5 Mistakes Canadians Make When Renting Abroad

Every year, thousands of Canadians sign leases in Mexico, Portugal, and Thailand — and a painful number of them lose money they didn’t need to lose. Not because they’re careless, but because renting abroad plays by different rules than renting in Canada. These are the five most expensive mistakes Canadians make when renting abroad, drawn from real patterns we see across our markets. If you’re planning a move, read this before you send a single dollar.

Mistake #1: Sending money to a “landlord” before seeing the property

Here’s how it usually starts. You find a gorgeous apartment on Facebook Marketplace or a local classifieds site. The price is suspiciously reasonable. The listing photos look professional. You message the landlord and they’re responsive, friendly, and eager to lock things down. They tell you the place is in high demand — another couple is looking at it tomorrow — and ask you to wire a deposit to hold it. You transfer $1,500 to $3,000 CAD. Then the landlord stops replying.

This scam is rampant in all three of our markets, and it specifically targets expats who are searching from abroad.

In Mexico, scammers copy legitimate listings from Inmuebles24 or Segundamano, repost them on Facebook groups, and pose as the owner. They’ll send you a fake contract, a copy of someone else’s ID (often stolen), and a bank account number. Wire transfers in Mexico are nearly impossible to reverse once sent.

In Thailand, the version involves LINE messages (Thailand’s dominant messaging app) and requests for deposits via bank transfer to a Thai account. The “landlord” may even video-call you from inside the apartment — which they accessed through a viewing, not because they own it.

In Portugal, the Lisbon and Porto rental markets are so competitive that scammers exploit the desperation. They’ll claim to be abroad and unable to show the unit, but they’ll offer a “great deal” if you transfer the deposit now.

How to protect yourself

• Never transfer money before you have a signed contract and have seen the property — in person or through a verified video walkthrough with a trusted local contact.
• Use verified listing platforms that vet landlords. On Move Abroad Rentals, every listing comes through our Verified Partner network — we verify the landlord’s identity and property ownership before anything goes live.
• Pay in person on move-in day whenever possible. If the landlord refuses to meet before taking your money, that’s your answer.
• Verify ownership. In Mexico, ask for a copy of the escritura (title deed). In Portugal, request the caderneta predial. In Thailand, ask for the chanote (land title) or condo ownership certificate. A legitimate landlord will not hesitate to provide these.
• Never pay via wire transfer or cryptocurrency. Use traceable methods — credit card payments or platform-held escrow when available.

Mistake #2: Not understanding what “furnished” means locally

In Canada, a furnished apartment means you can show up with a suitcase and live normally. Bed, couch, dining table, dishes, pots, cutlery, towels, maybe a TV. You expect to cook dinner on day one.

In Mexico City, “amueblado” (furnished) might mean there’s a bed frame, a mattress, a plastic table, and two chairs. No sheets. No kitchen utensils. No curtains. The fridge might be there; the microwave probably isn’t. You’ll spend your first week buying everything you assumed would be included.

In Thailand, furnished condos are generally better equipped — most come with a bed, wardrobe, air conditioning, a small fridge, and often a washing machine. But “furnished” in a Thai listing rarely includes an oven (Thai kitchens are built for stovetop and microwave cooking), and many condos have hot water in the bathroom but not the kitchen sink.

In Portugal, “mobilado” varies wildly. Older Lisbon apartments might come with heavy antique furniture but no modern appliances. Newer builds may have a sleek kitchen with an induction cooktop but no dining table. And in many Portuguese rentals, the washing machine is in the kitchen — which is perfectly normal there but surprises Canadians expecting a laundry room.

What to do instead

• Ask for a complete inventory list before signing. A good landlord or agent will provide one. If they won’t, that tells you something.
• Request a video walkthrough where they open cupboards, drawers, and closets. Photos only show what the photographer wants you to see.
• Ask these specific questions: Is there a microwave? Oven or stovetop only? Pots and pans? Plates and cutlery? Bed linens and towels? Iron? Is there hot water in the kitchen? Is there a washing machine? Where is it?
• Watch for red flags in photos: Rooms that are suspiciously empty except for one piece of furniture. Listing photos that only show the living room and bedroom but never the kitchen. Wide-angle lens distortion making rooms look larger than they are.
• Budget $200–$600 CAD for “furniture supplementation” — the things you’ll need to buy on arrival regardless. This is normal abroad and not a sign that something went wrong.

On Move Abroad Rentals, our listing format includes a detailed amenity checklist — so you know exactly what’s in the apartment before you inquire, not after you’ve moved in.

Mistake #3: Ignoring the lease terms you can’t read

Lease contracts in Mexico, Portugal, and Thailand each have country-specific clauses that trip up Canadians — we break them all down in our complete rental lease guide.

You’re sitting at a table in a real estate office in Lisbon. The agent slides a six-page contract across the table. It’s entirely in Portuguese. They summarize it verbally: “Standard one-year lease, two months deposit, nothing unusual.” You hold your phone over the pages and Google Translate does its best. It seems fine. You sign.

Three months later, you need to leave early for a family emergency back in Canada. That’s when you discover the early termination clause: you owe the remaining months on the lease, and your deposit is forfeit. The translated version said something about “anticipated rescission” but you didn’t know what that meant in Portuguese legal context. Now it’s costing you $4,000 CAD.

This happens constantly. Translation apps handle everyday language reasonably well. They handle legal language poorly. And rental contracts in Mexico, Portugal, and Thailand all contain clauses that don’t have direct Canadian equivalents.

