HousingAnywhere

I cannot recommend HousingAnywhere. The tenancy agreement I received imposes rules of conduct on the tenant that cannot legally be included in a tenancy agreement. I was asked to agree to a schedule of charges that would apply if I received a warning about the rules of conduct. One of the rules in the contract states, for example, that the tenant may only host visitors on five days a month and must otherwise pay 60 euros per warning and that the landlord is entitled to terminate the tenancy without notice after a warning. This cannot be enforced by a tenancy agreement and is illegal. In addition, these conditions were not even remotely described in the advertisement placed via HousingAnywhere. So I was not informed of the provisions in the tenancy agreement before booking the room and paying the first month's rent.

Furthermore, not all payments were listed in the payment summary, as an additional service fee of 100€ for the landlord was not included in it.

For these reasons, I revoked the booking a few days after receiving the contract by mail and demanded the payments back. I also reported the landlord on the website. Many phone calls and emails did not get a helpful response as I was told on the phone that I needed to email. In the email responses, they did not address the terms in the tenancy agreement and only referred to the fact that, according to HousingAnwhere, I only have one day to cancel. However, this cannot apply if you are given an illegal tenancy agreement after booking.

The landlord also did not want to pay back the first month's rent, although he still had over a month after my cancellation to re-let the room in Berlin Kreuzberg, which would certainly have been booked again within one day.

All in all, I lost 730€ (1st month's rent + service fee) and am very unhappy with the customer service. It cannot be that you have to pay so much before receiving the rental contract and that it contains illegal clauses. HousingAnywhere writes on the website that they protect you from scammers and help you, but they do not.

I believe is one of the best option for exchange students looking for a room, is easy to use, is really safe. I strongly recommend it!

Housing Anywhere is an easy and really safe option to find a room abroad. The staff is helpful and I really recommend it to everyone!

I went to the house to take the keys:
« Old style house (renovated) »: This term was not adapted for the house as I send pictures showing that the walls had markings resulting from wear and tear. The furnitures were old, used and dirty.
« regular cleaning of shared rooms » et " A housekeeper is coming every week, to take care of cleaning in shared rooms regularly, garbage, glass removal (included in the price)" When I arrived I saw that the common areas were totally dirty, there was passed food in the fridge smelling very bad and traces of food in the walls, one of the wall was covered with torn aluminium. The house was not cleaned at all and the conditions of living were not acceptable, especially when you pay for someone who is supposed to clean the house "frequently". I have sent pictures showing all of that, and HousingAnywhere considered that something being very dirty is "subjective" and not a reason for cancelling the house. I did the request of cancelling the room before the 48 hours and HousingAnywhere decided to cancel my request and give the money to the landlord between those 48 hours. They left me without a house and my money, I cannot afford to pay another room so I have to go back to my country.
I took the room because the house was supposed to be renovated and clean. Living with 11 roommates includes having a convenient place to live. The pictures showed that those conditions were not respected but HousingAnywhere doesn't care, they just want to make money and the never refund people as they say they do if the room is not the same as in the pictures. They will find always something to never refund you and keep the money, they use the worlds you say to deform them and they play with their meaning. They told me to see with the landlord for an agreement but she had a bad faith and even with compensation she agrees on, she finally decided to take all the money. She was supposed to be an "excellent advertiser".
I strongly advise to not to book a room with them and never think that you have 48 hours to cancel, that is only a big lie. Take the time to visit the rooms even if you have to take an airbnb for a few days, you will pay less money and have a better beginning in your new city than the one I had.

It is easy, quick and safe. Although it is more focused on students going abroad I would recommend it to anyone!

Housing Anywhere is very helpful for those looking for short-term housing, but wish more listings were available

It really helps to found an accommodation this summer when the market was literally saturated, I wish they have more offers.

Students will love this site! Perfect for renting a room during your year abroad in the city centre or near university.

Very user friendly with countless languages, if you are looking for a flat, Housing anywhere is the right choice.

I moved back to Hamburg after a terrible experience renting in Berlin. A massively traumatic start, considering how easy and fair HousingAnywhere's policies seemed... How wrong I was. I was charged the platform fee and a month's rent straight off, having done all the right things to mitigate the worst circumstances, I thought everything was going to be all right.

I communicated on the platform, I spoke to several staff who were fast (but curt) and then, just as they had taken my money, all the communication stopped. I had to chase and chase for any sort of answer. I wanted to cancel, due to a change of personal circumstances and moreover, having visited the building and finding it "not as described" (something which is very much in the T&Cs as a golden rule). I've tried to explain to them over the phone (apparently there is no dispute team you can reach over the phone) and this has resulted in a long email thread of accusatory messaging where they've said that as I can't provide evidence (I'm being ghosted by Katherine Hübner, the owner) I'm not entitled to a refund. They've got my messages that I've deliberately kept on the platform rather than moving any communication over email, and that still doesn't seem to be enough. I did the right thing in every instance; was fair, transparent and obliging, offering ways for them to help support my claim. These were all refused.

