Procedure for renting an apartment. Independent apartment rental. Is it worth contacting an agency?

The choice of apartment location should be based on convenience.

It is logical that it should be close to the place of work, and there should also be good infrastructure nearby.

If you have children, it is important to pay attention to the presence of kindergartens and schools nearby. It is also worth remembering that it is not always possible to get from the central areas of the city to the very center of the city, since in such places there are usually traffic jams.

Sometimes you can get there faster from the outskirts because the road is clear for the route.

Attention! If it doesn’t matter where you live, it’s better to choose housing in the periphery rather than in the center - it will be much cheaper. Usually in cities, new houses are built in areas far from the center, so you can move into a newly built house.

So, where to rent an apartment? You can look for housing the old fashioned way - with the help of advertisements on porches, poles, fences, in newspaper advertisements and through friends. In this case, the search may take a long time.

The most profitable and easiest option is searching via the Internet.

It’s easy to find housing options here on message boards and social networks. It’s also convenient that you can search by area, price and other parameters.

But there is a catch here too - almost all advertisements on the Internet are posted by realtors and other third parties. Finding the owner is quite difficult, but possible.

What to look for when renting an apartment?

Everyone thinks about how to rent an apartment correctly. To avoid unpleasant situations, you need to take a closer look at some points.

You need to pay attention to all the things that will later be useful in life. If something doesn’t suit you and it’s not possible to fix the problem soon, it’s better to find another option.

Why is it not profitable to work with realtors?

As already mentioned, the real estate market is flooded with intermediaries who want to receive their percentage for selecting housing, which can range from 50 to 100 percent of the cost of renting an apartment for a month.

If you don’t have extra money to give to realtors, or just out of principle, you can try to find housing directly. This may take longer. Where can I rent an apartment?

As you can see, with a little effort and patience, you can find good housing without paying additional money to intermediaries.

What problems might arise?

Of course, all conditions must be specified in the contract. If something is not written down, problems may arise when renting an apartment.

For example, if the tenant is going to make repairs, this must be specified in the contract. If this repair will go towards paying rent for a month or several, it also needs to be registered.

The owner must report a rent increase in writing one month before the rent increase. If he fails to do so, tenants can file a claim for compensation.

Important! Specify the terms of the contract - from several weeks to several years. If this is not done, and the contract needs to be extended, the owner may change the rules of residence, for example, increase the rent.

Also, the contract must describe as accurately as possible everything that is in the apartment, as well as the condition of the furniture and equipment. In this case, the owner will have no questions when leaving the rented property.

How to rent an apartment without being scammed?

If you have no experience in renting housing, you need to study the rules that can save money and protect you from suddenly finding yourself on the street. Let's look at the step-by-step procedure for renting an apartment:

Even following all these rules does not guarantee complete safety, so you always need to be careful and attentive.

Renting a home is quite simple, especially if this is not the first time. You just need to remember that:

• good housing is never cheap;
• you need to check all the data on the apartment and the owner’s passport details;
• Before signing the contract, you need to inspect the apartment.

The concept of renting residential premises. Renting housing is considered to be the case when one person is ready to live for a certain fee in the apartment of another person who is the full owner (Article 671 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation). The parties in this case are called:

• The landlord is the owner of the rented apartment (who the landlord or lessor is, as well as his rights and obligations are described in).
• Tenant – a person renting an apartment.

By law, renting an apartment must be registered with the tax service.. According to Article 674 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, if it is concluded for a short term (less than one year), then its registration with the tax service is not necessary (short-term rental agreements are described in). But if the contract is long-term, then it must be submitted for registration within one month from the date of signing.

Article 674 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. Residential tenancy agreement form

1. The rental agreement for residential premises is concluded in writing.
2. A restriction (encumbrance) on the right of ownership of residential premises arising on the basis of a lease agreement for such residential premises concluded for a period of at least a year is subject to state registration in the manner established by the law on registration of rights to real estate and transactions with it.

