If you haven’t seen the apartment — either in person or on a live video call — don’t send a single euro. Scammers use real photos, fake stories, and pressure tactics to make you pay before you realize the place doesn’t even exist. Rule: No viewing = No payment. Anyone who refuses a viewing is not a landlord you should trust.

Germany’s western states are missing around 1.2 million homes, according to the Pestel Institute. Their economist, Matthias Günther, says the situation is getting worse. Because there aren’t enough affordable places to live, companies can’t find workers. People don’t want to move for a job if they can’t find a place they can afford. Sectors like industry, caregiving, and skilled trades are suffering the most. The institute is telling the government to support all types of housing construction — social housing, private rentals, and owner-occupied homes. Construction numbers have crashed: From 2023 to 2024, housing construction dropped 14.4%, down to 251,900 units — far below the government’s target of 400,000 new homes per year.

Yes, I'd be happy to share what happened to help others avoid the same mistake. I saw a listing for an apartment and contacted the person renting it. When I asked to schedule a viewing, they told me I had to pay €1,000 in advance before seeing the apartment. That was a red flag, and I realized it was likely a scam. No one should pay anything before seeing the place in person and signing a proper rental contract. PRAVIN, BERLIN

Hi it's was the Usual stuff asked for a room and they showed me a really great apartment and very affordable price in Frankfurt, But when i asked to come and have a view at flat they said not possible as already a person is staying and cannot disturb,If i pay some amount I can visit later,Or move in later,I was about to do the payment as I was quite new but my friends warned me and I backed off,And now as well in Facebook there are many scams they ask for registration fees before viewing and say that is refundable ARUN, FRANKFURT

“Hi, it was a usual scam, luckily i did not lose any money. I got reply from Wg and Facebook, they said they were agents and they could arrange an apartment. But they said as they were living far from the location, so they could arrange only online viewing and before that I had to pay the deposit. I didn't reply to them thereafter” MANISHA, NÜRNBERG