Fake Listings and AI Photos: How Students Verify a Property Is Real

Student house-hunting has always been a bit of a scramble, but the rise of fake listings and AI-generated photos has made it genuinely risky. 

You’ll see a “newly refurbished” flat with spotless carpets, sunlit rooms and designer furniture… and a price that somehow still feels “student-friendly”. The issue is that scammers know exactly what you want to see, and AI tools make it easier than ever to create convincing images, fake landlord profiles, and even realistic messages that sound professional. 

The good news is you don’t need to be a detective to protect yourself – you just need a repeatable checklist and the confidence to walk away when something doesn’t add up.

Step one: sanity-check the listing before you fall in love with it

Start by checking whether the basics make sense. Does the rent match the area and the time of year? If it’s significantly cheaper than similar places nearby, treat that as a warning, not a bargain. 

Look for details that real listings usually include: an EPC rating, council tax band (even if students are exempt, it’s often listed), accurate deposit info, and clear tenancy length. Vague wording like “DM for address”, “can’t do viewings right now”, or “discount if you pay quickly” is often the first sign you’re not dealing with a genuine landlord or agent. 

Also pay attention to how the listing is written – overly polished, generic descriptions with zero local detail can be a sign it’s been copied, generated, or templated.

Spotting AI or misleading photos without being an image expert

You don’t need specialist tools to notice when photos feel “off”. AI images and heavily edited photos often have weird little clues: strangely smooth surfaces, repeated textures, lighting that doesn’t match between rooms, windows that don’t line up with the outside, or furniture that looks slightly melted at the edges. 

Bathrooms and kitchens are common trouble spots because tiling, taps, mirrors and reflections are harder to fake consistently – if reflections don’t reflect what they should, or the mirror looks like a blur, be cautious.

Another simple trick: check whether every room looks like it belongs to the same property. Scammers sometimes stitch together a “dream home” from multiple places. If the skirting boards are different in every room, the doors change style, or the bedroom windows don’t match the living room layout, that’s a sign you’re being shown a collage rather than a real home.

Reverse image searching: the quickest way to catch a recycled scam

One of the most effective checks takes less than a minute: do a reverse image search of the photos. If the same images appear on multiple listings in different cities, or on old listings from years ago, it’s a huge red flag. 

Even legitimate landlords sometimes reuse photos, but they usually reuse them for the same address, not for a “newly available” property three towns away. 

If the images appear on a furniture showroom site, an Airbnb listing, or an estate agent page with a different location, don’t waste time debating it – just move on.

Verify the address like you’re booking a holiday, not taking a gamble

If the address is provided, check it properly. Look it up on a map and use Street View to confirm the building exists and roughly matches the exterior. Then cross-check the listing details against what you can see: floor level, window placement, nearby landmarks, even whether the street is mostly houses or mostly commercial units. 

If the listing claims it’s “two minutes from campus” but the map says 35 minutes by bus, that’s not just exaggeration – it suggests the person posting doesn’t actually know the area.

If the address isn’t provided, insist on getting it before any money changes hands. “Data protection” can be a real concern in some cases, but reputable agents and landlords can still provide enough information for you to verify the location and arrange a viewing through proper channels.

Viewings: what real landlords do – and what scammers avoid

A real property comes with real access. If someone refuses a viewing, pushes for a “virtual viewing only”, or claims they’re “out of the country” but can “post the keys”, treat it as a classic scam pattern. 

Video viewings can be fine, but only if they’re live and interactive. Ask the person to do a quick walkthrough while responding to your requests in real time: “Can you open the fridge?”, “Can you show the view from the bedroom window?”, “Can you walk from the front door to the kitchen without cutting?” 

Scammers often rely on pre-recorded clips or stolen videos, and they struggle when you ask for specific, unscripted actions.

If you do an in-person viewing, check the small things: does the person have keys that work? Do they know where the meters are? Can they explain how heating works? A legitimate landlord or agent usually has practical knowledge and paperwork ready. A scammer tends to be vague, rushed, and strangely uninterested in you as a tenant.

Confirm the landlord or agent is legit, not just “good at messaging”

Don’t assume someone is real because they sound polite and professional. Verify the company name, email domain, and phone number independently – not via the contact details they send you. 

If it’s an agent, check if they’re a member of a redress scheme (most reputable agents in the United Kingdom are), and whether they have a physical office address that matches what’s online. 

If it’s a private landlord, you can still protect yourself by asking for proof of ownership or the right to rent the property (for example, a redacted document showing their name and the property address). Genuine landlords might be cautious about sharing documents, but they’ll usually cooperate in a sensible way if you explain it’s for safety.

Money rules: the fastest way to stay safe

Here’s the rule students should stick to every single time: don’t pay anything until you’ve verified the property and you’re signing a legitimate tenancy agreement. 

No “holding deposit” to a random bank account. No “refundable reservation fee” to secure a viewing slot. And absolutely no pressure tactics like “five other students are paying today”.

When you do pay, pay in a traceable way to a business account (if it’s an agent) and make sure you have a written receipt and paperwork that matches the property details. If anything about the payment request feels improvised, emotional, or urgent, take that as a signal to pause.

A simple student checklist you can actually follow

To keep it practical, remember this flow: verify listing → verify photos → verify location → verify access → verify identity → then pay. 

If you’re ever unsure, run it past someone else – a parent, a mate, or your university housing office. Scams thrive when you’re rushing and isolated, and they fall apart when you slow down and double-check.

Final word: trust your instincts, then back them up with proof

The most dangerous listings aren’t the obviously dodgy ones – they’re the ones that look almost believable. 

AI photos and fake profiles can create a convincing first impression, but reality has consistency: real addresses match real images, real landlords can provide real access, and real agreements come before real money. 

If the story doesn’t hold up under basic checks, you’re not being “too cautious” – you’re being smart.