Nowadays there are many agencies offering to rent and rent housing. Intermediaries work with property owners, as well as those wishing to rent it. However, not everyone knows how to rent an apartment correctly. This is exactly what is discussed in the article.
Through an agency
When faced with obtaining real estate for rent for the first time, people usually turn to special companies. It is best to choose an organization based on the recommendation of family or friends. How to rent an apartment through an agency? Professionals must find suitable accommodation, so it is important to set out your requirements.
Then suitable options are selected and appointments are made to view the property. Agency specialists must accompany the client in these cases. And when drawing up an agreement, they conduct all the negotiations. Agency employees provide advice on issues of interest.
A specialist checks property documents. If everything is correct, then a lease agreement is concluded and a transfer and acceptance certificate is drawn up, which contains an inventory of the housing property. Specialist services usually cost 50-100% of the monthly housing price.
Types of fraud
How to rent an apartment correctly so that the transaction is completed according to the law? Here are some common scams to avoid:
- Photos are not real. Particular attention should be paid to cases of discrepancies between the rental price of housing and its repair. If the pictures show luxury interiors, but the price is average or below market value, then these are probably scammers. They may say that this apartment is rented out and recommend another one. To check whether photos are taken from other sites, matches can be determined using the Google Images service. False advertisements are created to create a customer base.
- The apartment is fictitious. Care must be taken when filling out contracts. It is important to check all information, even if the transaction is made with the help of a realtor. There are often cases when the addresses recorded in the contract do not exist, and people have to pay rent without housing. In this case, you have the right to terminate the lease agreement unilaterally by sending a letter to the landlord. There are also cases where clients are provided with landlord numbers for a fee, but they do not negotiate or accompany them.
- Paid inspection. No one can demand money for viewing a property. If this is offered by a realtor, then that is how he earns money, and he is not interested in transactions. Travelers from small towns and villages often fall for these tricks.
- Secondary housing rental. Tenants may not move or temporarily occupy other persons, nor may they take a deposit, fee, or commission. How to rent an apartment from the owner? You need to check your housing rights documents.
- Offer to purchase a customer base. Those wishing to rent a property are offered access to an online database of owners. A realtor can convince you that the database is updated every day, but after gaining access to it, it will be discovered that the information is out of date.
On one's own
How to rent an apartment without intermediaries? To do this, you need to look for advertisements from owners, and not from real estate companies. If you like the proposal, you need to make an appointment and inspect the property.
You can search for advertisements in newspapers and on the Internet. They are also posted at bus stops. Although in this case there are also many dangers, many people still do not want to contact realtors.
Pros and cons of hiring without intermediaries
Renting real estate without involving intermediaries has advantages and disadvantages. To determine how to proceed, you need to study all sides of the issue. Self-removal has the following advantages:
- Savings due to the absence of additional costs for mediation.
- Joint hiring with friends and splitting the amount of payment.
- Bargaining with the owner and reducing payment.
All of these points will help you save a large amount of money on getting a rented apartment. But the downside is the risk of fraud. Other disadvantages include:
- Difficulty finding a suitable apartment.
- Possibility of conflicts with the landlord.
- Risk of eviction.
- Lack of guarantees of rights.
Where to look?
How to rent an apartment correctly, choosing the most suitable one from a variety of options? There are several services that will make your search much easier:
- Avito and Domofond. This is a rich database of real estate of different types and categories. To get acquainted with the proposed apartments, you need to select the “private” section of the advertisements. You can specify the number of rooms and the desired metro stations. You can set up alerts about new listings.
- "Yandex.Real Estate". The service allows you to set the maximum number of search terms. There are few advertisements, but there are often interesting offers.
- The Locals, “I’ll rent” and other communities on social networks. This is an excellent option for those who want to rent a room. Often such sites charge a fee for access to the database. You can search for advertisements in thematic interest groups.
- CYANOGEN. This large housing database includes many apartment offers. Intermediaries do not charge a fee for this.
Owner verification
How to rent an apartment yourself and for the first time? To do this, you need to check the legal purity of the property. The owner should request the following documentation:
- Certificate of ownership.
- Property rights agreement.
- Passport.
- Notarized power of attorney if the transaction is carried out through the owner’s representative.
