Searching for housing is a very puzzling question, forcing us to sit at computer monitors all night long, scrolling through dozens of ads for rent.

And indeed there is a lot to think about – you need to find an apartment close to work, in a good area, with renovation, and at a reasonable price (oh these magic numbers, making us sigh and skip the pictures of cozy apartments you liked at first sight!)

And finally the apartment of your dreams is found, all conditions are satisfied, the price is agreed, the meeting is arranged… The end of pains and sleepless nights – you rejoice!

But there is no way.

But what if you are cheated?

Popular wisdom – measure 7 times – cut once, also applies to renting accommodation. With one correction: check the documents 7 times, and re-read the contract (paying special attention to the sentence in small print at the bottom of the document, it is not superfluous to be equipped with a magnifying glass), and only then put your signature and open the wallet.

So it turns out that the search for a suitable option is only the initial, the most harmless stage of the housing question – a sensitive and demanding from the tenant thorough erudition.

If you decide to rent an apartment from the owner, you should take into account the possible risks. So what should be kept in mind when renting an apartment?

Improperly drawn up contract
The contract should take into account all the key provisions of the deal: rental period, the amount of rent, and the time of its collection, utilities, the terms of breaking the contract, and so on. Otherwise you risk to live on a powder keg, and “surprises”, such as an exorbitant increase in rent, will not keep you waiting long.

Scammers
Unfortunately, “swindlers”, who rent other people’s apartments to several tenants at a time, are active today. As soon as you strike your hands, these pseudo- realtors will immediately disappear, as if they disappeared in the air, like the characters of Bulgakov, and the only thing left to say is: “Damn it! If you are going to rent an apartment without an intermediary, be on your guard, because the capitals, where the rent is always actual, are the ideal place for swindlers. In order to protect yourself from these citizens, you should know how to check the documents, or, in other words, what to ask and what for. Well, do not forget the magnifying glass – look at the contract!

Prepayment
Often at the check-up between the landlord and the tenant very warm relations are established. As if both the landlord and the tenant become participants of some mysterious game of relatives. How else could it be? After all, it is important for both of them to close the deal with decent, reliable people, so how can we take a receipt from them? After all, by doing so, we will question their honesty. But we should not forget that to demand a receipt for money from a stranger with whom you have business relations is your right and you’re not insulting anyone, on the contrary – you are showing your legal literacy. If, however, the landlord (or the intermediary) is for some reason confused by this quite logical action, it is a reason to think about the relevance of the transaction.

Another common case, when you should doubt the honesty of the landlord’s intentions is the demand for a few (more than 2) months rent in advance.

Frequent visits from the landlord
As a rule, this point is almost never stipulated in the contract as something “for granted”. And in vain. Unfortunately, often “housekeepers” become “house torturers,” trying your patience with very frequent visits. One is tempted to say, “as at home. But it’s true – “at home” – many people will argue. But renting a house is nothing more than the landlord’s transfer of the house property to the tenant for temporary possession. According to the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, “fruits, products and incomes received by the lessee as a result of the usage of the rented property in accordance with the agreement are the property of the lessee. In this case, “fruits of the lease” is appropriate to mean the right to rest in your own (albeit temporary) home.

What should you check?

The landlord’s identification papers
There’s little point in stressing that you should know who you’re dealing with. Be sure you know who the landlord is in order to avoid misunderstandings.

Documents for the apartment
The person renting the apartment should have the title to it. The document, which confirms the fact of ownership, is the “Certificate of State Registration of Title”. If the first two points are not met, the contract is not valid.

Presence of other owners
You need to make sure that there is only one owner of the apartment, and, of course, the same one who showed you the passport and the documents for the housing. If it turns out that there are “other” owners, you can be sure that there is an additional headache, since their consent is required in order to rent out the apartment. Otherwise, any of them may demand that you leave the apartment immediately. And the fact that you have paid two months in advance (to another owner), alas, does not cause any sympathy from the suddenly appeared “owner”.

Condition of the apartment
If you have reached this point and did not lose the desire to rent your own place – no one can reproach you for lack of courage.

So your documents are in order, and you are almost there. Once again you should make a thorough inspection of the apartment before you sign the agreement. Forget about the beautiful view of your future bedroom, you will have time to enjoy it. For now make sure that the plumbing, electronics, and wiring are in good working order. It is also good to ask the owners to read the meter in front of you. You should also pay attention to the interior: the availability of necessary furniture (bedding, work space, comfortable kitchen and dining areas), the state of wallpaper, parquet or linoleum, tile in the kitchen and bathroom. Agree on all this should be on the shore, or look for another option.

Neighbors
A Soviet cartoon shows a curious case. A regular clerk and a conscientious citizen all of a sudden one fine morning took off his human face and nearly killed an innocent janitor. And the reason for such strange behavior – the neighbors – all night clamoring, humming, making noise and, in the end, brought the unhappy hero.In order not to repeat the sad fate of the character of the Soviet cartoon, it is not bad to know what kind of people will live next to you. Is it possible? – You will object, – the neighbors have been known for years. This is ideal. But, unfortunately, sometimes they make themselves known on the day of housewarming: with a grandiose scandal with breaking dishes from above, a rock-concert from below and crying sounds of five children through the wall. It’s better to ask the landlord directly what kind of people live in the neighborhood, and if they are too noisy or dysfunctional, it may be worth looking for another apartment. Also, it is better to make home inspections in the evening when all the people have returned from work. Noisy neighbors may discover themselves.

Location of the apartment
Of course the area and how far it is from your work/study are of utmost importance when searching for an apartment. But it is also important to ask the owner about the infrastructure of the area, or study it yourself: it is important to consider the proximity of kindergartens, schools, stores, bus stops, subway stations, parking spaces. And if you decide to save on rent costs, remember that your efforts can be offset by additional costs, such as tolls.