Finding a rental home in Dhaka can be time-consuming, with prospective tenants increasingly turning to websites and mobile applications to search for properties. However, outdated advertisements, inactive phone numbers, and unclear refund procedures have raised concerns about the reliability of online rental services.
One user searching for a home in Dhaka called a number listed in an online advertisement and learned that the property had been rented out several months earlier. After spending credits to contact another advertiser, the user received no answer. At a third listing, the user followed the address but found no information about a property available for rent.
Similar complaints have emerged from users of online rental platforms, who say incorrect or outdated advertisements waste their time and, in some cases, leave them struggling to recover money or credits spent to access contact information.
There are no comprehensive statistics showing what proportion of online rental advertisements in Bangladesh are incorrect, outdated or inactive. However, reviews on the Google Play Store pages of rental applications include complaints about old listings, inactive phone numbers and difficulties obtaining credit refunds.
As of October 25, 2026, Bikroy's website displayed around 3,109 advertisements for houses and apartments for rent across Bangladesh. The number of advertisements in individual categories can change as listings are added or removed. Figures for properties costing less than Tk15,000 per month and two-bedroom properties require confirmation against a dated record of the website before publication.
Tenants report wasted time and money
Kohinur Akter, a working professional who was looking for a two-room flat in Dhaka's Azimpur area, said she paid to access contact information after reviewing property photographs, rents and addresses.
“I bought credits to access contact information after checking the pictures, rent and addresses of properties online. When I called several numbers, I learned that the properties had already been rented out. One phone was switched off. My question is, why was the advertisement not removed if the property was no longer available? Will I ever get back the money I spent to access the information?”
She added: “Finding a home already takes a lot of time. It is not easy to travel from one place to another after office hours. If I cannot get reliable information even after paying online, what is the benefit of this system?”
Similar complaints appear in reviews of rental applications on the Google Play Store. In a review dated August 27, 2026, a user complained that many advertised properties had already been rented out and some phone numbers were inactive. The review said accessing each advertisement cost 20 credits.
Another review, dated July 15, expressed dissatisfaction with credit prices and the process of obtaining refunds.
These reviews document individual complaints but do not establish how frequently such problems occur across the online rental market. No comprehensive public figures show the proportion of outdated or incorrect advertisements or the number of users who have experienced financial losses.
Refund policies vary across platforms
Online rental platforms have different procedures for handling complaints and refund requests. Some require users to report problems within a specified period after accessing an advertisement, while others outline conditions under which credits or service fees may be refunded if a property is unavailable or an advertiser cannot be reached.
THE TOLET, a rental application listed on the Google Play Store, responded to a user review on August 9, 2026, saying users could request credit refunds through their user panels within 72 hours if a property was unavailable. The response also directed users to the platform's support email for assistance.
The response establishes what the platform publicly stated about its refund procedure but does not show how many users have received refunds or how consistently the policy has been implemented.
Published terms of online rental services may also require landlords or agents to keep property information, photographs and availability details up to date. Some platforms state that they do not guarantee the accuracy of information supplied by advertisers.
However, publicly available information does not provide a comprehensive picture of the number of complaints rental platforms receive, advertisements they remove or refunds they approve. Without such data, it is difficult to assess how effectively their complaint procedures address users' concerns.
Property owners also face problems
Another concern is the publication of property photographs or details without the owner's permission. Such advertisements can lead to unnecessary calls to property owners, while prospective tenants may lose money by contacting the wrong person.
Sharif Khandaker, a property owner in the Jigatola area, said an advertisement for his property remained online after it had been rented out.
“I posted an advertisement for my property on a website to rent it out. Even after the property was rented, people continued calling because the advertisement remained online. Someone also used photographs of an acquaintance's house to post an advertisement.”
He added: “There should be a system to verify the owner's identity when an advertisement is published and to remove the post once the property has been rented. Incorrect advertisements create problems not only for tenants but also for property owners.”
Several websites and mobile applications in Bangladesh publish rental advertisements for houses, apartments, rooms, sublets, hostels, offices, shops and other properties. Their services and policies vary, particularly regarding advertiser verification, listing updates, complaint procedures and refunds.