Is it worth filming?

Usually housing is rented when hopeless situations arise.

1. Most often, such situations are those when there is no home of one’s own or there is one, but the person does not want to live with other people.
2. Or when a student moves to a foreign city, but there is no hostel there.
3. Or when the children grew up and decided to move away from their parents.

It is worth renting an apartment if a person is aware that he will not only have to live in this place, but also pay for rent and, possibly, utilities.

You need to be prepared that in case of the slightest delay, you will be asked to move out immediately.

What is better: renting a home or taking out a mortgage?

What is more profitable to rent an apartment or take out a mortgage?:

• On the one hand, it is better to take out a mortgage loan and even if you pay money, and not a small one, then at least for housing, the rightful owner of which you will later become! The mortgage amount will not be small, but in the end you will be left with an apartment.
• On the other hand, taking out a mortgage loan automatically obliges you to be more attentive and careful with your work, and if any unforeseen situations arise related to the apartment, you as the owner will have to deal with it.

Therefore, many people want to avoid a large burden of responsibility, both moral and financial, by choosing to rent an apartment for many years. But in this case, it is worth remembering that you are paying a stranger, and after everything you will be left with nothing.

At what age can you become a renter?

At what age can you rent an apartment? The employer has the right to enter into contracts strictly from the age of eighteen. Of course, there are cases when a citizen officially assumes full legal capacity until adulthood.

Usually the exception is marriage before the age of eighteen. In this case, the teenager can be fully capable and enter into any contracts (Article 21 of the Civil Code).

Article 21 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. Citizen's capacity

1. The ability of a citizen, through his actions, to acquire and exercise civil rights, to create civil responsibilities for himself and to fulfill them (civil capacity) arises in full with the onset of adulthood, that is, upon reaching the age of eighteen.
2. In cases where the law allows marriage before the age of eighteen, a citizen under eighteen years of age acquires full legal capacity from the time of marriage.

   The legal capacity acquired as a result of marriage is retained in full even in the event of divorce before reaching the age of eighteen.

   If a marriage is declared invalid, the court may decide that the minor spouse loses full legal capacity from the moment determined by the court.

detailed instructions

How to find your angle that suits you?

What should you pay attention to?

What you need to know when renting an apartment and what to pay attention to:

• Pay attention to why the previous tenants moved out of the apartment. Perhaps they simply found a better option or bought their own home, but it may happen that the landlord is a terrible brawler!
• Status of utility payments. Large debts can lead to power outages.
• On the condition of electrical appliances and household appliances, if there are any in the apartment. You need to check it together with the owner. Since landlords often like to blame minor repairs on the tenants.
• Local area and view from the window. If there is a bright nightclub sign or a lantern shining opposite the window, most likely you will feel a little uneasy living in the spotlight.

You can fix the problem with thick curtains, but you are unlikely to be able to sleep with an open window near a nightclub.

The procedure for mandatory inspection when renting housing

What should you check when renting an apartment? Be sure to check at the accommodation:

1. The presence of traces of chalk on the floor, baseboards, behind pipes may indicate living creatures such as cockroaches, ants, woodlice, bedbugs and others.
2. If there is an automatic air freshener at the entrance to the apartment, you should turn it off and listen to the smells of the apartment. It happens that the owners try to mask the smell of dampness or sewage.
3. The presence of cracks in frames and doors if ordinary wooden windows or poorly installed double-glazed windows are installed. In winter, all the heat will escape through these cracks and the apartment will be draughty.
4. In the case where the apartment is corner, check the joints between the walls, they must be dry. Otherwise, the heat will also blow out, and in winter this corner will also get wet because it does not dry out.
5. Water pressure. It happens that in old houses, the upper floors do not have enough good pressure.

How to control the owner?

