really check everything out for myself in the unit. Don’t just rely on the photos online. Bring a friend you trust to help!
Learn as much as you can from the Off-Campus Housing website before starting your search!

A #CyberSafe House Hunt

To stay #CyberSafe:

Never send money without a signed (and verified) lease! Off-Campus Housing can help you review your lease – learn more here!
Never sign a lease without seeing the place first—request a video call virtual tour if you're unable to visit in person.
View listings only on trusted websites (like the Off-Campus Housing website) and avoid listings shared through social media – some posts will be legitimate, but scammers are all over social media.
Be cautious with email links – if a potential landlord is sending an email, be sure to make sure it looks safe before clicking a link. Check out the #CyberSmart website for information about spotting phishing emails.
Use secure communication methods – if a potential landlord wants to use a tool to communicate that is unfamiliar to you or feels suspicious, ask to communicate using a method that feels safe, like email.

Final Thoughts: Finding Your Home Away from Home

Like anything you’re trying for the first time, you don’t have to have it all figured out. If you need help, ask for it! There are many supports on campus to help you in this next step of your university journey.

Stay informed, be cautious, and find a place where you feel comfortable and secure. Happy house hunting!

Find Support When You Need It

If you experience cybersecurity issues while searching for housing online, know that you are not alone. Western University offers resources to help students:

WTS Helpdesk – For security concerns, compromised accounts, or support with tech and cybersecurity, contact wts.uwo.ca/helpdesk.

Off-Campus Housing- For rental listings, tenant rights, legal support, and guidance on finding safe and reliable housing, visit offcampus.uwo.ca.

Cybersmart: Stay informed about online safety, scam awareness, and protecting yourself from rental scams, phishing attempts, and other digital threats at cybersmart.uwo.ca.

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