And it was bad as it looks in the pictures: a converted office was being put up in one of the rougher areas of Hamburg, and frankly shouldn't have been let anywhere near the site anyway. There's no vetting process, like other platforms (ie. Spotahome) and there's no adequate customer service (like Airbnb, where it's a straight up, no frills "customer is always right" experience). They've taken my money and run, simply put.

I've lost nearly 1000 Euros to this sham of a site, with its T&Cs which they seem to interpret as they please. I'm in the process of seeking legal help and have issued a chargeback but it feels unlikely that I'll ever get my money back. I don't want others to fall prey to this and want people to know that there's solidarity in this absolutely horrific experience which I've been trying to appeal for over a month now.

Das ist ein Albtraum für mich. Ich habe ein Zimmer in Hamburg bei eine Frau heißt Sandra gebucht. Nach der Buchung hat Sandra drei Tagen nicht auf meine Nachrichten reagiert. Nix.
Nach drei Tagen und nach viel Gesprächen mit dem Kundenservice hat sich endlich Sandra gemeldet und mir weitere Informationen geschickt. Überraschung! Sie hat mir einen Mietvertrag geschickt, was für ein anders Zimmer ist also kleine äs Zimmer und billiger auch aber ich sollte für das teiers Zimmer bezahlen. Außerdem soll ich extra für das Internet bezahlen aber Online war das Internet Inbegriff. Deswegen habe ich die Kundenservice um Hilfe gebeten. Und mir wurde gesagt, dass ich die Buchung stornieren kann. Nach der Stornierung habe ich ein Email bekommen dass ich gar nix zurückbekommen... total schlecht Service. Ich empfehle niemanden. Leute Vorkasse Miete ist sehr sehr doof

Very good service! I think that Housinganywhere is very helpulf to the students who want to study abroad!

I was quite desperate for a room because I was very late to start looking and I found a place for my exchange! Very helpfull!

I am student, secured admission in IU University of Applied Science, Berlin, Germany.
I was supposed to travel on 29th Apr 2021 and before travel, I booked a room in 66 Monkeys, through HousingAnywhere platform. The advertiser who dealt with me is Maxi. Below is her photo identity hosted over HousingAnywhere.

I have paid first month rent and the service fees as 650 + 162 = 812 EUR.
Just before my travel, on 26th Apr 2021, Federal Govt of Germany imposed travel restrictions on first time travelers from India, although Student. So, after I got this information, I told Maxi about the current situation, and she said that she understands the situation and I should keep her posted about the happenings. There was no information from her side stating what needs to be done in all such situations. I was expecting her to tell me that i need to cancel the booking asap since it is going to be considered my booking as if i have staying there (although it was just booking and i was not physically occupying the room). I still have not cancelled the booking on my behalf. This booking is cancelled by Maxi, stating that I have not paid the rent for second month and also the caution money. And I am going to lose the whole 862 EUR. I think this is ridiculous and not justifiable.

I can understand that somebody cancels my booking, says that the money is kept secured with HousingAnywhere, and will be utilized as and when I confirm the booking once my travel is finalized. But that's not the case here. I am not at all happy with the response that I get. And now she is not at all responding to my queries. I need assistance. Otherwise, I really need to look for the options that can assist me lodge a complaint against Maxi and against HousingAnywhere. Also, I don't think that I will be able to recommend HousingAnywhere, anybody in future. I think this is a scam and somebody should voice the concern.

For me, 812 EUR is not a small amount. She was even insisting me to pay the caution money of 1300 EUR, which thankfully i have not paid. But I am worried about my money. And I want each EUR back in my account.

Any pointers will help me here.

I would recommend it to anyone: easy, trustable ads, direct contact with the advertiser and safe payments.

Great, easy way for finding accom as a student. Could definitely do with more places in Dublin but it seems to be growing

To avoid at all cost!
The apartments are not verified, impossible to get valuable help from the support team, and their refunding policy is bullsh*t they will always find an excuse to not refund you even if you perfectly sticked to their conditions.
I rented a place in Barcelona, arrived in an appartment rusty, dusty and full of humidity and moist on the walls, and had nothing to do with the pictures. I immediately reported it to be refunded (as their policy is if reported within 48h you're refunded). First, they took forever get back to me and cancel my booking + they took 4 MONTHS (!) to get back to me about the refund (because I regurlarly reminded them of it, otherwise they would've kept ignoring me), and finally they told me I wouldn't get refunded as they've already cancelled my booking and forwarded my money to the owner (that was himself extremely rude and innapropriate, and should get reported - but is rated as an "excellent adviser"!) all without my consent and completely contrary to their refunding policy!
I hope this company goes bankrupt and stop stealing honest people's money for $#*!ty appartments!

Alternatively, I recommend SpotAHome that verifies themselves all appartments, is very active and easy to get in contact with someone that would actually help us. The fees are only slightly higher but it definitely worth to spare a few 50€ more in order to not end up in a nightmarish place!