How to check the owner of the apartment? In order to establish whether this citizen is really the rightful owner of the apartment that you are going to rent, you need to ask him to provide the relevant documents. What to do with these papers:

1. These papers must indicate on the basis of which the person became the owner of the apartment (legal establishing documents are a purchase and sale agreement, a gift agreement, a court decision, a will, and so on).
2. Check your passport and compare the details on the title deed. All information from the passport number and series to registration must be identical.
3. Ask to provide ownership of the property or an extract from the Unified State Register.

Important! Everything needs to be checked more carefully when you are looking for an apartment on your own, as there are many scammers.

It is much safer to contact a trusted real estate agency, where lawyers will check the authenticity and correctness of the documents.

What are the essential questions to ask?

What questions to ask when renting an apartment:

• cost of rent;
• in what time frame it is carried out;
• conditions of the apartment (if the conversation is on the phone);
• neighbors surrounding the apartment;
• state of repair;
• present furniture and household appliances;
• apartment delivery deadline.

All other questions are asked when inspecting the apartment, for example, why the former tenants moved out.

And find out how many owners the apartment has. If there is not one owner, but several, then ask if other owners are ready to rent out the apartment. Ask questions about how long in advance you should notify the owner of the apartment about your decision to move out of his living space.

Will he visit the apartment monthly and inspect it, is it possible to delay payment for several days due to certain circumstances, and is the landlord ready to make some concessions on payment (for example, agree on a deferred payment under certain life circumstances).

Important! If the landlord speaks unflatteringly about former tenants and behaves rudely and arrogantly with every question, then such a person can subsequently slander you (even if all the requirements for maintaining and paying for the apartment have been met) when you move out of his apartment!

Legal regulation of rental of residential premises between individuals

The rental of an apartment must be in writing only. This will guarantee that the landlord will not rent it out to you or other third parties.

And also to ensure serious intentions on the part of the tenant about the intention to rent this living space. When renting an apartment, a contract is drawn up in writing, it stipulates how to behave in certain situations, for example, if there is a flood or fire or other circumstances.

If the agreement between the parties occurs orally, it is possible that misunderstandings may arise or that someone simply forgot about something else.

Is it possible to do without a contract?

It is possible to rent an apartment without a contract, but it is not advisable, since each party will not know their rights and obligations, for example, if the contract states that the owner of the apartment has the right to inspect the apartment no more than once a month, then this will be the case.

And with a verbal agreement, you can say one thing, but in reality it will turn out that he will disturb the employer with his presence on a weekly basis.

Features of housing with and without renovation

So, rental apartments without renovation are usually in new buildings where there is only rough finishing. When inspecting such real estate, you should feel free to ask for a discount for living conditions if the amount is the same as for apartments being renovated.

Usually, owners who want to make money out of nothing don’t agree at first, but after renting out the apartment drags on for months, they willingly make concessions.

When when an apartment requires repairs, you can agree to rent it to pay for the repairs. At the same time, discuss what kind of repairs are required from him and when they will be completed and the rent will resume as usual.

Provided that during the repair work the tenant will also pay for all utilities. Most often, landlords agree to such deals because they can independently make repairs in an apartment where the owner himself does not live for an expensive and long time, but here there is free labor who pays for utilities and makes repairs.

All these aspects should also be written down in the contract from the start of the repair work to its completion and the approximate amount spent, with subsequent sales receipts attached.

With kids

When renting an apartment with small children, it is worthwhile to include clauses in the contract about whether the tenant will compensate for damage to wallpaper or flooring (for example, if the children drew or stuck plasticine, after removing which greasy stains remained).

In any case, the lessor must take into account that renting out an apartment to a family with children, renovations in the apartment may be ruined. Will he be lenient when this factor is discovered or will he ask for compensation for the damage caused?

As for adult children, as a rule, little attention is paid to this, since they can give an account of their actions.

