ParisLondonApartments - Scam?

Brett, after looking at your other post it appears that you have 3 nights in Paris. In my opinion it's not worth the time and energy required to effectively evaluate and rent an apartment for such a short stay. You'll need to meet an owner or their rep and get oriented on arrival, then probably have another interaction upon departure. 5-7 days is the minimum time imho for a rental.

I suspect there are fees that the person renting is trying to avoid, and for me this would be enough to move on to the next apartment that you like. There are several good, long established agencies for apartments and my suggestion would be to pursue one of those options. While I'm a fan of the apartment in Paris idea, you'll save time getting a hotel for a 3 day stay.

I don't know ParisLondonApartments.com but I have rented through Homeaway, and always paid directly to the apartment owner. All Homeaway does is connect you with the owner and you then work out your payment arrangements. For us, these have involved a substantial deposit, with the balance due on arrival. We've sometimes had to make these payments by wire transfer through our bank, but we much prefer credit card or Paypal because the banks charge exorbitant fees. In the US we've mailed checks, but overseas owners aren't likely to want that form of payment.

I don't know anything about transactium.com, but it could be perfectly legitimate. I can easily see why an owner would prefer cash, and I don't know why that would be a problem for you if you get a receipt. Homeaway offers an inexpensive insurance plan, which we've sometimes bought but never had to use, in case something goes south.

For that short of a stay, a nice hotel that serves a good breakfast will be much more convenient. In any event, I would shy away from this apartment if you are not comfortable with the arrangement.

Thanks for the replies thus far. FYI, we're going to be staying 5 nights.

transactium.com is located in Malta - it's a payment platform, and may or may not be legitimate. If I were you, I'd ask to pay via a PayPal account or by credit card.

The vast majority of apartments in Paris are illegal - that's why the owner is asking for the balance due in cash.

If you're at all uneasy about the payment options - and you should be - I'd look for another apartment or rent a legal apart'hotel, like Citadines or Adagio.

Paying the owner in cash tells you the apartment is an illegally rented one.. they are hiding income.

This may not cause you any problems.. it usually doesn't ( except for the ethics of it. but that doesn't bother many folks) .. but just letting you know.

Do realize that check and check out times can be tricky with apartments ( I rent apartments sometimes too, have three times in Paris, but also have stayed in at least 8 or 9 hotels too).. if you arrive early.. you usually cant check in till later in the day.. so need to figure out what to do with luggage.. same with check out. For your timing it may or may not be an issue.

For what it's worth: We rented an apartment in Paris (7 nights; May 2016) through HomeAway. Initial deposit (E200) was processed thru PayPal. Similarly, the hefty (E400) Security Deposit was processed shortly before occupancy thru Paypal (and refunded in full a day or so after departure.) Finally, the balance of the rent (E500) was paid in CASH on arrival (after we, and our bags, were securely in the apartment). The agent met us at the property, explained keys, appliances, etc., and gave us a receipt for the rent. Perhaps the cash portion was a tax/fee dodge, but we had no problems -- and were probably too naive at the time to be suspicious. The agent managed several other HomeAway properties (he had several options we considered), and this also lent a sense of legitimacy to the transaction.

Collecting cash and issuing what may be a worthless receipt is hardly what I would call "legitimacy".

People who own and or manage several apartments and collect cash payments are the ones the government is trying to stop, because it considers this money-laundering and tax evasion.

rca said "The agent managed several other HomeAway properties (he had several options we considered), and this also lent a sense of legitimacy to the transaction."

It doesn't sound to me like rca is saying that the cash and issuing what may be a worthless receipt lent legitimacy to the deal.

Whatever officials are doing, it seems now that we need to define "trying". Relative inaction by the city, while promoting (in various ways and through several means and people) fear of legal action on people who want to come and visit, is ridiculous. The city should s*** or get off the pot, as their glacial movement on enforcement only serves to discourage tourism and confuse people who just want to see Paris. And no, I am not suggesting for a moment that tourism dollars should rule the day. A list of 112 addresses where you can maybe possibly but not easily find an actual legal rental is almost worse than no list at all.