I am required to pay a €50 inspection fee. Does the rest of ghe email look legit (it looks okay to me) but I would really like a general opinion since I'm very new to this city and a student.
by idksomebs
9 comments
Why the heck is rent “500-900 Euros”?
Are you moving to a WG? If not I would ask myself why kitchen appliances and internet are included and especially why the apartment is fully furnished.
First of all, it’s already super strange these things are communicated via email – they should be in the ad for the apartment, with pictures. This looks like something someone made up on the spot.
Secondly, “rent: 500-900 euros” – what the hell is that supposed to mean? Either landlords name the cold rent and you pay for the utilities yourself or they give you a lump sum that already includes the utilities – usually a bit more than is actually needed, just so they’re on the safe side. But no one makes up a number as they go.
And thirdly, “inspection fee”??? Never try to rent an apartment that has one of those. That’s scammy to the extreme.
Dont pay anything in advance.
I don’t know about the legality of this specific case, but generally speaking landlords can’t pass on the administrative costs of drawing up a contract to the tenant.
I don’t understand why you are expected to sign the “inspection form” *before* the viewing. I assume this is a form detailing what state the apartment is in; you definitely shouldn’t sign it until you are happy that the details are correct, which means you have to inspect the apartment first.
Be aware that one trick involves the scammers renting out something like an Airbnb to show their victims, so even if you do get a tour of an apartment, it may not be legit. Rents are extremely high in Munich, so €500/month (even €900/month) for a furnished studio apartment seems quite fishy to me — especially if it’s anywhere near the centre.
The golden rule is this: if they pressure you into taking the apartment, it’s a scam. There’s an acute housing shortage at the moment: legitimate landlords don’t need to pressure you because they know that if you won’t take it, there’s a 100 other people willing to snap it up.
It’s a scam.
Also furnished apartments are virtually always a ‚scam‘ in itself without breaking the law.
Inspection fees aren‘t a thing.
You do not ever pay any money to the landlord or Makler im Germany until you saw the apartment, signed the contract and you weren’t shown someone else’s Airbnb but the actual property.
1) How can one sign the inspection form even before inspecting the room. Usually the inspection needs to be performed in presence of the tenant and the Housemeister ND get it signed. At least in my case it was performed once I agreed to take the room after visitingnit in person.
2) Charging for visiting/ viewing
3) the amount of rent is not fixed
No mention of what do they mean by utilities. Does supply of kitchen utensils count as utilities or it’s water, heating and electricity?
High speed internet is definitely a scam. No such thing in Germany
9 comments
Why the heck is rent “500-900 Euros”?
Are you moving to a WG? If not I would ask myself why kitchen appliances and internet are included and especially why the apartment is fully furnished.
First of all, it’s already super strange these things are communicated via email – they should be in the ad for the apartment, with pictures. This looks like something someone made up on the spot.
Secondly, “rent: 500-900 euros” – what the hell is that supposed to mean? Either landlords name the cold rent and you pay for the utilities yourself or they give you a lump sum that already includes the utilities – usually a bit more than is actually needed, just so they’re on the safe side. But no one makes up a number as they go.
And thirdly, “inspection fee”??? Never try to rent an apartment that has one of those. That’s scammy to the extreme.
Dont pay anything in advance.
I don’t know about the legality of this specific case, but generally speaking landlords can’t pass on the administrative costs of drawing up a contract to the tenant.
I don’t understand why you are expected to sign the “inspection form” *before* the viewing. I assume this is a form detailing what state the apartment is in; you definitely shouldn’t sign it until you are happy that the details are correct, which means you have to inspect the apartment first.
Be aware that one trick involves the scammers renting out something like an Airbnb to show their victims, so even if you do get a tour of an apartment, it may not be legit. Rents are extremely high in Munich, so €500/month (even €900/month) for a furnished studio apartment seems quite fishy to me — especially if it’s anywhere near the centre.
The golden rule is this: if they pressure you into taking the apartment, it’s a scam. There’s an acute housing shortage at the moment: legitimate landlords don’t need to pressure you because they know that if you won’t take it, there’s a 100 other people willing to snap it up.
It’s a scam.
Also furnished apartments are virtually always a ‚scam‘ in itself without breaking the law.
Inspection fees aren‘t a thing.
You do not ever pay any money to the landlord or Makler im Germany until you saw the apartment, signed the contract and you weren’t shown someone else’s Airbnb but the actual property.
1) How can one sign the inspection form even before inspecting the room. Usually the inspection needs to be performed in presence of the tenant and the Housemeister ND get it signed. At least in my case it was performed once I agreed to take the room after visitingnit in person.
2) Charging for visiting/ viewing
3) the amount of rent is not fixed
No mention of what do they mean by utilities. Does supply of kitchen utensils count as utilities or it’s water, heating and electricity?
High speed internet is definitely a scam. No such thing in Germany
Classic scam scheme.