WARNING to Students who are looking for accommodation

There are some dishonest people who are posing as landlords and advertising on housing search websites. They ask tenants to send rent in advance and bond money to their overseas bank accounts. They do not send you the keys because they do not have a rental property.

Students should be aware that landlords must deposit bond money with Consumer Affairs Victoria and provide a written receipt at that time they take your bond. Landlords must also provide a written receipt for rent in advance.

VU Housing recommends that students:

• Apply for rental vacancies at Licensed Real Estate Agents and www.vu.edu.au/housing  only.
• Never sign a lease or pay rent in advance or a bond for a property you have not visited.
• Get receipts when you pay a bond and rent in advance. Do not hand over money even if you were told that a receipt will be mailed to you later.
• Always get the landlord's full name, phone number, address (make sure if they are correct by checking their driver's licence or calling their phone number).

Warning to Students who have a vacant room and/or looking for some one to share

People who are pretending to be international students may send you an email application for your rental vacancies from overseas. They send you a US dollar bank cheque for more than you ask for. They then ask you to send a refund of the extra money they paid.

These people are not real students. They may be from Australia or overseas. These US dollar bank cheques are fraudulent and cannot be cashed.

• Always ask for Australian currency.
• Do not send any money through the mail
• Send only, a bank cheque which is cleared (Australian banks take three working days to clear a cheque from the day you deposit it in your account).

Email: housing@vu.edu.au or telephone (03) 9919 8801, 9919 4418, 9919 2399

Web: www@vu.edu.au/housing