Finding roommates and apartments — FAQs

**Frequently Asked Questions**
General

Is <i>WhatsTheRent.com</i> really free? Yes it is, 100% free. We created this site out of frustration from personally using the other sites out there, which are either too expensive, not user friendly, or plagued with spam.

Do I have to create an account? This depends on if you're a renter or an owner. See below.

Do I need to enable cookies? If you disable your browser's cookie feature, we may not be able to remember details during your session, such as your ratings and favorites. Some service providers (e.g., AOL) share IP addresses among multiple users. In that case, we might even confuse you with another user or suddenly loose track of your settings. Enabling cookies solves all these problems. For the best experience at our site, please enable cookies. We can only access cookies we create.

I see a listing that I think is fake, what should I do? Under the "details" section of each listing is a link that says "report this listing." If you click on that, it will be flagged in our system and we will look into it.

I received an email that I think may be a scam. What should I do? Check out our <a href="forums" target="_blank">forums</a> and see if the email has been posted by another user. If you are unsure, ask the person some specific questions about the area. Just remember, never ever give out personal or financial information. And if you can, don't ever send anybody money, instead try to place the check in their hand when you meet to see the place. Visit our <a href="info.php?page=safety" target="_blank">User Safety & Email Fraud</a> page for more information.

I think that I may have been the victim of an email scam, what should I do? Fill out an online report with the FTC at http://www.ftc.gov. Visit our User Safety & Email Fraud page for more information

For Renters

Do I have to create an account? If you just want to do a quick search, then you don't need to create an account. However, if you want to save your search criteria for reuse or save search results for later use, then you need to enter your email address and choose a password. Like we said, it's free.

Will my email address be to visible to the public? No. However, if you use our system to contact an owner, we will forward your question and include your email address so the owner can reply directly to you.

How do I create a favorite? To create a favorite, you need to give it a rating. You do this by clicking on the stars that appear to the right of the listing title. To remove the listing from your favorites, you can click on the dot just to the left of the stars to give it a zero rating.

Why have some of my favorites disappeared? If a property owner deletes a listing that's in your favorites list, that property will no longer appear. If the owner simply inactivates a listing, it will not show until the listing is reactivated.

What's the difference between an automatic search for "New" and an automatic search for "Any"? If you enable the automatic search feature on one or more of your saved searches, we'll send you an email about new or updated property listings that match your search criteria. If you specify "New," then we'll only test your criteria against brand new listings or updated listings that <I>did not match previously</I> (e.g., perhaps an owner has lowered the rent on a property). However, if you specify "Any," then we'll also include modified listings, even if the changes are minor or if they matched previously.

What is a "broker fee"? Brokers are used in some metropolitan areas to help match owners and renters. The broker will assist you in finding a rental and charge a fee based the rent amount. Some landlords list their properties only through brokers. If a broker is involved, the renter usually pays the fee (commission).

For Property Owners

If I want to create a listing, do I have to create an account? Yes. If you are a property owner, then you need to enter your email address and choose a password. This will allow us to save your listings and most importantly, allow a potential renter to easily and quickly contact you. Like we said, it's free.

Do you monitor emails sent to me? Yes and No. All initial emails sent out by potential renters go through our system, which allows us to keep email addresses private while filtering them for spam and scams. We do not, however, have the ability to monitor/filter any messages sent after the initial contact is made, as those do not pass through our system.

Is there anything I can't say in my ad? No offensive language or inappropriate pictures are allowed. Also, you must follow the guidelines of section 3604(c) of the Federal Fair Housing Act (<a href="http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode42/usc_sec_42_00003604----000-.html" target="_blank">read</a>). This law says that you cannot state in your ad a discriminatory preference based on race, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. For example, you can not say "Christians only" or "No foreigners." However, if you will be sharing a room, bathroom, kitchen, or other common areas, you are allowed to express a preference based on sex. This is under the "Shared Housing Exemption" section of the law. <I>WhatsTheRent.com</I> is not responsible for ensuring that users follow the rules laid out in the Federal Fair Housing Act.

Will my <i>street</i> address be to visible to the public? Only if you want it to be. Whatever you put in the address field will be visible to all searchers. If you don't want your exact address shown, then we suggest you just enter a nearby major intersection.

Will my <i>email</i> address be to visible to the public? No. The only way a renter can get your actual email address is to contact you via our system and for you to reply back to him or her. In that case, you'll both know each other's email address.

Why would I want to "deactivate" a listing? Deactivating a listing (as opposed to deleting it) allows you to use the same listing again later. When your rental unit becomes available again, just reactivate it. While deactivated, your full listing will not appear in search results and other users will not be able to contact you.