How to choose a rental agency in Hanoi

The short answer

A good rental agency shows you who it is, who pays it, and what happens after you sign. Check that you will not be charged a tenant fee, that the homes are inspected in person, that the owner is verified, that the contract is in a language you read, and that the agency has reviews you can check yourself. Be wary of anyone who asks for money before you have seen a home.

Eight checks

• Who pays the agent? Ask before the first viewing and get the answer in writing.
• Do they inspect homes in person? A good photo is no proof a home is free or as shown.
• Is the owner verified? Ask to see the ownership document, the pink book, or a written authorisation from the owner.
• Is the contract in a language you read? Most Hanoi leases are written in Vietnamese. Ask for a faithful translation, not a summary.
• Can you check their reviews yourself? Look for reviews on Google Maps that you can read in full, from named people, across a spread of dates.
• Is there a real office and a named person? A street address you can find on a map, and someone who answers by name.
• What happens after you sign? Ask who writes the move-in condition report, who keeps a copy, and who helps when the deposit comes back.
• Do they press you to pay before you have seen a home? If so, stop.

How Nest answers each one

• Who pays: the landlord pays our commission. You never pay a tenant agency fee.
• Inspected: every Nest home is inspected in person.
• Owner: the owner is verified.
• Contract: contracts are translated into your language.
• Reviews: our rating and reviews are on Google Maps. Our About page shows the rating with the day it was read, and links to every review.
• Office: our office address is at the foot of every page, and our team is on the Team page, by name.
• After you sign: your advisor prepares the condition report, keeps a copy, and is there at checkout.

Nest is one agency among many. Use these checks on any of them, including us.