Yes, I was told a few time unashamedly that they didn't have the owners permission to rent to foreigners, and a few more times that they were hoping a 'family'

Yes, I was told a few time unashamedly that they didn't have the owners permission to rent to foreigners, and a few more times that they were hoping a 'family' would move in. In the end I wasn't even interested in renting from an owner that thought I was one of the good foreigners, but I relented when I found a place I liked.