Choosing an agency

When choosing the agency itself, you need to pay attention to both the seriousness of the company and the housing it offers. How to choose agents:

1. Usually, in order to rent an apartment through an agency, you must first draw up an agreement on the provision of services for the selection of real estate with a realtor, indicate in it the preferences and wishes of the tenant, as well as the amount and period of selection.
2. After this, the agent selects apartments that suit you and after you agree to rent this or that living space, payment for the agency’s services is given.
3. Next, a rental agreement is concluded. If the company that selects housing is official, then there will be no difficulties.

As a rule, serious companies are engaged not only in the selection of housing for rent, but also in sales, as well as other services related to real estate.

Key points

The main key points when renting an apartment:

• The amount of rent, who pays for utilities, payment terms (read about the procedure for paying for an apartment under a lease agreement, and how to document rent issues and draw up a payment schedule is described).
• Drawing up a rental agreement.
• Availability and condition of household appliances and furniture.
• The general condition of the apartment and the house as a whole.
• Surrounded by neighbors.
• Distance of the area from the metro and/or city center.
• The presence or absence of developed infrastructure (shops, hospitals, schools, kindergartens, etc.).
• Availability of connected utilities (autonomous or central heating, hot, cold water, sewerage, Internet, television, home telephone).
• Is it possible to rent an apartment with animals/children?

Video on the topic

You can also watch this video on how to rent an apartment correctly:

Conclusion

If essential conditions are met, you can rent housing with comfort for yourself and the owners of the apartment, be calm about your future well-being and not be afraid to come to a house where things are exposed to the street.

How often do we hear stories when someone, trying to rent an apartment, finds an excellent description with colorful photographs, but upon arriving at the place, they discover shabby walls and a “killed” bathroom in a house located half an hour from the metro.

Many have friends or friends of friends who were simply scammed into renting: they showed the apartment, took a deposit and rent for the first and last month, even gave them the keys. However, upon returning to the apartment, it was discovered that the key no longer fit and the door was tightly closed. The owner with the money evaporates, and the tenant is left almost literally with nothing.

We often hear stories from TV screens about unscrupulous realtors who, promising to find an apartment, take an advance payment from the client, show him several options that absolutely do not correspond to the description and then declare that the terms of the contract have been fulfilled and continue to search for a suitable apartment, and even more so, return no one is collecting money.

No matter how much is said about standard schemes of deception and fraud, Russians continue to get into trouble with enviable consistency. AiF.ru is once again trying to help its readers with advice on how to avoid getting into trouble when renting an apartment. For help, we turned to experts from companies who have been conscientiously helping tenants and landlords find each other for several years now.

Treaty as a panacea

All experts noted the importance of the apartment rental agreement, which is often drawn up incorrectly, and in some cases it is even neglected, relying on the good faith of the owner of the living space.

On the Internet you can find a large number of standard apartment rental agreements, which are often used by the tenant and the owner of the apartment when concluding a transaction. Experts advise checking such an agreement in any case. AiF.ru told readers about what must be reflected in the document Kirill Kokorin, legal consultant of the apartment rental department "INCOM-Real Estate":

“In order for the rental agreement signed by the parties to be recognized as valid, it must indicate the essential conditions:

1. The name of the residential premises being leased, its characteristics and exact address.

2. Accurate passport details of the tenant and the lessor.

3. Data from documents confirming the ownership rights of the lessor.

4. The amount of rent for an apartment, the procedure and terms of payment.

5. Duration of the rental agreement. If the rental period is not specified, the contract will be considered concluded for 5 years.

6. Data of citizens who will live with the employer.

7. Signatures of the parties to the rental agreement.

However, it is necessary to provide for other equally important conditions of this document, such as the procedure and grounds for early termination of the contract at the initiative or fault of any of the parties; rights and obligations of the parties; liability of the parties both for defects and for damage caused; penalties for the tenant and the lessor; procedure and grounds for settling damage caused to the owner’s property; payments and payment procedure for housing and communal services; guarantees of the parties; the procedure for notifying the parties, indicating the addresses for notification; possibility of keeping pets; responsibility and procedure for resolving damage caused to neighbors; prohibition or right for a tenant to rent out an apartment under a sublease agreement to third parties; procedure for resolving disputes and some others.”