It is important to check that there are no debts on utility bills. Checking payment receipts and electricity and water meters is carried out before concluding a contract.
Owner's permission
If the property has several owners, then the consent of all is required (upon reaching 14 years of age). The rental agreement must contain the signatures of the owners or the signature of an authorized person who has a special power of attorney.
When renting a room in a communal apartment, you need permission from your neighbors. This is the landlord's concern. He must provide a document confirming the right to use this apartment. This will eliminate potential conflicts.
Agreement
How to rent an apartment without getting scammed? You must check the documentation carefully. The lease agreement must include the following information:
- Full name and passport details of the owner and tenant.
- Rent payment.
- Conditions for changing fees.
- Number of visits to the owner for inspection.
- Persons who may live with the tenant.
- Deadline.
- Conditions for termination of the contract.
- Description of housing: address, area, number of rooms.
In each case, the contract is individual; there is no standard form. It is important that it contains the rights and obligations of the parties.
Inventory of property
It indicates the property transferred to the tenant for temporary use. The inventory is an appendix to the contract. It should include furniture, appliances, linen, kitchen utensils, dishes, carpets, etc. If items are lost or damaged that are not listed in the inventory, the owner will not be able to return them.
Meeting your neighbors
How to rent an apartment correctly so that no unforeseen situations arise in the future? You should get to know your neighbors. This way it will be possible to establish whether the housing actually belongs to a specific person. Neighbors can tell you who lived before and how often residents change. If the house is new, you can visit the local housing office and find out the name of the owner, as well as other information of interest.
Rights and obligations of the parties
According to Russian laws, ongoing repairs to the premises, for example, leaking taps, peeling wallpaper or cracked plumbing, are repaired at the expense of the landlord. Therefore, it must be indicated that the elimination of defects in the premises should be carried out at the expense of the owner of the property, for example, through a monthly payment.
If this is not fixed in the contract, then the employer will have to eliminate the shortcomings on his own. The owner can check the condition of the house, but this does not mean that he can come at any time - you need to agree when and how contact will take place.
Rental rules
How to rent an apartment if several suitable options are found? It is important to check the documents and the availability of contact information. The apartment must have an Internet connection: you should find out the rules for paying for this service.
During the inspection of the premises, you need to check the condition of the plumbing and electrical wiring. The main thing is that the plugs are not knocked out with the connection of a minimum set of devices. There should be no cockroaches, bedbugs or other insects in the room.
How to rent an apartment for a long term? When planning a long stay, you need to clarify all the details. There's no need to rush. If any deficiencies have been identified, you should find out at whose expense the repairs and elimination will be carried out. It is important to write down emergency numbers for various problems. The furniture issue needs to be resolved. Since rental prices on the market are unstable, it is undesirable to sign contracts for a long period for a fixed price.
When signing the document, the owner of the premises hands over a set of keys that need to be checked. Typically the contract period is 1 year minus 1 day. This is a short-term rental and reduces the likelihood of co-tenants moving in. To renew the contract, you must sign the agreement one month before the expiration date.
"to understand how to rent an apartment in Moscow cheaply and safely.
Where to look for an apartment and how much
She is standing
Currently, renting a one-room economy class apartment in Moscow costs 28–30 thousand rubles per month. For that kind of money, housing is offered with standard renovation and all the necessary furniture. The most affordable apartments in the south and southeast of Moscow. You can rent a one-room apartment there for an average of 28 thousand rubles, a two-room apartment for 38 thousand rubles. The cost in the eastern district is slightly higher: 29 thousand rubles for a one-room apartment, 40 thousand rubles for a two-room apartment. The low rental rate is mainly due to poor environmental conditions. Nevertheless, their infrastructure is developed and there is everything necessary for living.
In the northeast, a one-room apartment costs an average of 32 thousand rubles, a two-room apartment costs 40 thousand rubles. In the north-west: 33 thousand rubles and 43 thousand rubles, respectively. In the north the figures are the same.
The most expensive districts are Southwestern, Western and Central. In the first two, the average rental price for one-room apartments is 34 thousand rubles, two-room apartments - 45 thousand rubles. In the most expensive, Central, district, a one-room economy class apartment is rented for an average of 37 thousand rubles, a two-room apartment - for 48 thousand rubles.
