How to Find and Secure a Room Before You Arrive (International Students)

Searching for a room in a country you haven't lived in yet, without being able to view it in person, is a genuinely different challenge - and unfortunately, one that scammers specifically target. Here's how to do it properly, and how to protect yourself while you do.

By Marilyn Magnusen

Published 22/08/2026, 3 min read

The Real Scale of the Problem, Worth Taking Seriously

This isn't a minor risk. Surveys have found the majority of students encounter some form of rental scam attempt during their search, and UK fraud reporting bodies have recorded over £1 million lost by students to rental scams in a single year, with individual losses commonly running into four figures. International students are disproportionately targeted specifically because remote searching, unfamiliarity with UK rental norms, and time pressure all make the usual warning signs harder to spot.

The Red Flags, Consistent Across Every Real Case

⚠️Refusing a live video viewing is the single biggest warning sign

A genuine landlord or agent will do a live video call and show you the actual room in real time - opening windows, walking the space, answering questions as they go. Scammers consistently make excuses to avoid this ("the current tenant is sleeping," "I'm currently abroad and can't access it") and instead send pre-recorded videos or photos, which can be faked or stolen from elsewhere entirely.

Other consistent warning signs:

The price is noticeably below market rate for the area - check what's realistic first, so you can actually spot this
Pressure to pay immediately ("10 other people are waiting," "pay within 2 hours or lose it") - genuine landlords don't need to manufacture urgency
Requests for payment via untraceable methods - Western Union, MoneyGram, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. A traceable bank transfer or card payment is the only method that gives you any real recourse if something goes wrong
A "landlord" who claims to be abroad and offers to post you the keys once you've paid - this is one of the most common scam scripts specifically
Requests for a passport scan, bank details, or visa documents before you've even agreed anything - these can be used for identity theft, not just financial fraud
No formal written contract or receipt

What to Actually Do Before You Pay Anything

Insist on a live video call, not a pre-recorded video. If they won't do it, walk away.
Reverse image search the listing photos (Google Images) - stolen photos from a completely different city or country are a genuinely common tactic, and this takes seconds to check.
Check the local average rent for the area before deciding a price is reasonable - our location hub pages show real, current rent data across London areas, so you're not guessing.
Never pay a deposit before a viewing (a live video counts) or before you have a proper tenancy agreement - not just a verbal promise or an informal message thread.
Use a dedicated, verified platform rather than an open, unmoderated marketplace with no listing checks.

A Genuinely Safer Strategy: Don't Commit Long-Term, Sight Unseen

The single safest approach used by experienced international students isn't finding a perfect 12-month room from abroad - it's booking temporary accommodation (a hostel, short-term let, or homestay) for your first week or two, then viewing rooms in person once you've actually landed, before committing to anything longer-term. It costs a bit more upfront, but it removes almost all of the remote-scam risk entirely, and lets you actually see what you're signing up for.

Get Your Paperwork Ready in Advance

Whichever approach you take, having these ready before you start seriously searching speeds everything up and makes you a stronger applicant:

A guarantor arranged, or a plan for one - see our guide on options if you don't have a UK guarantor
Your Right to Rent documentation ready to go
Proof of student status and financial means, since landlords and platforms will generally ask for this regardless of where you're applying from

One Separate Scam Worth Knowing About

This isn't a rental scam, but it specifically targets the same population around the same time: fraudsters impersonating the Home Office, claiming a "fine" is owed over a visa issue, demanding urgent payment. The Home Office will never contact you by phone to ask for money or personal details. If you get a call like this, don't engage - it's not real, regardless of how convincing the caller sounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to pay a deposit before I've seen a room in person?

Only if you've done a live video viewing and have a proper written tenancy agreement - never based on photos or a pre-recorded video alone.

What's the safest way to pay a deposit remotely?

A traceable method - bank transfer or card payment through a legitimate platform. Avoid wire transfer services, cryptocurrency, or gift cards entirely; if something goes wrong, you have no way to recover the money.

Should I commit to a full-year tenancy before I arrive?

It's genuinely safer not to. Booking temporary accommodation for your first week or two and viewing rooms in person before signing anything longer-term removes most of the real risk.

How can I tell if listing photos are fake?

Run them through a reverse image search (Google Images) - stolen photos from another listing, city, or even country are a common and easily-checkable scam tactic.