Rental scams targeting foreign expats in Lisbon increased by 25% in Q1 2025, according to the PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública). As Lisbon continues to attract international residents, digital nomads, and D7 visa holders, scammers have become more sophisticated — and the financial losses more significant.
This guide explains the seven most common rental scam types operating in Lisbon right now, the red flags to watch for, and the exact steps you can take to protect yourself — whether you are searching from abroad or already in the city.
Key statistic: The average financial loss from a Lisbon rental scam is €1,200–€3,500 — typically one to three months of rent paid as a deposit before the victim discovers the fraud.
The listing looks legitimate — professional photos, a reasonable price, a detailed description. But the apartment does not exist. The photos are stolen from real listings on Idealista or Imovirtual, and the address is either fake or belongs to a completely different building.
How it works: The "landlord" is always conveniently abroad (in the UK, Germany, or the US) and cannot show the apartment in person. They ask you to pay a deposit by bank transfer to "secure" the property. Once the money is sent, they vanish.
Red flag: Any landlord who cannot or will not arrange a physical viewing — or who insists on payment before viewing — is a scammer. No exceptions.
The apartment exists, but the photos are years old, taken with a wide-angle lens that makes rooms appear larger, or show the unit before renovation work degraded it. You arrive expecting a bright, modern flat and find a dark, poorly maintained apartment that bears little resemblance to the listing.
Red flag: Photos that look professionally staged but do not show the view out of any window, the building entrance, or the street. Request a video call walkthrough before committing to any visit from abroad.
Some landlords — particularly those who have been burned by tenants in the past — ask for 4, 6, or even 12 months of rent upfront from foreign applicants. While technically not illegal in all cases, this is a major financial risk. If a dispute arises, recovering large sums from a Portuguese landlord through the courts is extremely difficult for a foreign national.
Red flag: Any request for more than 2 months upfront before you have signed a registered lease contract should be questioned and negotiated.
Not a scam in the traditional sense, but one of the most common ways expats lose money in Lisbon. When you leave, the landlord claims your deposit against repairs — damaged walls, dirty appliances, worn carpets — using damage that was already present when you moved in. Without a detailed, timestamped photographic record from move-in day, you have no legal recourse.
Red flag: Any landlord who refuses to provide or sign a written inventory of the property's condition at the start of the tenancy.
Some landlords offer lower rent in exchange for an informal, unregistered rental arrangement — paid cash, no contract, no Finanças registration. This is risky for the tenant. An unregistered lease cannot be used as proof of address for visa applications or residency registration, offers you no legal protection if the landlord decides to evict you, and may result in backdated tax obligations.
Red flag: Any landlord who proposes "cash only, no contract." Walk away.
The apartment exists, the photos are accurate, the landlord is legitimate — but the property has significant problems that are only visible in person. Severe damp behind furniture. A mould problem that gets covered up before viewings. Structural noise from a bar or nightclub below. These are not technically scams, but they represent significant misrepresentation that costs expats money and health.
Red flag: Photos that never show certain walls, ceiling corners, or the view from the windows. A landlord who only allows viewings during certain hours.
A person presents themselves as a licensed real estate agent (mediador imobiliário), offers to find you a property for a fee, collects the agency payment, and then disappears — or shows you properties they have no mandate to rent. Licensed agents in Portugal must hold an AMI licence issued by IMPIC. Always verify the AMI number on the IMPIC website before paying any agent fee.
Red flag: An agent who cannot or will not provide their AMI licence number on request.
Rule 1 — Never pay before a physical viewing. No legitimate landlord requires payment before you or a trusted representative has physically entered the property.
We visit the property in person, confirm it exists and matches the listing, check for hidden defects, and give you an honest go/no-go before you commit a single euro.
Book a Scout Visit — from €150If you have transferred money and suspect fraud, act immediately: