Dangerous rental. How to rent an apartment without the risk of being deceived. Tips on how to rent an apartment correctly so as not to be deceived How to look for rented apartments without intermediaries

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A few words about intermediaries. When the owner of an apartment wants to rent it out, he just needs to call an agent and he will quickly organize the whole process. The intermediary most often takes from the applicant 50% or 100% of the commission from the monthly hiring cost. Wherein the agent does not become a party to the contract and is not responsible for anything.

Today, when Internet services directly bring together sellers and buyers of a wide variety of goods and services, it looks strange that there is still a place for the human factor in the apartment rental market. But the force of inertia and banal laziness will determine this state of affairs; it is very difficult to find an advertisement for renting an apartment directly from the owner. Indeed, you need to force yourself to register on a free classifieds site, enter a description and post a photo of your apartment.

Together with those who are fundamentally not ready to pay large sums of money to unknown people for unknown reasons, they can figure out how to search for “direct” advertisements. I will be glad for your additions to this article in your comments, we will try to collect as much information as possible.

Classmates

Direct ads are hard to find.

Facebook

A search in user publications for the queries “apartment for rent” produces too few results. But pay attention to the following groups: facebook.com/kvartira.msk ,
facebook.com/norealestateagent.

In contact with

1. Groups

Pay attention to large closed groups:

2. Global search VKontakte

The most interesting…

We type “apartment for rent” into the search and select the “news” tab in the resulting results. All publications from the walls of network users are displayed here. Further searching for “direct” ads is like panning for gold from river sand. Fine search settings would be very helpful, but they are not there. You will have to wade through numerous advertisements from real estate companies, private agents, advertisements from other cities, numerous duplicate humor jokes containing search words, dozens of identical advertisements from people clogging up the entire search. But in the end you will definitely find what you are looking for.

Other sites

Avito.ru

There are quite a few ads on the site that pretend to be private but are posted by agents. But nevertheless, I would recommend looking there, because there are also “direct” advertisements. This can often be seen in the style of the text and its details. Don't forget to select "private" listings in the top right corner of the search results page.

Thelocals.ru

The site positions itself as a platform for direct rental housing, but there are very few advertisements.

Posrednikovzdes.net

The site is similar to CIAN (a database of apartments from agents), there are few advertisements.

Good luck in your search and be careful!

Finding a suitable apartment for rent is a long and troublesome task. Therefore, many people prefer to pay commissions to realtors so as not to bother themselves with unnecessary worries. But you can save a significant amount if you find housing yourself.

In practice, there are several options for how agencies find apartments. But most transactions involving intermediaries are concluded according to the following scheme:

1. The owner of the apartment submits an application to the real estate agency about his intention to rent out the apartment under certain conditions.
2. Then information about the apartment with a description of its parameters and rental conditions is placed in special agent databases available to all real estate agencies. That's where realtors find owners.
3. Two agents usually participate in concluding a transaction: one acts on the part of the owner of the apartment, the second represents the tenant. The commission for processing the transaction is 100% of the monthly payment for the rented apartment. Agents divide income from commission interest equally, and then each of their earnings keeps 50% for themselves, and the remaining 50% goes to their agency.

Thanks to the existence of information databases, it is not difficult for realtors to find the owner of a home. Information about apartments is placed on special databases, because it rarely happens that among the clients of the agency where the owner of the apartment has made an application for rental, there are those who want to rent exactly this option (in such situations, the realtor receives 50% of the total commission amount, and the remaining 50% remain with the agency).

There are other ways that realtors find apartments, many of which are tricks and tricks associated with providing not entirely reliable information. This is how some realtors advertise non-existent properties on the Internet, and when the client calls with an application, they lie that the apartment has already been rented out. Then they offer a paid password for a supposedly closed database, but in fact for a site with open access to everyone. If a deceived client finds a suitable option on the website and makes an order, then all the information goes to this realtor, who then makes just a few calls - finds out the time to view the apartment and informs the client about it, and does not even go to the viewing. In fact, the client independently finds an option and negotiates a deal, but the realtor receives his commission. Information on how intermediaries find apartments will help tenants save quite a lot of money.