Cheap means cheerful

Also, when searching for an apartment to rent on your own, experts advise paying attention to the rental price. In most cases, an unreasonably low price is fraught with some kind of catch.

“If you choose an apartment on your own, carefully study the price situation on the market. An attractively cheap offer is usually just a lure. When viewing the apartment and concluding the deal, relax, do not be nervous, focus as much as possible on the documents and the lease agreement, and carefully inspect the apartment for any defects. Do not react to the state of nervousness artificially created by many owners and unscrupulous agents, thanks to which the client will quickly inspect everything and give the money,” advises Managing Director of the MIEL-Arenda company Natalya Sivko.

“Obviously, housing that is rented out at low rates has certain disadvantages. For example, the poor quality of the property (old house, lack of renovation, furniture or household appliances) or poor location (far from a metro station, near a train station or market). Also, the cost reduction is facilitated by the condition of prepayment for a long period (six months, a year) or a short rental period (housing is often rented out for the summer). You need to focus on average rates, the description of the property in the ad, try to find out the details in a telephone conversation and only then go for viewing,” confirms Galina Kiseleva, director of the apartment rental department at INCOM-Real Estate.

Keys in the morning, money in the evening

Experts advise not to pay realtors in advance, but to pay the apartment owner only after the apartment has been thoroughly inspected and all the disadvantages have been recorded on paper and signed by the owner.

“There are cases when the tenant looks at the apartment, pays a deposit to book the apartment, and sets a date for the transaction, but the landlord disappears or refuses to return the deposit, but does not go through with the deal. But by working with an agent, you can save yourself from such situations: the company takes on all the hassle. It is best to contact large agencies that have successfully proven themselves in the market and can offer a full range of services,” explains Svetlana Birina.

The safest thing, all experts say, is to work with a realtor. But even among them there are unscrupulous people.

“The main rule that a tenant working with a realtor needs to remember is not to pay money up front. Payment for a realtor’s services for a completed transaction always occurs after, and not before, the start of work, that is, when he has fulfilled his obligations to the client,” advises Natalya Sivko.

Renting residential premises is paid transfer of an apartment, house or separate room to the tenant for possession and use under a contract.

It should be noted that the owner of the property can be either an individual or a legal entity. The tenant is only an individual.

When concluding an agreement with a realtor, you should ensure that payment in full was carried out only after signing the lease agreement. Paying an advance for an agent's services delays the search for housing.

Most people looking for standard apartments trying to save money and organize premises for rent.

This can be done today through the Internet, which greatly simplifies the process.

For example, the largest website AVITO presents housing from all regions of the country.

By comparing prices and analyzing photographs in , future tenants select several premises that meet their ideas of comfortable living.

It will not be superfluous to find out, using a map, which objects of the social structure are nearby. A metro station, a park or other recreation area, or sports centers can be very useful for a tenant.

Large warehouses, car depots, industrial enterprises, nightlife establishments or 24-hour gas stations located next to rental housing can become source of unpleasant noise, preventing the employer from having a full rest.

Conversation with the owner

What to ask when renting an apartment? How to check the owner? When suitable options have been selected, you can proceed to the next stage. You need to call and chat with the owner to discuss rental terms in advance.

A potential employer should immediately provide information about yourself: age, marital status, whether you have pets.

Many owners do not want to rent apartments to families with children or animals, so you should not waste your time on fruitless negotiations.

Also worth clarifying, whether the contract will be drawn up, for what period, for what period it is necessary to make an advance payment. You should not agree to rent a contract or with an advance payment for more than 2 months.

If the parties are satisfied with everything, then you can decide on the time for inspection of the apartment.