Clauses you must understand before signing

How to handle contracts in another language

• Hire a local bilingual lawyer to review the contract. In Mexico, this costs roughly $1,500–$4,000 MXN ($115–$310 CAD). In Portugal, expect to pay around 150–300 EUR ($225–$450 CAD). In Thailand, 3,000–8,000 THB ($120–$320 CAD). This is cheap insurance against a $4,000+ mistake. (For actual health coverage abroad, see our travel insurance guide.). Verify current rates locally — these are approximate.
• Request an English version of the contract. Many landlords in expat-heavy areas will provide one. Note: the local-language version is usually the legally binding one, so ensure the English translation is accurate.
• Don’t rely on Google Translate for legal documents. It’s useful for menus and street signs. It is not qualified to interpret your lease. Subtle translation errors in legal terms can mean the difference between “30 days notice” and “immediate forfeiture.”
• Read our detailed guide on rental contracts, deposits, and guarantors in Mexico, Portugal, and Thailand — it covers exactly what’s normal and what’s a warning sign in each country.

Mistake #4: Skipping the neighbourhood research

You found the apartment online. The photos look great. The price fits your budget. The neighbourhood name sounds familiar from your last vacation. You sign the lease.

Then you move in and discover the bar downstairs plays live music until 3 AM every Thursday through Sunday. Or that your street floods knee-deep every afternoon from June to October. Or that the nearest hospital with English-speaking staff is 45 minutes away. Or that the internet cuts out every time it rains.

Tourist zones and liveable zones are not the same thing. A neighbourhood that’s wonderful for a two-week vacation can be miserable for a six-month stay.

Country-specific traps

Mexico City: The rainy season (June through October) brings daily afternoon downpours. Some colonias (neighbourhoods) flood badly — particularly lower-lying areas near the old lake bed. Colonia Roma and Condesa are popular with expats but get noisy at night. Coyoacan and San Angel are quieter and more residential, but further from the action. Ask about flooding history on your specific street — your future neighbours will tell you the truth.

Chiang Mai: The burning season (February through April) sends air quality plummeting. AQI readings regularly exceed 200 — hazardous by any standard. If you have respiratory issues or simply value breathing clean air, either plan your stay outside those months or ensure your apartment has air purifiers and sealed windows. Many long-term expats leave Chiang Mai entirely during burning season and head south.

Lisbon: The city is built on seven hills. That charming Alfama apartment on the fifth floor of a walk-up with no elevator is romantic until you’re carrying groceries uphill every day. If mobility is any concern at all, prioritize flat neighbourhoods or buildings with elevators. Also: Lisbon’s party districts (Bairro Alto, Cais do Sodre) are loud every night, not just weekends.

The neighbourhood research checklist

• Visit at different times of day. Morning, afternoon, evening, and late night. A quiet street at 2 PM can be a noisy corridor at midnight.
• Check proximity to a hospital or clinic. This matters for everyone, but especially if you’re retired or managing a health condition. Know where the nearest facility with English-speaking staff is located. Our city guides cover this — see the Chiang Mai guide, Lisbon guide, and Mexico City guide.
• Test the internet. If you work remotely, internet reliability is non-negotiable. Ask the current tenant or neighbour about speeds and outages. Run a speed test during your viewing if possible. Fibre availability varies block by block in all three countries.
• Ask about seasonal issues. Flooding, air quality, water shortages, power outages — these are seasonal and location-specific. Locals know. Ask them.
• Check walkability. Is there a grocery store within walking distance? A pharmacy? A bank? Public transit? What’s the nearest supermarket — a small tienda or an actual full-size grocery store?
• Look at Google Street View. Not as good as being there, but it reveals a lot: the condition of the street, nearby construction, whether the area feels residential or commercial.

Mistake #5: Not budgeting for the hidden costs

The costs that catch Canadians off guard go well beyond rent — we’ve catalogued them all in our guide to the hidden costs of moving abroad.

You budgeted $1,200 CAD per month for rent. The listing said $1,200. You signed the lease for $1,200. Then the actual monthly cost turned out to be $1,700, and you can’t figure out where the extra $500 went.

Here’s where it went.

All figures are approximate and vary by city and property. Verify current costs locally before budgeting.

How to budget accurately

• Add 25–35% on top of your base rent for a realistic monthly total. If rent is $1,200 CAD, budget $1,500–$1,600 CAD to be safe.
• Set aside $500–$1,500 CAD for one-time setup costs — deposits, furniture gaps, internet installation, and the random things you didn’t expect to need.
• Stop using your Canadian bank for currency conversion. A service like Wise typically saves 2–4% per transaction compared to Canadian bank exchange rates. On $1,200/month in rent, that’s $25–$50 CAD saved every single month. Our guide on sending money abroad as a Canadian breaks down the best options.
• Ask the landlord for a full cost breakdown — not just rent, but every monthly charge. If they can’t give you one, ask the previous tenant.
• Check our cost of living comparison for Thailand, Mexico, and Portugal to benchmark your budget against real numbers.

The bottom line

Renting abroad isn’t harder than renting in Canada — it’s just different. The rules change, the norms change, the language changes, and the safety nets you’re used to (provincial tenant protections, standard lease forms, your real estate agent’s licence) don’t exist in the same way. The Canadians who avoid these mistakes aren’t luckier. They’re better prepared.

Verify the landlord before you pay. Confirm what “furnished” actually means. Get the contract translated properly. Research the neighbourhood like you’re going to live there — because you are. And budget for what it really costs, not just the rent number in the listing.

Do those five things, and you’ll be ahead of most expats before you even pack your bag. Our free checklists and worksheets can help you stay organized through the whole process.