Know what’s been checked.
Housing involves money and personal information. Here’s how Essentia approaches trust, and how to protect yourself wherever you search.
Essentia isn’t live yet. The badges below describe how verification is planned to work. No verification can guarantee that a person or a listing is safe.
What each badge will mean
✓ID checked
What it meansThe person completed an identity check with a verification provider. The badge shows when.
What it doesn’t meanIt isn’t a background check, and it doesn’t prove someone will be a good roommate or landlord.
✓Listing reviewed
What it meansThe listing was checked for completeness, duplicate photos and common warning signs.
What it doesn’t meanNobody inspected the property in person. You still need to see it and read the lease.
!Self-reported
What it meansThe person who posted it provided this detail. Essentia hasn’t confirmed it.
What it doesn’t meanIt isn’t necessarily wrong. Ask about it before you commit.
–Not yet confirmed
What it meansNobody has checked this yet, including the person who posted it.
What it doesn’t meanTreat it as unknown until you’ve confirmed it yourself.
Before you send money
- See the home in person, or on a live video tour where the person walks you through it.
- Confirm the person has the right to rent it: ask for the lease or the landlord’s contact.
- Read the whole lease before paying a deposit.
- Pay by a traceable method. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards and crypto.
- Get a receipt for every payment.
Common warning signs
- You’re asked to pay before you’ve seen the place.
- The rent is far below similar homes nearby.
- The person can’t meet or video-call, often because they’re “out of town”.
- Pressure to decide today.
- Photos that appear on other listings with different addresses.
Reporting
When Essentia launches, every listing, profile and conversation will have a report button, and reports will be reviewed by a person. Until then, if you see something suspicious using Essentia’s name, email hello@essentiahomes.website.
If you think you’ve been targeted by a rental scam in the US, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and to your local police.