Inspection

What does a home inspection involve? The owner himself will be interested in demonstrating the apartment faster.

The future employer should carefully inspect all property and rooms for malfunctions, damage and other deficiencies.

If the faucet is leaking, the door handles are broken, or the refrigerator is faulty, then you should seriously think about finding another place to live.

Renting is a business. When the apartment is presented in this "non-commercial" form, then the owner does not particularly care about his tenants. There is a high probability that it will take a very long time for all the shortcomings to be eliminated after moving in.

Conduct inspections in the evening hours. This will allow you to find out if there are any noisy or unpleasant people among your neighbors.

Don't be afraid to bargain. Especially in cases where any information contained in the ad was not confirmed upon inspection. The price will be set through negotiations, so any shortcoming of the apartment will allow the tenant to save money.

Paperwork

How to rent an apartment? What do you need to know? What are the essential conditions for renting residential premises between individuals? If the apartment owner and the tenant have reached a consensus on the terms and cost of rent, then you can start signing the contract.

An owner who is constantly engaged in renting out housing probably has own standard document. Separate articles are devoted to the details of the agreement and it. Here we will dwell on some points.

When concluding an agreement, you should ask the owner for a passport and a title document on the basis of which he owns the apartment. You should also contact Rosreestr to obtain an extract from the Unified State Register.

The above steps will help determine whether a citizen is truly has every right to rent out the apartment for rent. There are often cases when several persons own real estate in different shares. In this case, it is necessary to obtain the consent of all owners.

Right on the day the contract is concluded, the tenant of the apartment must ask the owner to show a fresh statement from your personal account. Such a document will give the employer information about the debt for utility services provided, as well as about the people registered at this address.

The apartment must be debt-free and without registered citizens.

Special attention attention should be paid to the rights and responsibilities of both .

In particular, you should set control visit regime of a rented apartment by its owner.

The key question is. It is imperative to indicate who is responsible for paying utility bills, telephone communications, Internet and other services (you can learn about this from our article).

Any transfer of money. There is an opinion that the requirement of such a document can be regarded as lack of trust on the part of the employer. But distrust of a stranger, to whom the money is transferred is quite understandable.

To confirm that the agreement has entered into force, the parties sign. This document must contain information that the tenant was given the residential premises for use, and he accepted it, having no complaints. From now on all responsibility for the safety of the apartment and property in it falls on the tenant.

In addition, the transfer deed includes the property that is provided along with the housing.

A signed agreement, which involves renting out housing for 12 months or more, follows in Rosreestr.

Although the responsibility to do this lies with the property owner, the tenant should also ensure that this formality is completed.

The premises cannot be sold, exchanged or mortgaged while the rental agreement is in force. are not subject to registration.

The contract is legal document. Therefore, each change in the terms of employment should be formalized accordingly. Most often the owner of the apartment and the tenant sign the housing agreement, preserving the remaining conditions.

More detailed information about the design can be found in the special section.

Significance of the agreement

Is it possible to rent an apartment? without an agreement?

Often, housing tenants believe that signing an agreement and processing other documents is just bureaucratic red tape that makes no sense for the average person.

In most cases, this is true, because the relationship between the owner and the tenant proceeds without conflict. However, the legal registration of housing rental is carried out to protect the interests of the parties in case of disagreement.

For example, a homeowner wants break the lease housing because he has found new tenants or wants to use the premises himself. Or the owner decided significantly increase rent due to changed economic conditions.

How to protect yourself in such a situation, to the employer, if there is no contract? What are the dangers of not having a contract? How to return the advance for the next month or the deposit amount if there are no corresponding receipts? You should think about these questions before problems arise, because then it will be too late.

Signing the contract and related documents will relieve the tenant of the property from many problems in the future. In the registration procedure itself, if you look at it, there is nothing complicated.

Completing Recruitment

Rental ends apartments due to the expiration of the contract or this agreement.