When to look for an apartment
Traditionally, the hot season begins at the end of summer and autumn, at which time demand grows due to those who enter universities and come to Moscow to work. As a result, cheap offers are washed out, which leads to higher rates. But this year the situation is conducive to bargaining. There are now a considerable number of competitive offers on the market, and owners are ready to make concessions. Some tenants decide to look for a new apartment because similar offers have appeared, but at a better price. This situation is especially noticeable in the expensive segment, where high demands are placed on housing.
The most suitable time to look for housing is spring and summer until mid-July. During this period, there is a lull in the rental market, so owners often give up the price by up to 2-3 thousand rubles, and sometimes the cost can be reduced by up to 15%.
But in any season there are offers from owners who, due to the urgency of the transaction, are ready to concede the cost of the rental rate (for example, if you need to go abroad and rent out housing in a short time).
How to check the owner
To avoid scammers, tenants need to ask for title documents for the apartment. You need to make sure that the person renting out the property has the right to do so. It is also worth requesting receipts for payment for the apartment and checking how many registered persons are indicated there. If the owner claims that he lives alone, but the receipt indicates the opposite, you should be wary.
Before moving into an apartment, you need to check everything: furniture, appliances and plumbing. If the owner has thrown a blanket over the sofa, take the time to check the upholstery. It happens that some imperfections are covered with a blanket.
What to write in the contract
The lease agreement must specify the property being leased. It is better to indicate the apartment address in full. In addition, you need to record key issues: the rental period (accommodation), the amount and procedure for payment, the frequency of payment revisions, at whose expense the repairs will be carried out, as well as the possibility of keeping pets.
It is quite possible to download the contract on the Internet and do without the help of a realtor. But to choose a normal sample, you need to follow the rules.
–It is advisable to watch primarily specialized legal resources.
–Not bad to rate relevance of the document. If it mentions, for example, the Civil Code of the RSFSR, it’s worth thinking about.
–Skim through the text. Just because it's too "legalistic" (long sentences with too much technical terminology) doesn't mean it's right for you. It is better to use a sample that can be understood.
With some legal skill, it is possible to prove the existence of an oral lease agreement. In support of this, we can refer to the behavior of the parties: if one gave the other the same amount every month on the 5th (and, of course, can prove this), then the court may well agree that this is not a mere coincidence. But resolving issues through the courts in such a situation is the path of persistent and passionate people. At the same time, we should not forget that in the situation under consideration in court it will not be possible to refer to witness testimony - only to written and other evidence.
Who does the repairs
Typically, the costs of routine repairs (replacing a light bulb, painting a wall after children's drawing exercises) are borne by the tenant. You can only demand compensation for such repairs if this is expressly stated in the contract.
By default, major repairs must be done by the owner of the apartment. If the tenant had to do it, he may demand compensation for expenses. But it is advisable that this be stated in the contract.
If some equipment breaks down, then you need to look at whether the tenant is at fault for what happened. If you can prove that the chair fell apart because of termites, and not because your sumo wrestler friend sat in it, you will not have to pay anything to the owner.
Renting an apartment is a whole science, and when you first come across the search for housing, there is a high risk of falling into the hands of scammers. So, what to look for, what documents to check, and what to look out for when renting an apartment.
Renting an apartment is a whole science, and when you first come across the search for housing, there is a high risk of falling into the hands of scammers. So, what to look for, what documents to check, and what to look out for when renting an apartment.
Study prices on the rental housing market
Have you found an advertisement offering an apartment for 25 thousand rubles in the center of Moscow with a good renovation? Forget about her, she doesn't exist. You call the number provided and they will most likely say that it has already been rented out, but you can consider another great option. This will be an apartment more expensive than the specified price and much worse. This is how unscrupulous realtors lure clients.
To understand which rental price is adequate and which is suspiciously cheap,. Analyze rental advertisements in the area you are interested in, call the indicated numbers to check the reality of the apartments, and after a few hours you will already understand that for 25-30 thousand rubles within the Garden Ring you will not rent anything decent, but in residential areas this is Maybe.
Don't fall for scammers' tricks
In 95% of cases, you will still have to deal with a realtor. Even if you are looking for housing on your own, the agent will almost certainly be from the owner. There are scammers who, posing as realtors, offer to look at an apartment for money (the apartment is simply gorgeous and you will definitely want to rent it) or they offer you to buy a database of owners who rent out apartments (then you can conclude an agreement directly and do not have to pay a commission to the realtor). Of course, this is all a hoax.
