July 1, 2026, 3:11 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
A letter or email requesting that rent be transferred to a different account may seem harmless. However, such messages can conceal a devious scam. Those who react without thinking risk not only financial loss but, in the worst case, even eviction.
Follow myHOMEBOOK on WhatsApp now
Alleged relatives suddenly taking over rental matters?
When tenants receive a notice that rent should be transferred to a new account, extra caution is advised. Not every such request actually comes from the landlord.
Scammers often pose as close relatives—such as the landlord’s wife or daughter. In letters or emails, they claim, for example, that the landlord is in jail or abroad for an extended period. Therefore, they must now manage the rent payments. Tenants should not rely on such claims.
Also of interest: Do I only have to pay the base rent after moving out?
Dispute over urinating in the garden ends up in court
5 Common Mistakes Renters Should Avoid During Apartment Handover
Always verify new bank details
“In general, tenants should always carefully check whether a payment request actually comes from the authorized recipient,” advises Jutta Hartmann from the German Tenants’ Association (DMB). You can be sure if the landlord confirms the new account details. “Tenants who are unsure should therefore ask the landlord,” Hartmann recommends.
The inquiry should be made only through already known contact methods—such as the previously used mailing address, email address, or phone number of the landlord or property management. The contact details provided in the suspicious letter should not be used.
Why a wrong transfer can be dangerous
If rent is transferred to an unauthorized person, the money can only be retrieved or the transfer stopped if the amount has not yet been credited to the recipient’s account. Since no payment is received by the actual landlord, the rent is legally considered unpaid.
According to the consumer centers, the landlord can terminate the lease without notice if tenants fall behind on the full rent or a significant part of it for two consecutive months. An immediate termination also threatens if rent arrears amounting to at least two full months’ rent accumulate over a longer period.
With material from dpa