At the end of the rental relationship, the owner of the apartment must return the deposit, if any was paid.

The parties must also sign acceptance certificate premises from the tenant to its owner. This will ensure complete fulfillment of mutual obligations and the absence of claims.

Special cases

Repair against payment

Is it possible to rent for repairs? There are rental offers on the real estate market. illiquid housing without repair.

People who are in a cramped financial situation agree to such options, hoping save money.

How to apply? In such a situation one must conclude additional agreement to the rental agreement, which would stipulate what kind of repairs should be made and within what time frame. It is also advisable to agree on the approximate cost of such work.

Tenants should be prepared for the fact that not the entire cost of repairs and materials will be prepared by the owner of the premises take into account when charging.

Some of the finishing may seem too expensive to the apartment owner, and the price for the labor of hired builders may seem unreasonably high. In addition, a renovated apartment can be rented out at a much higher price, so the tenant should take into account possible eviction.

To avoid problems, you need to spell out in detail conditions for carrying out repairs and calculating their cost. The lease agreement should be concluded for the maximum possible period.

It’s worth thinking about whether it makes any sense to live in an apartment and pay for it when the premises are constantly being renovated.

Rent a private room

You should find out who owns the rest of the area. If the apartment is owned by one person, then you can follow the algorithm previously proposed.

In the case where the property is divided into shares owned by several persons, it is necessary to make sure that the room is designed as a separate living space.

If this does not happen, then when drawing up the contract it will be necessary obtain consent all people who have shares in such an apartment.

The consent of other residents is not required.

Not all homeowners have a positive attitude towards having a tenant young children.

They rightly believe that a growing child will inevitably ruin the wallpaper, damage the furniture, and that in the end it will be necessary correct the owner at his own expense.

Employers with children should be sensitive to this problem. When agreeing on rental terms, it is recommended tell the owner honestly about a small child.

The homeowner's fears will be allayed deposit paid for damage to property and the provision of the contract on the obligation of tenants to pay in full for damage caused during their stay to the decoration of the apartment, furniture and household appliances (read about what it means when renting an apartment).

What to look for?

Let's highlight a few main points that will help you make the right choice when renting housing:

1. Location. Explore the area adjacent to your house, the infrastructure, and talk to neighbors, if possible.
2. Condition of the premises. The rented apartment must be clean, have working windows, doors, plumbing and furniture.
3. Owner. Make sure the person negotiating the lease has the authority to do so. Check your passport, power of attorney (if you are dealing with the owner’s representative), read the title documents, request an extract about the owner of the apartment from the Unified State Register.
4. Agreement. Do not agree to give money until the relevant documents are signed.
5. Pay. Carefully discuss what the tenant pays for, write down in the contract the cost of one month of accommodation and the procedure for changing it.

Money should be transferred only upon receipt of a document confirming payment (receipt).

6. Additional agreements. Any change in the terms of the agreement, whether it be the amount of payment or the duration of the lease, must be in writing.

Renting housing is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance.

This section presents comprehensive information, which a potential tenant will need.

If any provisions remain unclear, you can always ask a question using the field at the bottom of the page.

If you are not confident in your own abilities, contact a realtor, and look for an experienced specialist who really understands this issue. Show him the documents of the owner of the property, as well as documents related to the apartment that is being offered to you.

Article 671 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation regulates the procedure for renting residential premises. According to what is specified in this article, a rental agreement must be concluded, the essence of which is that the owner of the living space provides the tenant with housing for possession and use for living. A legal entity can also rent residential premises, but this apartment can only be used for living; it is not possible to set up a warehouse or open a store there.

Basic things you need to know

Article 674 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation says that a rental agreement must be concluded in writing. Article 288 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation establishes that only the owner of the property has the right to rent it out, therefore, before signing the contract, make sure that the one who rents the apartment is really its owner. Therefore, the first thing to do is to ask the potential landlord to show a document that confirms his ownership. There are several types of such documents: certificate of ownership, gift agreement, purchase and sale agreement, certificate of inheritance, certificate of privatization.

