You've been looking for an apartment for so long, you've looked at a bunch of options, but none of them met your expectations. And here's your dream ad... Great layout, good renovation, convenient commute to work or school, and a kindergarten nearby. But the most important thing is a small rent. You dial the number, arrange a meeting. Then you pay the money and get the long-awaited keys. All this happens very quickly, because the "landlord" is in a hurry, so there's no time to draw up a contract (usually he talks about an urgent business trip for at least six months). The next day you go to a new apartment with your suitcases. And what do you see? There are people standing there, just like you, with things. The real owner of the apartment urgently arrives at the call of the confused "tenants" and says that they were deceived. And he rents out his apartment by the day. That is, it turns out that the fraudster moved into the apartment the day before and re-let it. This example is just one of the scams. And there are a lot of them. So what should you pay attention to and how to distinguish a real landlord from a fake one?
Rental rules and contract
A verbal agreement is not a contract. A housing contract must be in writing. Plus, it can be notarized. Before looking for a place to live, you can ask about your rights (general provisions are in Chapter 59 of the Civil Code of Ukraine). The second point is haste. You should not conclude a contract immediately after meeting the owner. You still need to make sure that he has the right to rent the apartment. The tenant has the right to demand documents for the apartment itself. These can be certificates of ownership, the right to inheritance, a purchase and sale agreement, or a document on the division of inherited real estate.
The contract must specify the amount and payment term. With the consent of both parties, some points can be changed. However, it is worth checking whether the area of the apartment, floor and number of rooms correspond to reality. Based on this, there may be disputes in the future. You will be asked to pay a higher fee. And it will be difficult to prove the opposite.
No less important is the issue of repairs. According to the Civil Code, the tenant must be responsible for current repairs, and the landlord must carry out major repairs. However, there are cases when the parties agree between themselves to carry out major repairs for a monthly payment.
Utility payments
The tenant should ask how to pay the utility bill - by meter or by the number of residents? And also ask whether the owner has debts. You do not need to pay from your own pocket. The contract should specify the amount and repayment period of the debt.
By agreement of both parties, additional conditions can be specified. This may include discussing rent, the possibility of keeping pets, etc.
Don't forget about the handover certificate, which contains a detailed description of additional information. This document is a guarantee for the future. It should clearly state what is in the apartment at the time of rental. Otherwise, the owner may claim that certain things were stolen from him.
Security payment. What is it?
Among the landlords there are also those who require a cash reserve. It is a guarantee of the tenant's fulfillment of the contractual terms. The second name of such a payment is a deposit or a guarantee fee. This requirement is legal. As for this payment, it remains with the landlord only if, for example, the furniture is damaged. The contract also states when it is possible to return the security deposit.
Along with the above concept is the concept of advance payment. This is money that is given in advance and is credited as payment for the lease. In the event of a contract not being concluded, this amount must be returned.
Another type of payment is a deposit. It is worth knowing that in case of refusal to sign the contract, this money is not returned, but remains with the owner of the housing. If the requirements or rules specified in the contract are violated, a penalty is paid. The penalty is a percentage of the payment amount.
Lease agreement. How can it be terminated?
The landlord must be notified of the termination of the contract. This must be done in writing and 3 months in advance. However, there are exceptions. The tenant also has the right to refuse to rent the accommodation if it has become unsuitable for permanent residence.
Therefore, before signing documents, it is necessary to inquire in advance about your rights and what the consequences may be.
You can get information about consulting on housing law issues on the website.