Should You Pay a Deposit Before Viewing a Rental in the Netherlands?

I found my apartment in October 2025 through an agency that required a deposit before viewing. A month later, I moved in.

Yes, really. And no, I didn't get scammed.

Here's the actual payment:

But I understand the hesitation. The Dutch rental market is flooded with scams, and "pay before you see" sounds exactly like what a scammer would say.

So let's break this down properly.

The Problem: Blanket Advice Doesn't Work

The internet will tell you: "Never pay a deposit before viewing. It's always a scam."

This advice is well-intentioned. It protects people from the most obvious fraud.

But it's also incomplete. And following it blindly means you might filter out legitimate opportunities - including the one that got me my apartment.

Why Legitimate Agencies Ask for Deposits

Think about it from the agency's perspective.

Viewings take time. Coordinating schedules, traveling to the property, meeting potential tenants - it adds up. In a market where demand is 10x supply, agencies are drowning in requests.

A deposit before viewing does one thing: it proves you're serious.

If viewings are free, anyone can lie their way into a meeting. "Yes, I'm definitely interested" costs nothing to say. But putting down €100-300? That filters out tire-kickers immediately.

It's not about the money. It's about the signal.

Why Scammers Also Ask for Deposits

Here's the problem: scammers know this too.

For a scammer, a deposit is the one way to extract money before you've seen anything real. No property shown. No contract signed. Just money upfront.

They'll use the same language as legitimate agencies: "It's refundable." "Standard procedure." "Shows you're serious."

So how do you tell them apart? Let me show you.

Real Example: Scam vs Legitimate

Here's a real scam example documented by Which?, the UK's largest consumer rights organization (similar to the Consumentenbond in the Netherlands):

The red flags here:

• £750/month rent (suspiciously cheap)
• Demands £400 deposit before any viewing
• Pressure tactic: "secure against other takers"
• Vague promise: "refunded immediately" with no contract
• No company name, website, or verifiable identity
• Just a random WhatsApp account

Now compare to my legitimate Holland2Stay payment:

The difference? Holland2Stay has a professional website, is registered with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK), has hundreds of listings, and years of reviews. The WhatsApp sender? Just a phone number.

What a Legitimate Agency Looks Like

Here's what you should see when you check a legitimate agency's website:

The Key Question: WHO Is the Source?

It's not about what they say. It's about who they are.

A scammer can promise "it's refundable." That means nothing if you can't verify who they are.

Here's the framework:

Walk Away If:

Consider It If:

How To Verify Before You Pay

Before transferring any money, do this:

• Search the company name + "review" or "scam" - See what others say.
• Check KvK registration - Is it a real registered business?
• Look at their listings - Do they have many? Are they consistent?
• Check their website age - A site that's been around for years is harder to fake.
• Ask for the refund policy in writing - Legitimate agencies will provide this.
• Trust your gut - If something feels off, it probably is.

The Competitive Advantage

Here's something most people don't realize:

Many renters automatically reject any listing asking for a deposit. They've internalized "deposits = scam" and move on.

But if you've done your due diligence and verified the source is legitimate, you're now competing against fewer applicants for the same apartment.

That's exactly how I found mine.

The Bottom Line

Deposits before viewing aren't inherently scams. They're a tool - used by both legitimate agencies and scammers.

Your job isn't to avoid all deposits. It's to verify the source.