Many who have at least once rented an apartment in Moscow know about the existence of the CIAN (Central Information Agency for Real Estate) website, which posts advertisements for real estate transactions not only in the Moscow region, but throughout Russia. The site is paid and created specifically for realtors - the high cost of posting ads makes it inaccessible to private users. But on the CIAN website only those who place ads pay, and viewing information is absolutely free. Not many people know how the Cian website works, so realtors here also “cheat” people, intimidating them with the possibility of stumbling upon a scam or convincing them that it is impossible to find an apartment on the website without intermediaries.

Options to How can you find housing without intermediaries?

The most reliable way is to look for housing through friends or relatives. If this is not possible, then you will have to look for fresh advertisements on the Internet, for example Avito, etc. You can subscribe to the latest newsletter on websites and try to get ahead of realtors, because among them there is also competition for homeowners; they also look for such sources. You need to know that different sites merge information into different databases. You can place advertisements yourself or hang them in the entrances of houses; even private realtors use this method.

When trying to find an apartment to rent on your own, you need to be vigilant so as not to become a victim of scammers. And you know, only the authorized capital is 10,000 rubles. and how they like to talk about reputation, although if this agency is new to the market, then it’s easy for them to change the sign. Surprisingly, not everyone even checks documents with realtors.

It is advisable to first communicate with neighbors, find out how many people are registered in the living space, check utility bill receipts, and the legal history of the property. Still, I had to contact, that is, .

If several people are registered in the apartment, then it is advisable to have a notarized consent of each person to rent out the property. During the inspection, you should check the owner’s documents: passport, registration, ownership documents. Be sure to inspect the condition of plumbing, electrical wiring, household appliances, etc. If there are damages, they must be taken into account when drawing up the contract.

You can quickly search for an apartment on sites that host an open database if you make queries using the necessary parameters. The available options with phone numbers immediately appear - you just need to call and arrange a viewing. There are sites that ask for a phone number when registering, such scams are possible here

• They will ask you for money for access to information that will not be relevant.
• They will leak your phone number for spam mailings.

It is better to search for rental apartments on the websites of well-known agencies. The cost will be almost the same, but the guarantee of protection against fraud is greater, because such companies value their reputation and provide well-vetted information.

In order to save money, many refuse the services of real estate agencies and look for them on their own. To avoid possible risks and not fall for scammers, you need to know the intricacies of choosing apartments and drawing up an agreement.

How to quickly find the best option in terms of quality and price

If you want to find a respectable owner, ask your relatives and friends if anyone is renting out the apartment.

Do not rush to submit an ad on the Internet yourself - scammers may come out. Clearly draw up the requirements for the property and price range, and choose an apartment among advertisements on city forums and in periodicals.

Compare all offers in this category of apartments to understand the price range. For example, how much can you rent a one-room apartment depending on:

• location;
• squares;
• repair;
• situation.

Proceed to analyze ads based on all factors. It is better to make a list in advance of what is needed in the apartment, and a separate list of characteristics on which you are willing to compromise.

Mistakes at the property selection stage

Finding an apartment in a good location at an affordable price is a difficult task, because there is a risk of being deceived. In order not to waste time, it is necessary to filter out unprofitable offers at the stage of searching for an apartment.

Pay attention to the ad itself:

1. Photos must be real, not staged designer shots.
2. If the price is greatly reduced, this means that the shortcomings of the apartment are kept silent.
3. A laudatory description may indicate scammers.
4. Give preference to advertisements in periodicals rather than signs on poles.
5. Avoid advertisements in which the owner indicates moving to another country or a long business trip as the reason for renting.
6. Do not rent an apartment whose owner requires a deposit or offers installment plans.

When communicating by phone, the owner should provide all the information of interest, and not insist on an immediate meeting.

Where to choose an apartment

The area plays no less important role than the condition inside. When choosing the location of the apartment, consider your own needs: it should be close to work, relatives or place of study.

Consider your lifestyle and needs - for some, a noisy center with bars and discos will suit you, for others, a quiet, cozy area outside the city will suit you.

If you have children, pay attention to the availability of good schools, playgrounds and kindergartens nearby.

