⚠️ Real data: more than 35% of Erasmus students in Italy report at least one scam attempt during their housing search, according to 2025 university surveys.
Why are Erasmus students such an easy target?
International students are the perfect prey for rental scammers in Italy for several reasons: they search for accommodation from abroad, work under tight deadlines, don't know local market prices and often can't visit the property before booking. On top of that, the stress of finding housing before the semester starts pushes them to make rushed decisions.
The 6 most common rental scams in Italy
1. The phantom listing
Scammers post a flat with stunning photos at a suspiciously attractive price. When you reach out, they claim the landlord is abroad and ask you to wire money to "reserve" the place sight unseen.
Red flag: they ask you to pay before any viewing or signed contract.
2. Deposit without a contract
They show you the flat, everything looks fine, but the landlord insists you pay the deposit "in good faith" before the contract is signed. Once they have the money, the contract never arrives.
Golden rule: never pay anything before you hold a signed contract.
3. Stolen photos / illegal subletting
The "landlord" doesn't actually own the property: they're subletting illegally without permission. The photos are stolen from other listings. When you arrive, either the flat doesn't exist or you land in a complicated legal mess.
How to spot it: run a Google reverse image search on the listing photos.
4. Unregistered contract (in nero)
The flat exists and the landlord is real, but the contract isn't registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate. This is illegal and leaves you fully exposed: no tenant rights and no way to claim back your deposit.
Always demand: a registered contract showing the landlord's tax code (codice fiscale).
5. Hidden charges and inflated bills
The listing says "bills included" but on arrival you're hit with invoices for electricity, gas, water, internet, doorman fees and stairwell cleaning. The real price ends up 40% higher than advertised.
Always ask for a written breakdown of what the rent actually includes.
6. The "renovated" flat that isn't
The photos show a sleek, modern, renovated flat, but on arrival you find an old, run-down property. The landlord claims "the photos are just for reference" and refuses to refund the deposit.
Always visit in person or ask for a live video walkthrough of the actual flat.
Verification checklist: how to vet a listing
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Run the photos through Google Images (reverse search): if they show up in other listings or cities, it's a scam.
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Check the address on Google Street View: the building must exist and match the photos.
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Ask for the landlord's ID document and confirm the name matches the contract.
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Demand a live video walkthrough if you can't visit in person. A legitimate landlord will never refuse.
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Never pay in cash or by wire transfer before signing the contract. Use platforms with buyer protection.
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Inspect the contract template: Italian residential leases follow standard formats. If the document is too short or written only in English, be suspicious.
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Search for reviews of the landlord or agency: Google Maps, Trustpilot, Erasmus Facebook groups for that city.
Immediate red flags
🚩 Price suspiciously low for the area (more than 30% below market)
🚩 Landlord "abroad" or "on a mission" (the classic scam script)
🚩 Only accepts wire transfer or Western Union
🚩 Pressure to decide within 24h: "someone else is interested"
🚩 Can't or won't do a video call
🚩 Communicates only by email or WhatsApp, never by phone
The safe alternative: Lupo Rooms
On Lupo Rooms every landlord is verified, every listing has a legal contract and every payment is protected. Zero scams, guaranteed.
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