Ground-floor room on Strathville Road, Earlsfield

Use the message button on the listing to introduce yourself to the room lister. Messaging is free. With Membership you see new rooms during their first hours thanks to Early Bird access, and alerts reach you within minutes. A good first message says who you are, when you want to move in, how long you plan to stay, and one or two things about your lifestyle that match the listing.

Look for the Verified badge on the profile, it means the room lister has completed identity verification. Read the full listing, check the lifestyle preferences on each existing flatmate's profile, and review the photos of the room and shared spaces. Always arrange a viewing in person or by video call before sending any money, and never pay a deposit or holding fee before you have signed a tenancy agreement.

Yes, we strongly recommend it. Ask the room lister for a viewing in person, or for a live video tour if you are out of town. Use the viewing to meet the existing flatmates and ask about bills, house rules, and the rest of the household. A genuine room lister will always offer some form of viewing.

The listing shows the monthly rent and whether bills are included. Where bills are included, this usually covers utilities and internet. Confirm with the room lister exactly what is and is not included, and whether there is a deposit, a holding fee, or any agency fees on top.

You and the room lister agree on a move-in date and sign a tenancy agreement directly, the same way you would on any other room-share platform. Dwelles is a marketplace that connects you. The contract, deposit protection, and reference checks remain between you and the room lister. If anything looks suspicious, report the listing and stop communicating. In the UK you can also report scams to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk. In Ireland, report them to your local Garda station.