Core Insights - The article highlights the challenges faced by university students in finding reliable short-term rental housing during their summer internships in major cities, emphasizing the prevalence of scams and misleading listings on social media platforms [1][2][4]. Group 1: Rental Market Dynamics - Many university students are seeking internships in first-tier and new first-tier cities, leading to increased demand for short-term rentals [1][4]. - Social media platforms have become a popular but risky avenue for finding rental listings, often resulting in students encountering "fake listings" or "scam rentals" [2][3][5]. - The rental prices on social media are often significantly lower than market rates, with discrepancies of 20%-40% [5]. Group 2: Scams and Misleading Practices - Students report experiences of being pressured to sign rental agreements quickly, raising suspicions of potential scams [3][4]. - There are instances of "one house being rented multiple times," leading to conflicts among tenants [3][5]. - The use of "agents" or "managers" who are not the actual landlords is common, complicating the rental process and increasing the risk of fraud [2][5]. Group 3: Regulatory Environment and Solutions - There is a growing recognition of the need for regulatory oversight in the short-term rental market to protect students and young professionals [6][7]. - Initiatives like "Youth Stations" have been introduced in various cities to provide affordable or free housing options for students and young job seekers [6][7]. - Recommendations have been made to improve the availability of short-term rental options, including the potential use of vacant affordable housing for students [6][7].