r/Scams
WG-GesuchtMoney before seeing the apartment
They sent me a rental contract and asked me to send money in advance to secure the apartment and get the keys.Full post
Last update May 2026
Moving to Germany? Rent safely
A trusted-agency list for renters new to the German housing market
Get a 150+ page, manually curated list of 1000+ best-rated, officially registered real estate agencies across 25 German cities, so you can avoid fake landlords, copied listings, and pressure to send deposits before you have real trust signals.
A fake deposit, viewing fee, or wasted trip can cost far more than 19,99€. Start from best-rated agencies before you trust a stranger online.
1000+
best-rated agencies only
25
German cities covered
150+
pages of research
19,99€
sale price, no subscription
Who this is for
For people arriving in Germany who need a real apartment, not a trap
If you are applying from another country, you may not know which agency names are normal, which paperwork is standard, or when a landlord request is dangerous. That makes newcomers easy targets.
International workers
Arriving for a job and trying to secure housing before your first day.
Students and researchers
Looking for a room or apartment while messages are moving fast.
Families relocating
Balancing schools, Anmeldung, work, and the pressure to choose quickly.
Anyone searching from abroad
Especially if someone asks for money, ID copies, or platform transfers before a proper viewing.
What you get
A practical shortcut to safer rental contacts
SafeHousing is not a directory stuffed with every agency we could find. It is a curated 150+ page list of best-rated agencies only, built for people moving to Germany who need a safer first shortlist before contacting agencies, sending documents, or planning viewings.
Manually curated
Each agency is reviewed for trust signals, company registration, operating history, ratings, and visible legitimacy in Germany.
Established companies only
The list focuses on agencies with a longer public trail, not newly surfaced profiles that appear during a desperate apartment search.
Built for renters, not agencies
No agency pays to be listed. SafeHousing receives no provision, commission, or affiliate fee from agencies.
Inside the PDF
Agency names you can start with
Use the list as your first filter when you search, compare listings, or decide who is worth contacting. You are purchasing curated agency information and safety research, delivered as a PDF.
- 1000+ best-rated agency entries across 25 German cities in 150+ pages
- Public contact and legitimacy context where useful
- Manual curation focused on established, well-rated agencies
- No paid placements, ads, or affiliate ranking
19,99€. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Why it matters
Germany has real rental scams and newcomers feel them first
German consumer advisors warn that criminals use fake apartment listings and phishing messages to get your money or personal data. Do not become part of the scam statistics: slow down, verify, and start from contacts with a clearer legitimacy trail.
Sources: Verbraucherzentrale on fake apartment listings · BKA fraud statistics for 2024 .
700,000+
fraud cases were registered in Germany in 2024, according to BKA.
500,000+
additional fraud cases affected Germany from abroad or unknown locations in 2024.
No prepayment
Verbraucherzentrale says never pay for an apartment you have not seen.
ID risk
Scammers may ask for passport or ID copies, then use them for identity fraud.
Scam experiences
How apartment scams feel when you are searching from abroad
A fake apartment does not always look fake at first. It can look like a contract, a viewing appointment, a helpful landlord, or a quick chance to finally secure a place. Do not become part of the scam statistics.
r/cologne
Viewing feePaying to view an apartment
A landlord asked me to pay 85 € to confirm a viewing appointment.Full discussion
r/germany
Scam checkCommunity scam checks
Is this an apartment scam? Please advise on this.Full thread
And thousands more
Not rareOne bad message can cost rent money, documents, and weeks of stress
These examples are only a tiny sample of what renters discuss online every day: deposits before viewings, fake keys, copied listings, viewing fees, fake platform links, and pressure to act before you can verify.
Start with trusted agencies before you trust a stranger online
Free safety guide
Know the tricks before someone asks for money or documents
Read the SafeHousing guide on how to avoid rental scams in Germany: prepayment traps, fake keys, copied listings, viewing fees, phishing links, document theft, and what to do if you already paid.
Never pay first
Learn why deposits, keys, viewings, and reservation fees before verification are major red flags.
Protect documents
Know when ID, salary slips, and bank details become risky to share.
Spot copied listings
Use photo, address, price, and text checks before you trust a listing.
Act fast if scammed
See what to save, who to contact, and how to report a fake apartment.
Coverage
25 German cities covered
Coverage focuses on active German housing markets so the PDF is useful in places where search pressure and scam risk can be high.
- Berlin
- Hamburg
- Düsseldorf
- Essen
- Bremen
- Erfurt
- Köln
- Nürnberg
- Dortmund
- Frankfurt
- Dresden
- Bielefeld
- Leipzig
- Bochum
- Münster
- Wiesbaden
- Wuppertal
- Offenbach
- Karlsruhe
- Halle
- München
- Stuttgart
- Hannover
- Duisburg
- Bonn
Buy PDF now
Covers 25 German cities. One-time purchase, no subscription.
One-time purchase
Buy once and search with a safer shortlist today
After payment is complete, the SafeHousing PDF will be sent to the email address used at checkout. Use it while comparing agencies, replying to listings, or planning viewings in Germany. This is a one-time purchase for the current edition, not a subscription.
19,99€
tax included
One fake deposit, viewing fee, or wasted apartment trip can cost much more than this PDF.
Secure Stripe checkout. No recurring billing. PDF delivered by email after payment.
Buy SafeHousing PDFPayments are processed by Stripe, a trusted payment provider. Your payment details are handled through Stripe's secure checkout. You will not be charged again for this purchase.
FAQ
Quick answers
What exactly am I buying? +
A 150+ page PDF with 1000+ best-rated agency entries across 25 German cities, curated for people moving to Germany or searching for a rental apartment from abroad.
Is this for buyers or renters? +
The main use case is apartment rental search in Germany, especially for newcomers. Some listed agencies may also work in sales, but SafeHousing is written for renters who want safer agency contacts.
How do I receive the PDF? +
The PDF is sent by email after your Stripe payment is complete. Use an email address you can access at checkout.
Do agencies pay to be listed? +
No. SafeHousing is independent. This is a manually selected list, not an advertising directory. Agencies do not pay for listing, ranking, provision, commission, or placement.
Is the payment safe? +
Yes. Payment is processed by Stripe through secure checkout. SafeHousing does not receive or store your card details.
Will this completely prevent scams? +
No resource can guarantee that. SafeHousing reduces avoidable risk by helping you avoid unknown, suspicious, or newly surfaced contacts and focus on agencies with clearer trust signals. You should still never send money before proper verification.
Is this a subscription? +
No. SafeHousing is a one-time purchase for the current PDF edition. There is no recurring charge, membership, or automatic renewal.