Also, you should not cooperate with agents who show you fake photographs, but in reality the apartments are completely different. If he is dishonest in this matter, he can deceive in another.
Check the owner's documents
When you like an apartment and you already think that you have found the right one, be sure to ask for documents. You need to check the certificate of ownership of the apartment, passport and receipts for payment of utility bills.
- Certificate of ownership
What to look for? Firstly, the information in this document and in the passport must match. Secondly, this way you will make sure that this is really the owner of the property. Anyone can show an apartment - a realtor, a neighbor, a relative, but you only need to sign an agreement with the owner, or with a person who has a notarized power of attorney from the owner. Otherwise, the next day after you celebrate your housewarming, the real owner of the apartment will come and simply kick you out. And you will lose all the money you have already paid.
Also pay attention to the number of owners. If there are several of them, then it is necessary to require written consent from all owners to rent out the apartment. The consequence will be approximately the same - for example, the ex-wife will come, say that no one asked her, and give one day to evict. This is almost certainly a conspiracy between them, because they will get all your money.
- Receipts for payment of utilities
In your receipts, look at information about debts for previous months. If it is, then demand that the debt be repaid. At some point, either the owner will want to attribute this amount to you, or, if we are talking about a large debt, utility companies will begin to threaten to turn off their services to you.
Carefully inspect the apartment
This is one more step before concluding a contract. You need to check everything in the apartment - whether the household appliances are working, whether the tap is leaking, whether the legs of the sofa or the armrests of the chair are broken. All information about the condition of the apartment must be written down in the property acceptance certificate. Often, in a hurry, realtors or the owners themselves write the standard wording “in satisfactory condition” or “in good condition.” It is better to record everything meticulously, so that later you are not required to reimburse the cost of the initially scratched laminate.
It doesn’t matter whether a realtor concludes the contract or you took a standard one from the Internet, take the time to study it carefully. In the contract, you need to check the full name and passport details of the owner of the property, the address of the apartment, indicate the rental period and cost, the conditions for revising the rent, the conditions and procedure for early termination of the contract and penalties, and even the number of visits by the owner. So, if you forget about this point, the owner can easily come to you at least every day, supposedly to check. You are unlikely to stand this and decide to move out, which means that sanctions will be imposed on you for terminating the contract. Or, if you verbally say that you will live with a cat, but do not write this down in the contract, one day this could become the reason for your eviction. And do not forget about the most detailed inventory of the property in the annex to the contract - the acceptance certificate
Assess the adequacy of the owner
Whatever one may say, in any case you will need to communicate with the owner. Let's say you transfer payment to a card, but... the tap breaks, a letter arrives in the mailbox, and the neighbors offer to chip in for the barrier. Yes, and the number of visits can be limited in the contract, but not the number of calls. Some grandmothers who rent apartments consider it their duty to worry too obsessively about the tenants. All this can be understood when meeting the owners and weighing whether you can come to terms with it.
Pay the first month, deposit, commission
You need to understand that when renting an apartment, you should immediately prepare three amounts - payment for the first month, a deposit and a commission to the realtor.
You pay a deposit to the owner, usually equal to the monthly rent payment. Some owners agree to split the payment over two months. The deposit is a kind of protection for the owner, because he can also be deceived. What if you take all the equipment and move out of the apartment or ruin all the furniture? The deposit is either returned at the end of the rental period (if nothing is damaged), or by agreement you can live the last month on this amount.
The commission goes to the realtor and you pay it. Usually, only when renting an expensive apartment does the owner pay the agent. The amount can be different - either 10% of the monthly rental cost or 100%.
How to rent out an apartment without intermediaries? What are the features of renting an apartment through an agency? How much will I earn if I rent out an apartment or room for a long term?
Hello to everyone who stopped by! In touch, an expert from the popular online magazine “HeatherBober” - Denis Kuderin.
Today we will talk about how to rent out an apartment competently, safely and profitably. The article will be useful to anyone who has additional real estate on which you want to start your own small business.
At the end of the article, a guaranteed bonus awaits you - an overview of the most reliable companies in the Russian Federation that will help you rent out your property on the most favorable terms for its owner.
