How can you avoid rental scams in Ireland in 2026?

Threshold's Scamwatch campaign and CCPC guidance repeat the same patterns. A supposed landlord lives abroad and cannot show the home. The rent looks far below nearby Daft.ie or MyHome.ie listings. Payment is demanded before any viewing, or only through cash, cryptocurrency, gift cards or a foreign account.

Another pattern copies photos from a real advert, changes the phone number, and asks for identity files or a deposit. Some fraudsters collect deposits from several people for the same keys, then disappear. Garda fraud pages warn that rental fraud is paying for a property that does not exist or is not theirs to let.

Search the address on maps and compare the rent with similar streets. Reverse-search distinctive photos. Prefer an in-person viewing; if you cannot attend, use a trusted person on the ground rather than a pre-recorded video tour.

If an agent is involved, check the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) Register of Licensed Property Services Providers and ask to see the licence card. Unlicensed letting activity is illegal and removes PSRA complaint and compensation-fund protections.

Ask who owns the home and who will sign the lease. A passport scan emailed by a stranger proves little. Do not confuse a short-term holiday booking page with a long-term residential tenancy.

Threshold advises not to hand over a deposit until you are satisfied with the property and the written terms. CCPC and Garda advice add: get a written lease or rent book, pay by a traceable method, and test that the keys open the door. For tenancies from August 2021, lawful upfront cash is usually capped at one month's deposit plus one month's rent in advance, so demands for large multi-month deposits are both a legal and a scam warning.

If money has already moved, contact your bank immediately and ask about a recall or chargeback. Preserve the advert, chats, account details and receipts. Report the listing to the platform. Report the fraud to your local Garda station; if you are outside Ireland, report to local police and ask them to forward it. Threshold can advise when you are unsure whether a live offer is legitimate.