When choosing an area, pay attention to the following:

1. Ecology– find out if there are factories and enterprises nearby that emit gases harmful to health into the atmosphere.
2. Safety– Avoid crime-ridden areas where patrol cars and police officers are rarely seen.
3. Transport fork– there should be public transport stops near the house. Check if there are any airstrips or railroads near your home
4. Developed infrastructure– a huge advantage will be a market, a supermarket, cozy cafes and recreation parks.

How to inspect an apartment

Before entering the apartment, carefully inspect the outside of the house.

Pay attention to the presence of cracks, the condition of the roof, lighting in the entrance, the presence of an intercom and an elevator. A dirty, unkempt entrance will indicate dysfunctional and uneconomical neighbors.

If there is fungus in the entrance and dampness or high humidity is felt, flooding often occurs in the house.

The first thing you need to do when renting an apartment is to talk to your neighbors to establish the identity of the owner of the apartment.

For official confirmation, you can resort to the following actions:

1. Creating an electronic application in the system - to do this, you need to go to the official portal of Rosreestr, fill out the form, indicating the address of the object and the type of extract, as well as personal data. After paying for the service, information about the real owners of the apartment will be sent to your address. This information is for informational purposes only and has no legal force. For official data, contact regional authorities. This service will cost 150 rubles.
2. An appeal to the housing office, which stores all information about the owners living in the territory under their control. Such appeals are rarely successful - the Housing Office reserves the right not to disclose personal information about residents.
3. Talk to local officers and police. Fraudsters are rarely found, but law enforcement agencies keep “black lists” that contain information about scammers and addresses of apartments that become targets of scams.
4. Hiring the services of a notary is a last resort, as it requires additional costs. The notary has the right to receive information on a property rights request.
5. The Tax Service stores data on the subject, which regularly submits property taxes. A significant disadvantage of this method is that you will need a serious reason to file an appeal.

You can also identify an unscrupulous owner through personal communication - he will hesitantly answer awkward questions, rush you when inspecting the apartment, and convince you of how profitable the deal is. He will also reduce the cost of rent and avoid questions about his place of residence.

Advice! When communicating with the owner, mention that you have previously encountered scammers and contacted law enforcement agencies. This will scare away unscrupulous owners.

List of documents to check:

1. The landlord's passport or other documents that confirm his identity.
2. Receipts from the housing office for payment of utility services.
3. Information from the tax service on payment of property taxes.
4. Notarized documents confirming ownership of the rental property. Most often, this is a contract for the purchase and sale of living space.
5. real estate, which indicates state registration of living space.
6. Confirmation in writing from all residents who are registered in the house that they have nothing against renting out the apartment and agree with the provisions of the contract.

Main risks

In order not to fall for the tricks of scammers, it is important to take precautions in time.

Main risks:

1. Renting an apartment to several clients at once - to insure yourself against unexpected guests, persuade the apartment owner to change the lock on the front door before moving in. Changing the lock must occur while both parties are present.
2. Renting someone else's apartment - sometimes scammers rent an apartment for one day, and then rent it out for several months. To prevent this from happening, always ask for documents for the apartment and talk to your neighbors before drawing up an agreement.
3. Advance payment for inspection of the apartment - you find a suitable advertisement, and the owner invites you to the office by phone, where a small amount is required for a preliminary inspection of the apartment. The person does not arrive at the specified time, and the office moves to another location.
4. Claims for the right to rent from relatives - after renting an apartment, other owners (grandmothers, children, grandchildren) may visit and oppose the right to stay. When preparing documents, ask for a complete list of residents registered in the apartment and their permission to rent the property.
5. Creating conditions after which the tenant himself decides to move out of the apartment - carefully inspect the apartment and negotiate living conditions with the owner in advance.

To avoid various scam schemes, follow these rules:

1. Always get to know your neighbors and the local police officer.
2. Don't give money up front.
3. Record and verify the owner's address and home phone number.
4. Ask a lot of questions about the apartment and about the previous residents - the swindler will be nervous and lie.
5. Request documents from the owner.

Advice! Insist on inspecting the apartment in the evening - scammers work mainly during the day.

