The shortage in the rental market means that home seekers sometimes have to make decisions quickly. It is precisely this time pressure that makes tenants vulnerable to fraud. A property may genuinely exist, may have been viewed and a key may even have been handed over, while the person renting it out is not actually authorised to do so. A recent case in Mierlo shows how important it is to carefully check who you are dealing with before making any payments or signing a contract.

A viewing and a key do not always provide certainty

A young couple from Mierlo thought they had found a new rental home. They had viewed the property, spoke personally with the alleged landlords, signed a rental agreement and eventually also received a key.

They paid a total of €1,250 for the rent and deposit. Shortly after moving in, however, it became clear that the people who had rented the property to them were not the owners at all.

The property turned out to be owned by a housing association. The alleged landlords were themselves tenants and therefore did not simply have the right to rent the property out to others.

Even real properties can be part of rental fraud

When people think of rental fraud, they often think of advertisements for properties that do not exist at all. In this case, however, the property was genuinely available for a viewing and the new tenants were even given access to the home.

That makes situations like these particularly difficult to recognise.

Because of the current shortage, home seekers may also feel that they need to decide immediately. When an offer appears attractive and other interested parties are waiting, pressure can quickly arise to sign a contract or transfer money.

That is exactly when additional checks are particularly important.

What can you check as a tenant?

Before paying rent and a deposit, it is sensible to check who legally owns the property and whether the person you are dealing with is actually authorised to rent it out.

The rental agreement also deserves careful attention. Check the details of the landlord, the property, the rent, the deposit and all other agreements.

If you have doubts, it is wise not to transfer any money until it is clear who you are actually dealing with. A professional-looking advertisement, a viewing or even a key are not, by themselves, a guarantee that everything is legally correct.

How does OZQUR Makelaardij view this?

At OZQUR Makelaardij, we believe home seekers should never allow themselves to be pressured into transferring money before the rental situation has been properly checked.

Especially with private rentals, we look at the identity of the parties involved, the property details and the agreements recorded in the rental contract. The current housing shortage should never be a reason to skip important checks.

If you have doubts about a property or landlord, have the situation assessed first. An additional check in advance can prevent many financial and personal problems.

At OZQUR Makelaardij, we help you reach your dream home in 5 steps

01 — Getting acquainted & identifying your housing wishes
We start with you. We get to know you, build trust and clearly identify your housing wishes and most important criteria.

→ Understand first, then search.

02 — Determining your budget & possibilities
Together with the buying agent and financial advisor, we determine your mortgage possibilities, budget and ideal search range.

→ Know what is possible before we start searching.

03 — Viewing together
You focus on how the property feels. We take a critical look at the technical condition, location, possibilities and points of attention.

→ You decide whether it feels like home. We look at the rest.

04 — Determining the value & bidding smartly
We analyse comparable properties that have been sold, discuss the property with the selling agent and assess the expected appraisal value. We then determine the bidding strategy together and submit the offer.

→ Not just bidding, but making a well-founded offer.

05 — From accepted offer to the notary
Offer accepted? We then review the documents and purchase agreement, monitor all important deadlines and guide the entire process through to the notary.

→ We stay in control until you receive the keys.

Yucel Samanci
Buying and selling agent at OZQUR Makelaardij, specialised in purchasing strategy, negotiations and assisting Dutch, Turkish and expat clients.
(25 August 2026)