Some services also offer demand-based property searches, attempting to find accommodation according to users' budgets, preferred locations, property types and other requirements. These services may charge separate fees for finding suitable properties, with refund conditions depending on the service provided.
One rental website's published demand-search policy lists fees of Tk1,500 for rooms, beds and hostels; Tk3,000 for houses, apartments and offices; and Tk5,000 for shops and land.
According to the policy, if the company fails to provide a suitable property or an effective solution within 8 days, 80% of the service fee will be refunded after deducting 20%, subject to the applicable conditions. The policy applies specifically to its demand-search service.
What does 'verified' mean?
The same website's disclaimer states that property owners or advertisers supply information about rent, size, rooms, addresses, photographs and contact numbers. The company says it does not physically inspect every property and cannot confirm every detail in each advertisement. The disclaimer also acknowledges that owners may take time to update listings after renting out their properties.
The website's “About Us” page describes its listings and contact information as verified. However, publicly available information does not clearly establish whether verification covers only telephone numbers and advertiser identities or also confirms a property's existence and current availability.
Other rental websites outline different procedures for collecting and verifying property information. One website's published disclaimer states that its agents collect information with owners' permission and verify details before publishing advertisements. However, outdated listings may remain online if owners fail to update their information after renting out their properties.
Under that website's published refund policy, users can apply for credit refunds if a property has already been rented out, an advertiser cannot be reached despite repeated attempts, or an advertised location does not match the actual location.
Applications must be submitted within 72 hours of unlocking an advertisement. The policy excludes advertisements more than 3 months old. It also states that credits cannot be refunded as cash and that approved credits are returned to users' accounts.
Other property websites publish advertisements for houses and apartments for rent and sale. Their terms may address listing accuracy, continued availability and refunds for paid advertising packages. Some place responsibility for maintaining accurate and updated property information on advertisers, while payments for certain promotional features are described as non-refundable unless otherwise specified.
Rental platforms also advertise different types of accommodation, including sublets, hostels, offices and shops. However, publicly available information about their verification procedures, the time taken to remove outdated listings and the resolution of complaints is insufficient to establish how consistently these practices are followed across the sector.
Differences in policies can make it difficult for prospective tenants to understand what level of verification they can expect before paying to access contact information or other services. The term “verified” may refer to an advertiser's identity, a telephone number or details about a property. Platforms can help users make informed decisions by clearly explaining what they check and what they do not.
The lack of comprehensive public data also makes it difficult to assess the scale of the problem. Information on the number of complaints received, outdated advertisements removed, refunds approved and complaints resolved would help users evaluate the reliability of online rental services.
Trust in digital advertising platforms depends on the accuracy, currency and verifiability of their information. When renting a home, incorrect information can affect users' time, money and safety.
Consumer rights and digital commerce
Shahnaz Sultana, deputy director of the complaints sub-division at the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP), said verifying advertisers' identities, promptly removing outdated listings and maintaining transparent complaint resolution systems were primarily the responsibility of platforms.
“If users have to pay to access contact information, the platforms must clearly explain the nature of the service and the available remedies in cases involving incorrect information,” she said.
She added that regularly publishing information about the number of complaints received, advertisements removed and complaints resolved would help users assess the reliability of online rental services.
In September 2026, DNCRP Director General Md Zahirul Islam said at a workshop that the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009, did not explicitly include digital commerce. He also said a proposal to amend the law to address fraud involving online transactions had been sent to the Ministry of Commerce.
On September 30, 2026, the ministry published a draft amendment to the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009, proposing changes that included digital commerce. The draft was made available for public feedback for 30 days.
The director general's remarks reflected the directorate's broader position on digital commerce, but he did not specifically explain how the law would apply to online rental advertisements.
Users who encounter false or misleading online advertisements can contact the DNCRP for guidance on filing a complaint. The directorate's official website lists dncrp.com as its online complaint portal and 16121 as its hotline.
Keeping screenshots of advertisements, contact information, proof of payments or credit deductions, and conversations with the platform can help users provide supporting evidence when filing complaints. These records may help establish what information was advertised, what the user paid for and how the platform responded after a problem was reported.
