Trusted by 5,000+ international students

Verify a Landlord
in the Netherlands.
Before You Pay.

Moving to the Netherlands? We're here to protect you from rental scams
so you can focus on your dreams, not your worries.

Rental scams in the Netherlands often involve fake landlords.
Upload landlord details or messages and let us help you assess the risk before you lose money.

Verify Landlord How It Works

✓ One-time payment ✓ 24-hour verification ✓ Money-back guarantee

Messages

Discover

Does this look like
your inbox?

Housetective is the only solution that actively verifies properties and landlords for red flags and rental scams. This means properties you can finally trust.

The Netherlands is one of the toughest housing markets in the world and scammers know it.

Every year, thousands of international students and newcomers lose money to rental scams before they even arrive in the Netherlands. The housing market is tight, scammers are clever, and the risk is real. We’re here to make sure it doesn’t happen to you.

3.000+

Victims each year

€3.6M+

Stolen annually

1IN5

Getting scammed

The solution

Real life inspections.

Housetective is the only solution that actively verifies properties and landlords for red flags and rental scams. This means properties you can finally trust.

Share Your Find
Send us the listing that caught your eye. We know how exciting finding the perfect place can be.
We Investigate
Our Dutch housing experts verify everything, from the landlord's identity to the property's legitimacy.
Move In Safely
Get your detailed report and move forward with confidence. Your Dutch adventure starts with peace of mind.

The magic

Discover

It’s as easy as
renting from abroad.

Now you can use Housetective to find reliable housing and landlords before sending money.

Housetective

Oude Delft 20

Delft

elenacosby@gmail.com

+31 6 24756183

Verify the property

Unveil the property
info you’ve been seeking.

Housetective finds verified property data where others fail. Utilize our real life inspection to verify the porperties legitimaticy and transparency.

Inspect Now

Three simple steps between you and your worry-free Dutch home

Share Your Find
Send us the listing that caught your eye. We know how exciting finding the perfect place can be.
We Investigate
Our Dutch housing experts verify everything, from the landlord's identity to the property's legitimacy.
Move In Safely
Get your detailed report and move forward with confidence. Your Dutch adventure starts with peace of mind.

Trusted by students from

University of Amsterdam

TU Delft

Eramus University Rotterdam

Utrecht University

VU Amsterdam

Leiden University

Maastricht University

10,000+

Students Protected

€2M+

Scams Prevented

24hrs

Average Response

98%

Succes Rate

Feature-rich suite

The best inspection on the market.

Built for Remote Renters

Every package is designed for international students and expats who need to verify a property.

Verified Landlords

Get peace of mind while renting remotely. We help you make safe choices before signing or paying anything.

Expert Property Checks

Our team performs thorough digital and on-site inspections to uncover fraud, risk, and missing details.

Avoid Rental Scams

We verify ownership, landlords, and listing details so you never send money to a fake or risky property.

Wall of love

Real stories, real protection.

Hear from students who avoided costly mistakes

Amsterdam

"Housetective saved me from sending €1,200 to a fake landlord. The report confirmed the owner wasn’t real."

- Alejandro from Spain

Delft

"They checked the listing, reviewed my contract, and called the landlord. I felt safe renting from abroad."

- Lola from Germany

Utrecht

"The report was clear and fast. They verified everything, and I finally felt confident sending the deposit."

- Tom from Denmark

Eindhoven

"I was nervous about student housing scams. Their inspection made it easy to rent safely before moving."

- Marco from Italy

Leiden

"The listing looked real, but it was fake. Housetective found the fraud and saved me from losing €2,000."

- Louise from Sweden

Groningen

"Renting from the US was stressful. Their report and photos gave me peace of mind before arriving.”

- Mody from the United States

Stay alert

Know the red flags.

Money upfront before viewing

Legitimate landlords don't ask for deposits before you've seen the property or met in person.

Stock photos or limited images

Real listings have genuine photos. Be wary of perfect stock images or very few pictures.

