Landlord won't do a video tour? What it can mean
A landlord who won't show an apartment on video may have an ordinary reason, such as a tenant who still lives there. It becomes a warning sign when the landlord also refuses any visit, pushes you to pay first, or says they are out of the country.
What does it mean when a landlord won't show an apartment?
Not always a red flag. A landlord may be unable to do a video tour because a tenant still lives in the unit, or because they are a small landlord without the time or a camera setup. It becomes one when it comes with pressure to pay before anyone sees the unit, or a refusal to let anyone visit.
What are legitimate reasons a landlord won't do a video tour?
A tenant may still live in the unit. The Los Angeles Housing Department says a landlord can enter to show a unit to prospective tenants with 24 hours of advance written notice, during normal business hours, so showings in an occupied unit take planning. A small landlord may also lack the time or setup for video.
LA County's consumer affairs department, on a page last changed December 1, 2013, lists showing the place to potential buyers, tenants, or repair workers as one reason a landlord may enter, with 24-hour written notice.
A showing in an occupied unit needs notice to the tenant, so a visit can slip by days. Ask when the unit will be empty or when a notice can go out.
What do scams look like when a landlord won't show the apartment?
The FTC says fake owners will usually claim to be out of the country or give another excuse for not showing the property, then rush you to pay. The pattern to stop on is no visit by anyone, a deadline, and a request for money before you have seen the place.
| What the landlord says | What it can mean | What to ask next |
|---|---|---|
| The tenant still lives there, so I can't show it yet | Often true, since showings in an occupied unit need notice | Ask for the date the unit will be empty, and for a live video or a visit by someone you send once it is |
| I don't do video tours | A small landlord without the time or setup, or a reason to avoid being seen | Ask whether a friend or a Scout can walk through in person, or whether they can do a live call at a time you pick |
| I'm out of the country, but I can mail you the keys once you pay | The pattern the FTC describes: an owner who is away, a rush, and money first | Do not pay. Ask for a property manager, an in-person visit by someone local, and proof of who owns the property |
| Someone else is ready to pay today | Pressure to decide before you can check anything | Ask for a few days or a visit. If the answer is no, walk away |
| Use the lockbox and tour it yourself | Self-guided tours exist, but scammers may offer one too | Confirm the listing and the company first, then go |
| Send the application fee and I will schedule a showing | The FTC says a landlord who insists on a fee before showing you the place is most likely a scammer | Ask to see the unit first, or send someone, before any money moves |
The FTC's July 31, 2024 alert advises: Don't pay for a property you've never seen. It also describes scammers who rush you into paying an application fee, deposit, or first month's rent and promise to get you the keys right away.
In an August 10, 2023 alert, the FTC adds that if a landlord insists you pay a fee or deposit before they show you the place, keep looking.
What can I ask for instead of a video tour?
Ask for a live video call at a time you pick, with specific things shown on camera, or ask to send someone to visit in person. Habita is an apartment scout service in Los Angeles: a local Scout tours the unit and sends you a report before you sign. A friend can also visit for you.
- 1A live video call at a time you choose, not a recording.
- 2Specific things on camera: the unit number on the door, each room, the faucets running, the closets open, and the view from each window.
- 3A visit by someone you send, such as a friend or a Scout, who can open the unit.
- 4A short in-person visit by you, if you can be in town.
- 5The name of the management company and a way to check it.
On the call, ask the person to start at the street and walk to the door, so you see the building and not only the unit. Ask them to pan slowly and hold on any stains, cracks, or damage. A recording can come from any unit, so a call you direct is stronger evidence that you are seeing this one.
A Scout still needs the landlord or leasing office to open the door. A Scout cannot get into a unit when the owner says no, and a landlord who refuses any in-person showing by anyone has given you a reason to stop.
The options for having someone tour an apartment for you compares a friend, a leasing office, an agent, a paid helper, and a Scout.
How can I check who owns or manages the unit?
Search the address online and compare the price and contact details across listings. Then check the rental company's own website, search the owner or company name with words like complaint or scam, and for a private landlord check city or county tax records for ownership.
Those steps come from the FTC's page on rental listing scams (dated June 2026) and its Data Spotlight of December 22, 2025, which says different prices or contact details for the same address suggest a scam. The full process is in how to verify a rental listing is real.
When should I walk away from a listing I can't see?
Walk away if the landlord refuses any in-person showing by anyone, insists on a fee or deposit before you see the place, asks you to pay by wire, gift card, or cryptocurrency, or pressures you to decide quickly. Any one of them is a reason to slow down, and two or more together are a reason to stop.
Decide before you start looking that you will not pay a fee or deposit for a unit that nobody you trust has seen. A rule you set in advance is easier to follow when a message says the unit will be gone in an hour.
The FTC says that wiring money, sending gift cards, or paying by cryptocurrency is the same as sending cash, and that if anyone pressures you to make a decision quickly, you should walk away. Its December 2025 data spotlight puts the median reported rental scam loss at $1,000.
What should I do next if I can't see the apartment?
Keep the money where it is until someone has seen the unit and you have checked who is renting it. If you are on a deadline, a Habita Scout can tour the unit and report back before you pay, as long as the landlord or leasing office lets them in.
To see how a tour works, read how it works. For the wider picture, read about rental scams in Los Angeles and the questions to ask before signing a lease you haven't seen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it a scam if I can't see the apartment before I sign?
Not automatically, but it raises the stakes. Ask for a live video call, or send someone to visit, before you pay anything. The FTC's advice is short: don't pay for a property you've never seen.
Can a landlord refuse to show an apartment to someone other than me?
That is up to the landlord or leasing office, so ask before anyone makes the trip. If they refuse any in-person showing by anyone, treat that as a reason to stop.
Is it normal for an owner to be out of the country?
It can happen, but the FTC says it is also what fake owners usually claim. If the owner is away, ask for a property manager, a live video, or a visit by someone local before you pay anything.
Should I pay an application fee before seeing the apartment?
The FTC says to keep looking if a landlord insists you pay a fee or deposit before they show you the place. Ask to see the unit, or send someone, first.
What if the landlord offers a lockbox or self-guided tour?
Self-guided tours exist, but the FTC's December 2025 data spotlight notes that scammers who will not meet you in person may offer one and send a code to open a lockbox. Confirm the listing and the company before you go.
Can a friend look at the apartment instead?
The FTC suggests it: if you can't see the apartment or sign a lease before you pay, see if a friend can see it for you, or keep looking. Ask the landlord first, and give your friend a written checklist.