1. Renting out an apartment as a business
If you have an apartment in addition to the one in which you live, and this living space is idle, eating up money for maintenance, you can always turn it into a source of additional income.
At the same time, you will have to work hard only at the initial stage - preparing the property for rent and searching for tenants. And then your only task will be to receive your regular rent on time. An ideal example of passive income is “we sit and the money flows.”
True, you will still have to periodically monitor the condition of the apartment, troubleshoot problems and breakdowns in a timely manner, and monitor the level of loyalty of residents. But if you wish, you can delegate this part of the work to a property management company.
In this situation, you can rent out an apartment and go abroad, to the village with your grandfather or to the southern coast of Crimea for permanent residence. In this case, all rental concerns will be transferred to a trusted person, and you will only have to withdraw money from the account and spend it at your own discretion.
Read about what professional means in a separate article.
The main thing in renting an apartment is to correctly assess the profitability of this enterprise. When renting out real estate for temporary use, you need to take into account all the factors that in one way or another can affect the cost of rent: only in this case will you be able to set an adequate market price for rent.
And you also need to decide in advance whether you will act independently or involve professional realtors in the procedure. Both options have their pros and cons.
The basic rule is this: if you need to rent out an apartment right now - you are leaving, you urgently need money - it is better to attract agents from a reliable real estate company or with an impeccable reputation. If time is of the essence, act on your own. The only condition is that you must have at least minimal experience in real estate transactions.
And one more important nuance - you need to be able to understand people. You will have to decide for yourself whether the tenant you have chosen is reliable or whether it is worth looking for another candidate.
Mistakes cannot be made: a dishonest tenant means late payments or a complete lack thereof, damage to property, complaints from neighbors, floods and fires, perhaps even calls to the police. Do you need this?
The table shows the main advantages and disadvantages of renting an apartment independently and with the help of an intermediary:
Step 3. We are looking for tenants
I have already told you where to look above. Here I will note that although the search for candidates is the most important stage of the process, you should not get hung up on it. Tenants who are 100% ideal are rare.
Example
One of my friends got married and moved into an apartment with her husband. She decided to rent out her one-room apartment and approached the search for tenants thoroughly. She consistently rejected about 30 applicants.
Some had a cat, others were too young and cheerful, others seemed to her not sufficiently wealthy, etc. As a result, the search for tenants dragged on for many months, and the friend lost sleep, peace and almost quarreled with her new husband.
Universal advice - give preference to married couples in which both spouses work and have a stable salary.
Step 4. We arrange a meeting and show the apartment
Before agreeing on a showing, conduct a preliminary conversation and ask the applicant security questions. If there is something alarming in the answers, do not take risks - say directly: “I’m sorry, but your candidacy does not suit me.”
At the meeting, have a second conversation with the potential tenant. If the impression is positive, lead and show.
Step 5. Collecting documents
Tenants are also not immune. They must be confident in the purity of the transaction and your integrity. Therefore, collect documents in case the tenant asks to see them.
The required package includes:
- passport (a copy is possible);
- certificate of ownership of housing;
- receipts confirming the absence of debts for housing and communal services.
If someone other than you is registered in the apartment, you will also need the written consent of these people to rent out the apartment.
Step 6. We conclude an agreement
You can rent out an apartment informally and officially. In the first case, you will receive more (13% tax will not be deducted), but you will not have any guarantees of the safety of your property.
An agreement is evidence of civil law relations between the parties. This is your insurance in case conflicts, misunderstandings and disputes arise. The absence of an agreement can become a tool of pressure from the tenant - they say, you are not deducting tax on the rent, which means you can wait for payments.
The contract must specify the conditions under which you rent the apartment, the timing of the monthly payment, and the amount of the first advance payment, if any. Certain points relate to the safety of your property, the liability of the parties in case of violation of the agreement, and the conditions for early termination of the contract.
For example, if neighbors complain about noise, the owner has the right to evict the tenants within 3 days or a week without refund of rent.
Step 7 We receive an advance payment
The agreement suits both parties, everyone is happy and smiling. All that remains is to receive an advance payment - this will be the beginning of a long, mutually beneficial partnership. It is advisable to document all financial calculations. So that there is no: “I paid you last week, did you forget?”, “How about another 2000, I paid the full amount?”