When there is only one owner of a residential premises, this is quite convenient; it is he who will sign the rental agreement, and this procedure can also be performed by his authorized representative (in this case, his powers are certified by a notary). The situation becomes more complicated if there are several owners - such an apartment can be rented out only when everyone who has the right to a share of the property agrees to it, so it is simply impossible to rent out a residential premises without the consent of other owners. Ideally, the agreement should be certified by the signature of each owner or his official representative (let’s say that one of the owners is a minor child, in which case a parent will act on his behalf). But if one of them cannot be personally present at the signing of the contract, the one who is engaged in renting out the apartment can take from him a notarized power of attorney in his name. He can also present the consent of all other owners, which also needs to be notarized.

What to do if the landlord cannot provide all the necessary documents? In this situation, it is best to refuse to deal with him and look for another apartment. Keep in mind: an agreement that does not comply with Russian legislation may be declared invalid, and problems will arise for the tenant.

What exactly should you ask the owner of the living space? You need to take an interest in the apartment: what it looks like, how many rooms it is, where it is located. Then you need to ask about the owners, ask to see documents for the apartment, and inquire about the list of people living in the apartment. If everything is clear at these points, you can ask about the rent - its size, how to pay it, etc., ask how utilities will be paid, and clarify the validity period of the contract.

What is stated in the contract?

In addition to the obvious things (term of the contract, amount of rent, etc.), it makes sense to indicate the time at which the landlord can visit the apartment, as well as within what period he must notify the tenant about this. Let's say you would like the landlord to visit the apartment no more than once a month, and he must notify you of this by cell phone and no later than three days before the date of the visit. Indicate this in the contract, and if the owner of the living space unexpectedly comes to you, you can remind him that there is a corresponding clause in the contract, and that he is obliged to fulfill it.

It is useful, along with the contract, to draw up an act of acceptance and transfer of property indicating the defects, so that the landlord does not force you to answer for a broken TV or a sagging sofa that was damaged long before you arrived in this apartment.

Experts also recommend that when paying rent, take a receipt from the apartment owner for receipt of money, so that if a conflict situation arises, you can provide evidence that there were no violations on your part. The receipt must indicate the month for which the payment is made, as well as the amount that you transferred to the tenant. This document must be signed by both you and the owner of the rented living space.

If you pay for utilities under the contract, be sure to keep all receipts and receipts - this will also help in case of a conflict. It is highly not recommended to have a pet without the consent of the landlord; some landlords react very negatively to cats and, even more so, to dogs in their living space. In some cases, this may even be a separate clause of the contract, but, in principle, it is quite normal to agree with most people verbally.

Of course, it is impossible to foresee all cases, all possible reasons for conflicts. For example, it happens that the landlord has an extremely negative attitude towards the fact that other people suddenly appear in the rented living space, even if it is a friend who has suddenly arrived on a business trip or a girl he really likes. On the other hand, it happened that the apartment owner himself suddenly demanded in an ultimatum form that the tenant agree to tolerate some relative or friend of the apartment owner for a night or two. Not everyone likes this, so just in case, this can also be written down in the contract in advance.

It's time to move out of the apartment

How is the contract terminated? The simplest option is for it to expire, then by the time specified in the document the tenant is obliged to vacate the living space he occupies. If we are talking about early termination, then options are possible. For example, if the initiator of early termination is the owner, then you can indicate in the contract that in these circumstances he must at least partially reimburse the tenant for the amount he spent on finding housing. If money was paid in advance, the landlord will have to return it to the tenant.

If the tenant himself wishes to terminate the contract early, then the deposit, of course, will remain with the owner of the residential premises.

Don’t forget to think through your actions in advance, immediately decide what will be specified in the contract, and before you sign, be sure to read what you sign.