Renters beware as landlords deploy AI to renovate decrepit spaces

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Landlords have leveled up their deception game: suddenly, those drab, grim apartments online glow with sunlight and sport furniture that looks straight out of a Silicon Valley startup’s lounge.

But spoiler alert, what you see is almost never what you get.

According to reporting by Futurism, some landlords now turn to AI image generators to slap digital makeup on their rental listings, erasing stains, painting battered walls, and even stretching rooms to look twice as big as they really are.

Want a “cozy loft”? The AI will conjure it, even if your “loft” is a closet on a noisy first floor.

Like this had me screaming. This the pic in the listing v.s what shows up on google maps. https://t.co/8fmJt9b6zF pic.twitter.com/ybpPPlPXWy

— I appreciate you. (@DeeLaSheeArt) October 6, 2025

This isn’t just about tossing a filter over bad lighting. Photography experts and outlets like PetaPixel have caught real estate agents going even further: warping the architecture, shuffling furniture, and removing every ounce of grit with generative magic.

Meanwhile, renters show up for tours and find wrecked bathrooms, peeling paint, and a nonsensical layout that was AI-fabricated.

No surprise, this digital catfishing has left renters furious—and in places like Australia, lawmakers are scrambling to bring the hammer down.

As Dexerto reports, there’s a push to force agents to disclose if a listing’s photos have been AI-edited after surges of complaints.

In the U.S., legal standards lag behind: misleading a renter can technically run afoul of advertising law, but there’s no clear, countrywide rule for AI deception yet.

Right now, renters are basically left to play digital detective, scrolling Zillow and Facebook Marketplace for old photos, grilling landlords for video tours, and squinting to spot what’s real.

Until the industry gets overhauled, it’s caveat emptor—with a download of Photoshop and a sprinkle of AI on top.

Kevin Raposo

Kevin is KnowTechie's founder and executive editor. With over 15 years of blogging experience in the tech industry, Kevin has transformed what was once a passion project into a full-blown tech news publication. Shoot him an email at kevin@knowtechie.com.