If you doubt your abilities or some points are not clear to you, it is better to clarify them in advance. Take advantage of modern digital technologies - get online advice from professional lawyers on the Lawyer resource.
Thousands of qualified specialists in all areas of law, including housing lawyers, collaborate with the resource. You can contact them via chat or by phone numbers listed below.
You can get competent legal support right now - the site operates around the clock.
4. Professional assistance in renting out an apartment - review of the TOP 5 real estate agencies
The promised bonus is a review of the five most reliable agencies that will help you rent out your apartment quickly and safely.
The oldest real estate company in the capital. It has an extensive network of representative offices - in Moscow alone, 120 branches operate according to a single standard. Engaged in any real estate transactions, including the rental of private apartments.
Experienced agents guarantee that your property will be delivered promptly, legally and profitably. Realtors with many years of experience will help you realize any property - from a room in a residential area to an elite cottage in the Moscow region. The legal purity of the contract is monitored by the company's in-house lawyers.
A specialized real estate agency with many years of experience in the capital's market. The company has an extensive information base and a staff of qualified employees. The main principle of the company is a responsible attitude to the fulfillment of each order.
Realtors are responsible for the competent preparation of the lease agreement and take into account, first of all, the interests of home owners. By choosing Alma, you can be confident in the safety of your property and timely payment.
3) Inkom
One of the largest real estate companies in the Russian Federation. Work experience in the housing market – 25 years. Leader of the Moscow region. It has branches in dozens of cities in the Russian Federation. The scope of activity covers all areas of the real estate market. Will help you rent out an apartment in a new building, in the suburbs, in the business center of the capital. The staff includes only proven agents with a large number of successful contracts.
Moscow agency specializing in luxury real estate. The company guarantees that your housing will not be rented out to the first comer: employees will check each candidate to determine his solvency and integrity.
At the same time, the company guarantees to deliver your property in 1-2 days for the maximum market price. Within an hour after the call, a professional photographer will come to you and take pictures of the apartment, after which specialists will evaluate the property and determine its rental value.
Full range of services in the real estate market. Work experience since 1997. 8 branches in Moscow and dozens of representative offices in other cities of the Russian Federation. Additional services in the field of housing assessment, consulting and analytics.
There are 2 ways to rent an apartment through an agency: call (calls are accepted from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) or fill out an online application. The apartment will be rented at the market price, and the final choice of residents will be made by the owner of the property. Each client receives property and civil liability insurance as a gift.
5. What you should be prepared for – 4 main risks for a landlord
When renting out an apartment, be prepared for certain risks. People don't treat other people's property as carefully as they treat their own.
In addition, there are a huge number of scammers in the housing market who are ready to profit at your expense.
We list the main types of risks for apartment owners.
Risk 1. Damage to property
This is the most likely risk when renting a property. As a rule, owners rent out furniture and household appliances along with living space. Sometimes this is a very valuable property that you want to get back safe and sound. And decorating an apartment often costs a lot of money.
This risk can be minimized in two ways - include a clause in the contract regarding the tenants’ liability for damage to property and insure the decoration, furniture and household appliances with an insurance company.
Risk 2. Sublease
The scammers' scheme of action is extremely simple. They receive an apartment from you and rent it out to other people as owners. There are cases when one tenant rents out housing to another 5-10 tenants - for example, migrant workers from Tajikistan - and ultimately receives an amount that is 2-3 times higher than the cost specified in the rental agreement.
How to avoid: personally check who lives in the apartment.
Risk 3. Accommodation for a large number of residents
A similar situation, only the responsible tenant does not rent out the apartment to other tenants, but lets them live with him free of charge. These could be friends, lovers, distant relatives from Torzhok.
Again, you can avoid this by personally monitoring the number of people living in your apartment.
Risk 4. Illegal actions of tenants
Dishonest tenants can rob you, set you on fire, change the locks in your apartment, or sell your favorite sofa on Avito. In such cases, only the police will help.
In this case, it will also be necessary to prove that the theft or other crime occurred. A well-drafted contract, which describes the condition of the apartment at the time of delivery and contains a detailed list of property, can help with this.
Cadastral valuation of an apartment - step-by-step instructions on how to order an apartment valuation + professional assistance in conducting the valuation