Extreme urgency and pressure

"You must decide today!" is a classic scam tactic. Real landlords understand you need time.

Can't meet in person or video call

Always insist on meeting the landlord or doing a video tour. No exceptions.

Too good to be true prices in cities

A beautiful Amsterdam apartment for €600? If it seems impossible, it is.

Poor communication or grammar

Scammers often use broken English or copy responses. Trust your instincts.

See any of these red flags?
‍Don't ignore your gut feeling. Send us the listing and we'll investigate it for you. Better safe than sorry.

Get started today

Our founder

From one student to another

Mike Intveld, Founder & Msc student at TU Delft
‍
"As a former international student, I understand the mix of excitement and uncertainty that comes with finding housing in a new country. Unfortunately, scammers often take advantage of this vulnerability. That is why I am committed to helping students stay safe.

Every scam we prevent means one more student can pursue their dreams without disruption. It is what motivates me every day to ensure your journey in the Netherlands begins securely."

Our numbers don't lie

1.000+

Students protected from scams

€1.2M+

Saved from fraudulent listings

100%

Dedicated to your safety

Service

Our most popular inspection service

Guarded

Our most trusted inspection service, Guarded, is built to protect you from rental scams before they happen. Whether you're searching from abroad or already in the Netherlands, we verify the property and the landlord so you can rent with confidence.

Every year, renters lose thousands to fraud, but with Guarded, you won’t be one of them. It’s the stress-free, worry-free way to secure housing safely. No surprises, just security.

Inspect Now Learn More

Choose Your Protection Level

Every plan includes our core scam detection. Pick what feels right for your situation.

Safe

"For the cautious renter"

^€79

Including:

Verified property ownership

Confirmed landlord registration

Summary-level fraud risk rating

Report delivered in 24 hours

Inspect Now

Learn More

Shield

"For the smart renter"

^€149

Everything in Safe, along with:

Neighborhood risk analysis

Legal check for rental terms

Verified fraud-safe score

Report delivered in 48 hours

Inspect Now

Learn More

Guarded

"For the worry-free renter"

^€199

Everything in Shield, along with:

In-person visit to the property

High-quality photos

Priority and follow-up support

Report delivered in 72 hours

Inspect Now

Learn More

Not sure which plan? Chat with our team

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

What can I upload for a scan? –

Upload screenshots, images, PDFs, Word documents, or text files from a listing or landlord conversation. The tool looks for risk signals across language, payment requests, and missing verification details.

How accurate are the results? +

It’s a risk signal tool, not a guarantee. Use it to spot red flags early, then verify the address, identity, and viewing independently.

Is there a free scan? +

Yes. When you create a new account, you get one free Safe scan. After that, you can unlock more scans with a one-time or monthly plan.

Do I need an account to use it? +

No for the first free scan. You only need an account to purchase additional scans and view your history.

What happens after I buy a scan? +

You’ll sign in or create an account, complete Stripe checkout, and get scan credits in your dashboard.

What’s the difference between one-time and monthly plans? +

One-time plans are pay-as-you-go credits. Monthly plans refill credits every month and include a lower per-scan cost.

How long does a scan take? +

Most scans finish in under a minute. Larger files or images may take longer.

Do you store my documents? +

Uploaded files are used to process the scan. For signed-in users, we save the scan result and report details so you can review them later in your dashboard.

Can I use it for multiple listings? +

Yes. Each scan is independent, so you can check multiple listings or conversations.

What should I do if it flags high risk? +

Do not send money or ID. Ask for a viewing, verify the address, and insist on a proper lease before paying.

Is it possible to do a physical inspection of the property? +

Yes. Housetective offers a physical inspection option for renters who want an on-site property check with photos, videos, and landlord or property verification.

Is this available outside the Netherlands? +

Yes. It works globally, but always check your local rental rules and verification steps.

What exactly does Housetective do?

We verify the legitimacy of rental properties and landlords in the Netherlands before you send any money or sign anything. Our team runs ownership checks and can even visit the property in person.

