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WARNING OF ACCOMMODATION SCAMS

We have received reports that accommodation scammers may be targetting students looking for accommmodation in and around Perth.

The websites that are alleged as being involved are www.perthhousemates.com.au and www.share-accommodation.net

Please do not send money to anybody you have not met in person, nor should you provide your bank details.

Do not give out unnecessary personal information, such as your date of birth or passport details. If you're at all suspicious, do not give any personal information. You are welcome to contact us if you would like any advice. 

We advise students to be wary of bogus advertisements for rental accommodation. If the weekly rent seems too good to be true, then it probably is. On average you should expect to pay anything upwards of $230 per week for a one bedroom unit and anything upwards of $120 per week for a room in shared accommodation.

We have been advised of cases where students have been emailed false documentation (i.e. Certificate of Title, Under the transfer of land act 1893 and the Strata Titles act 1985) and asking for money to be wired through Western Union to secure the accommodation. Please do not become a victim of such a scam.

We strongly advise against paying out sums of money and signing rental agreements before viewing the accommodation unless you are arranging homestay accommodation through a registered provider of homestay arrangements such as Talkabout Tours or WA Homestay Network or booking temporary accommodation through a hotel or through a reputible website.

International and visiting students are urged to arrange short-term temporary accommodation for their arrival in Perth.  Details of local temporary accommodation can be found on our website.

This is not the first time that student have been targeted. A media release in April 2008 also warned international students to be cautious.  The previous media release can be found here.

For updates on any new rental accommodation scams operating in Western Australia, please visit the Department of Commerce website or the SCAMwatch website.

Renting Privately?

It has been reported that some rental accommodation is being advertised by people claiming to be UWA staff. If the person advertising a room or property says they work for UWA, ask them to show their staff ID card showing their ID number and photograph.

When looking to rent a room or property with a private owner, we recommend that you ask to see some form of photo ID before you sign a rental agreement or part with any money and ALWAYS get copies of paperwork and receipts.