Finding somewhere safe for your child to live while they study abroad is one of the most consequential decisions in the entire process — and one of the most emotionally loaded. You're assessing a property, a landlord, a neighbourhood, and a contract from thousands of kilometres away, often under time pressure and with incomplete information.
This guide cuts through the complexity. It covers what to look for, the scam warning signs every parent should know in 2026, and the questions to ask before any money changes hands.
The Options: What You're Choosing Between
On-campus university accommodation is generally the safest starting point, particularly for the first year. It's managed by the institution, maintenance is handled promptly, and there's typically 24/7 security and on-site staff. The trade-off is cost and availability — demand often exceeds supply and applications close early.
Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) is privately operated housing designed specifically for students. The best providers offer CCTV, secure key fob entry, and on-site management. Quality varies significantly between providers, so due diligence matters.
Private rentals — shared houses or apartments rented directly from landlords — offer more independence and often lower costs, but require the most careful vetting. This is also where the vast majority of accommodation fraud occurs.
Homestay — living with a local host family through a university-approved agency — is a genuinely safe option, particularly for younger students or those in their first semester.
Physical Safety: What to Check
Whether your child is considering university halls or a private rental, these physical safety features are non-negotiable:
Locks and entry
- Functioning locks on all external doors and windows
- Secure entry system for shared buildings (keycard, fob, or intercom)
- Bedroom doors lockable from the inside
Fire safety
- Working smoke detectors in every room and on every floor
- Clear fire evacuation plan displayed in the building
- Fire exits unobstructed and clearly marked
- Valid gas safety certificate (required annually for rental properties in most countries)
Lighting and condition
- Well-lit communal areas, entrances, and external pathways
- No signs of damp, mould, or structural problems
For private rentals, ask to see the gas safety certificate and electrical installation condition report (EICR) before signing. A legitimate landlord provides these without hesitation.
Accommodation Scams: A Growing Threat
Accommodation fraud targeting international students is serious and rising. In Ireland, the Gardaí reported a 22% increase in accommodation fraud cases in the first half of 2025, with over 160 reported cases and losses totaling €385,000 — more than a third of victims were under 25 (RTE Ireland). Similar patterns have been documented across the UK, Canada, and Australia.
Scams have grown more sophisticated. Fraudsters now use high-resolution photographs lifted from legitimate listings and AI-generated property descriptions to establish credibility before requesting money. International students are disproportionately targeted because they're researching properties remotely, under time pressure, in an unfamiliar market.
The Red Flags
Price significantly below market rate: If a property appears substantially cheaper than comparable listings in the same area, this is the primary warning sign. Below-market pricing is consistently the initial hook.
The landlord can't show the property: A pattern that appears repeatedly in reported scams: the person advertising claims to be abroad or unavailable, but will "send the keys" once a deposit is paid. No legitimate landlord operates this way.
Pressure to pay immediately: "There are ten other people interested." "The deal expires tonight." This artificial urgency is a deliberate technique to prevent careful thinking. A genuine landlord allows time for consideration.
Requests for untraceable payment: Any request to pay via cryptocurrency, wire transfer to an overseas account, gift cards, or cash only is an immediate red flag. Legitimate landlords accept traceable bank transfers, and in many countries deposits are protected through government-backed schemes.
No written contract before payment: A verbal agreement or WhatsApp message has no legal standing. If anyone asks for money without first providing a signed written contract, walk away.
How to Verify a Property Remotely
Search the address independently: Put the address into Google Maps and compare Street View with the listing photos. If the building doesn't match, that's a serious concern.
Verify the landlord or agent: Search their name and agency online. Legitimate letting agents are registered with industry bodies — ARLA Propertymark in the UK, for example. A search should return a traceable business history.
Insist on a live video tour: Before any money is transferred, request a live video walk-through — not pre-recorded footage, which can be fabricated. Ask them to show specific details that couldn't be faked. A genuine landlord will have no objection.
Use your child's university housing office: Most universities maintain a verified landlord register or approved accommodation list. Some also operate a blacklist of problematic landlords. This is one of the most reliable first resources — use it before searching independently.
Confirm deposit protection: In many countries, landlords are legally required to protect tenant deposits in a government-backed scheme. In the UK this is mandatory under the Housing Act 2004. In Australia, rental bonds are lodged with the relevant state tenancy authority. Confirm this before any payment is made.
Deposit Protection by Country
Disclaimer: Verify current requirements with the relevant tenancy authority in your child's destination before signing.
Questions to Ask Before Signing
About the property:
- What security features are in place — entry systems, CCTV, on-site staff?
- When were the smoke alarms last tested?
- Is there a valid gas safety certificate?
- Who handles maintenance issues and what's the response time?
About the contract:
- Is the deposit held in a protected scheme?
- What are the conditions for getting it back?
- What notice period is required to end the tenancy?
- Are there any additional fees beyond rent and deposit?
About the location:
- What's the route to campus and is it well lit at night?
- Is there public transport nearby?
Your Pre-Departure Checklist
Work through this before your child's accommodation is confirmed:
Physical safety
- Functioning locks on all external doors and windows
- Secure building entry system confirmed
- Working smoke detectors confirmed
- Gas safety certificate sighted for rental properties
- Well-lit communal areas and pathways
Verification
- Address independently verified on Google Maps
- Landlord or agent verified online
- Live video tour completed before any payment
- University housing office consulted
- No payment made before written contract received
Contract and finances
- Written tenancy agreement signed before money transferred
- Deposit protection scheme confirmed
- Payment made via traceable bank transfer only
- Deposit receipt obtained and stored
Scam warning signs
- Price consistent with local market rates
- No pressure to pay immediately
- Landlord willing and able to show the property live
- No requests for cryptocurrency, gift cards, or cash
Finding the right accommodation is one of the most important things you can do for your child's experience abroad — not just for their physical safety, but for their confidence, their ability to study well, and their overall wellbeing in a new country. Take the time to go through this checklist carefully, involve your child in the process, and don't let urgency push either of you into skipping steps that exist for good reason.
The right place is out there. With the right questions asked in the right order, you'll find it.
Plan Each Step with Confidence
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Last updated April 2026. Tenancy laws and deposit protection requirements vary by country — always verify current rules with the relevant tenancy authority in your child's study destination.