What if I’m not satisfied with the report?

If we miss something or if a fraud goes undetected, we offer a money-back guarantee. Your safety is our priority.

Who performs the inspections?

Our inspections are carried out by local inspectors who understand Dutch rental laws, fraud tactics, and housing platforms.

Can I speak with someone before purchasing?

Yes. You can book a free 15-minute consultation to ask questions, explain your situation, or get personalized help.

Articles

Learn how to avoid scams.

Read

Coming soon...

Call

Need help? Let’s talk

Book a free consult with one of our inspectors.

Inspecting with Housetective

Inspect before you pay.
Protect your rent deposit.

Every year, thousands of people in the Netherlands fall victim to rental fraud, losing an estimated €5 million collectively, with individuals losing an average of €1,200. For expats and international students trying to rent from abroad, the risk is even higher.

That’s why our Protection+ fixed-price package is designed to take the worry off your shoulders. With thorough inspections of rentals and landlords, you get a clear, honest picture of your potential home before you commit. Imagine being able to rent safely from abroad without endless uncertainty, hidden traps, or the fear of losing your deposit to fraud.

Trusted by students at

UvA

TU Delft

Eramus University Rotterdam

Utrecht University

Protection+

Money-back guarantee

^€249

Whats included? Absolutely everything.

In-person property inspection by a local inspector

High-resolution photos of the property and all key areas

Personalized risk grade and rent recommendation

Priority handling and personal follow-up support

Report delivered in 24 hours after inspection

Inspect Now Learn More

Our story

Why we exist

Housing situation in the Netherlands

The Netherlands faces a growing housing shortage each year, and by 2025, the shortfall is projected to reach 25,000 student accommodations.

As one of the most challenging countries in Europe for students to find housing, the situation has become a hotspot for online rental scammers. These scammers use various tricks and tactics to take your money for a room that doesn’t exist—only for you to arrive in the Netherlands and find nothing there.

Every year, thousands of people in the Netherlands fall victim to rental fraud, collectively losing an estimated €5 million, with individuals losing an average of €1,200. For expats and international students renting from abroad, the risk is even greater.

3,000+

Fraud Victims

€1.2M+

Fraud Losses

1OUT5

Students Scammed

92%

Scam Approach

Verify a Landlord in the Netherlands. Before You Pay.

Does this look likeyour inbox?

The Netherlands is one of the toughest housing markets in the world and scammers know it.

Real life inspections.

It’s as easy as renting from abroad.

Housetective

Oude Delft 20

Unveil the property info you’ve been seeking.

The best inspection on the market.

Built for Remote Renters

Verified Landlords

Expert Property Checks

Avoid Rental Scams

Real stories, real protection.

- Alejandro from Spain

- Lola from Germany

- Tom from Denmark

- Marco from Italy

- Louise from Sweden

- Mody from the United States

Know the red flags.

Money upfront before viewing

Stock photos or limited images

Extreme urgency and pressure

Can't meet in person or video call

Too good to be true prices in cities

Poor communication or grammar

From one student to another

Our most popular inspection service

Choose Your Protection Level

Safe

€79

Shield

€149

Guarded

€199

Frequently asked questions.

What exactly does Housetective do?

What if I’m not satisfied with the report?

Who performs the inspections?

Can I speak with someone before purchasing?

Learn how to avoid scams.

Rental scam guide: 2025

Rental scam story: Utrecht

Typical 'landlord' message

Coming soon...

Need help? Let’s talk

Inspecting with Housetective

Inspect before you pay. Protect your rent deposit.

Protection+

€249

Why we exist

Housing situation in the Netherlands

Verify a Landlord
in the Netherlands.
Before You Pay.

Does this look like
your inbox?

It’s as easy as
renting from abroad.

Unveil the property
info you’ve been seeking.

^€79

^€149

^€199

Inspect before you pay.
Protect your rent deposit.

^€249