Renting abroad from a private

Question

We found a holiday home that we'd like to rent for a week from a private. What precautions shall I take?

she needs a small deposit to guaranteed and the balance on arrival but how can I make sure it is not a scam?

please help

Answer 1

I'm not sure where you found the rental, was it on the internet?

Is the property advertised on any owners direct websites? If so, by looking at how long the owner has advertised on the listing site (usually says at the bottom) you can get an idea of how long they have been letting for. The longer the better.

For added security, some of the holiday rental listing sites (such as holiday-rentals.com) now offer booker's protection against payments made to advertisers on their websites. You have to book/enquire through the site though.

When reviewing a property have a look at how popular their bookings are, ask for testimonials & do they have their own website with further information?

If in doubt make sure you know the renters address, phone number etc. before any payment is sent. Can they provide a utility bill with proof of address?

As the balance is to be paid on arrival you will be less at risk, but ask to pay the deposit by credit card which should offer some protection against fraud.

Hope this helps.