I had really good experience with HousingAnywhere, I found quickly a home and it is quite easy, however the renting is quite expensive.

TLDR;
Don't use their platform. Total scam.

I booked an apartment for 3 months starting March 2023 over their website.
Exactly 24 hours after the booking confirmation (the period where you can still cancel the booking) the advertiser started ignoring my messages.

After contacting housinganywhere.com support i finally reached them (on the day of the move in).
They were still ignoring all(!) my questions, including me asking for a reason why they ignored my attempts to contact them for a week.

Instead they say "meet you today". How can i move apartments on such a short notice?

According to housinganywhere.com cancellation policy i should be eligible for a refund (their cancellation form even has a checkbox for "unresponsive advertiser" (I'm paraphrasing).

15.16.2.5.
The accommodation is not available for the tenant's use for the agreed lease (for example, there is already someone else in the accommodation or the accommodation does not exist at all); or

15.16.2.6.
The tenant is not able to move into the accommodation due to circumstances that were unforeseeable when the booking was
Made and are not attributable (toerekenbaar) to the tenant within the meaning of article 6:75 of the Dutch Civil Code (force majeure/
Overmacht), but excluding for clarity and without limitation change of plans, travel delays and illness which will remain the risk of the tenant.

But they wont give you a refund, stating:

"Dear Steven,

Thank you for you message, and we are sorry for your unpleasant experience.

At the moment, according to our Terms and Conditions you are not eligible for a refund. Additionally, you still have the opportunity to move-in. We have contacted the landlord. In the listing it is also clearly stated what the move-in date is. Have you tried contacting the landlord again and have another attempt of moving-in.

Best regards,
Gabriel"

Total scam.

I would advise to avoid renting a room using this platform, since they do not protect you from getting scammed. I booked a room in Milan with an advertiser called Viktoria who was verified as a trusted advertiser by HousingAnywhere. I got skeptical during my stay because the advertiser never responded to emails. Letters were send back to me because the company that owned the apartment called EXA Group SRL did not have an office at the provided address. When I tried to call them, I received the message that the number did not exist. Both email and telephone number however were verified by HousingAnywhere. Since the end of my stay I have so far been waiting three months to receive my deposit of over two monthly rents. The advertiser confirmed to me three times now that the refund will be initiated but nothing has happened. They also ignore messages on HousingAnywhere now. I recently saw that the advertiser also deleted all its listings from the platform. After I informed HousingAnywhere they told me that they are not involved anymore after the transfer of the first monthly payment. It does not seem to bother them that they promote and verify scammers. All in all I can not recommend HousingAnywhere. Although these are my personal experiences I know from my fellow roommates in Milan that they are facing the same problem with the advertiser. If you are considering an apartment in Milan offered by an advertiser who represents a company called EXA Group SRL please be extra careful. A verification by HousingAnywhere will not guarantee that you won't be scammed. In that case you can loose a lot of money and HousingAnywhere will not help you to get it back.

My name is Andres Mercado, I rented a place in Torino with Rosa who was the Landlord, I started to live there on 22 of September 2022. The first installment was paid by Housinganywhere, the day that I arrived we did not sign a CONTRACT, so the Deposit and the other payments were in cash every 22 of the month.

As we did not have a legal agreement in where, I must let her know that we want to leave the home. I wrote her a WhatsApp message on January 7, that indicated that we were leaving her accommodation the 23 of January 2023, as you can see in the PDF with our chat in WhatsApp. Now 07of February, two weeks later of the date that we leave the home, she said that she is going to take the 10 days that we did not use, because we did not let her know that we were leaving.

She is using the booking in Housing anywhere, as a legal support that we must stay in her place until 01 of February. As I read, housinganywhere has not legal solution for this, so as we do not have a contract we can leave the home when we desire.

She took from my deposit 366 euros and as you can see in the WhatsApp conversation she is taking 186 euros in addition to fix the things she said that we "broke". As you can see in the WhatsApp conversation, she also mentioned that she is going to take 50 for cleaning, this price is not included in the sign in housinganywehere, these are not the conditions in your page.

In addition, she signed a paper with me, that indicates, that at 23 of January we had not any other debt with her, as you can see in the PDF, she also has a copy of this agreement. She is taking this money because as she said to me "she cannot find anyone who need the accommodation".

I do not know how much the fixes can cost because she did not give a receipt, in total she gave me back 450 Euros of my Deposit which was 1000 originally.

I just want to let you know, that people like this are everywhere in your portal, so as a recommendation, it will be important that people could see this kind of review, and with this take a better decision. I do not want that more people will be stolen from people like her.

Pros: Good platform, Easy to find room in budget, secure and easy
Cons: Finding room near university campus in budget could be difficult

Based on my personal experience

FOR THOSE WHO NEED LEASE AGREEMENT FOR VISA, Please get confirmation from owner that you need that..