How to avoid scams when buying or renting a house in Cuba

The vast majority of real estate transactions in Cuba are made in good faith. But as in any market where money moves, scammers exist, and their methods repeat themselves. Knowing them is the best defense.

This guide summarizes the most common red flags and the checks you should always make, whether you are buying or renting.

The classic red flags

A price too good to be true: a house clearly below the value of its area is the oldest bait there is. It may hide documentation problems, a disputed inheritance… or the house may simply not exist.

Artificial urgency: "I have another buyer this afternoon", "it’s today or never". Haste is the scammer’s favorite tool, because it prevents verification.

Money upfront with no guarantees: asking for a deposit, a "hold" or an advance by transfer before you have seen the home and the original documents. Never do it.

Vague intermediaries: someone who "manages" the sale but cannot show the title or a notarized power of attorney from the owner.

Essential checks before paying

Visit the home in person. It sounds obvious, but the most painful scams happen at a distance — typically with buyers who live outside Cuba and trust photos and promises.

Insist on seeing the original property title and confirm at the Property Registry that the home is registered in the name of the person selling it, through an up-to-date ownership and liens certificate.

Verify identity: the seller’s ID must match the registered owner. If they act on behalf of someone else, demand the original power of attorney.

Golden rules for payment

Never hand over the full amount before signing before the notary. The public deed is the moment ownership changes hands; payments should be tied to that act.

If you agree on a prior deposit, keep it proportional, in writing, with witnesses and verified identity. And distrust any excuse to avoid the notary: "it’s to save on taxes" is usually the prologue to a problem.

Rentals have scams too

The typical rental fraud is charging deposits for homes that do not exist or do not belong to the supposed landlord, especially with tenants arriving from another province or from abroad.

Apply the same logic: see the home (or have someone you fully trust see it), verify that the person renting is the owner or is authorized, and never transfer months of deposit to strangers.

What CubanPortal does, and how to report

At CubanPortal we enforce publication rules, remove listings that break them and suspend repeat offenders. Even so, no platform can verify every transaction: the final verification is always yours.

If a listing looks suspicious, report it by writing to us through the contact page. Every report helps us keep the catalog clean for everyone.