How to draw up a lease agreement

When compiling, pay attention to the following points:

1. Rental period– if it is not specified in the document, this means that either party can terminate the agreement at any time.
2. Rent price– the contract stipulates the amount of the regular payment and the method of payment. In the future, this amount may be changed, but not more than once a year.
3. The agreement must be drawn up exclusively in paper form (no oral agreements) in several copies.
4. Creation of living conditions– the owner is obliged to create all conditions for a favorable stay for the client. If necessary, the contract can include a clause on repair work, indicating which party will pay for it.
5. Tenant's responsibilities– he must maintain housing in decent condition, pay rent on time and take care of property. For failure to fulfill obligations, both the tenant and the landlord may be held liable, which includes paying a fine or terminating the contract.

How to make an inventory of property

If you are renting an apartment with the landlord's property, it is important to correctly inventory all the items that are in the apartment. An inventory of property is attached to the contract in writing and can be used during the resolution of disputes and conflicts.

The inventory is carried out by both parties: the lessor records the model, condition, quantity and year of manufacture of the item, and the lessee checks its functionality and actual condition.

It's no secret that most apartments in good repair can only be found through realtors, because they have huge databases. Is it possible to contact the owner of a good apartment on your own? The video provides tips for searching on your own, plus answers to some other questions that arise for those looking for an apartment to rent. Evgenia Skrynnik answers.

The services of a realtor are expensive, and not everyone can pay an additional 50% of the cost. What to do in such cases, how to look for an apartment without intermediaries and conclude an agreement is written below.

• Search "in contact". There are two options here: in specialized groups and in the news. Let's look at the first one in detail. Groups are created to bring people interested in the same topic together. Large thematic groups contain a sea of ​​advertisements. Don't neglect closed groups. The likelihood of meeting an intermediary there is minimal.
• Word of mouth. By interviewing friends, acquaintances and relatives, there is a chance that you will be connected with the right person. The advantage may be a lower price and a guarantee of safety.
• Take advantage of specialized sites on the Internet. Yes, you will have to sort through the middlemen, but there is a chance to catch the “big fish”. Advertisements from a private individual have a characteristic writing style and a detailed description of the property. Some sites have a “private ads” filter. A good example is Avito, an online resource that helps you rent an apartment without intermediaries.
• Use the old-fashioned method - posting advertisements in the desired area. The more flyers you post, the greater your chances. Their minimum number should be 100.

How to draw up a rental agreement correctly

For your own safety, you must have written confirmation of your relationship with the owner of the living space. Especially if you are dealing with an individual and not a registered entrepreneur.

The contract, which states your desire to rent an apartment without intermediaries for a long period, specifies the following parameters:

• rental period;
• dates of visit by the owner to check its condition;
• cost of rent;
• payment period.

If desired, you can enter the number of residents. This is recommended if the option of renting a 2-room apartment without intermediaries is relevant. You must have two copies of the agreement. One remains with the landlord, the second with the tenant.

It is reasonable to issue a deposit when renting when you like the property, but do not have the full amount to pay. Thus, you reserve the apartment for yourself. Money is given against receipt. It indicates the amount of the deposit, the period of entry and penalties for violating the conditions.

How to avoid falling into the trap of scammers?

When renting an apartment from a private person, it is easy to encounter deception.

To prevent this from happening, protect yourself in advance.

• Never give money before drawing up an agreement and receiving the keys to the apartment. When transferring money, take a receipt that the owner has received a certain amount.
• Check your documents: passport, certificate confirming that the landlord is the owner of the apartment, find out who else is registered here.
• Have a written agreement.

You need to be vigilant from the beginning. Fraudsters know many ways to deceive a gullible person. One of their methods of work is posting fake photos.

One wonders why luxury apartments are rented out so cheaply. When you call the ad, you are told that the property is already occupied and are offered to choose another option. The second way of development is that you are offered to arrange a viewing for a small amount and leave an advance. To check the veracity of photos, copy their link and enter it in the search.

When making calls and encountering scammers, your number ends up in the database. Don't be surprised if the next day you get a call from the agency with an offer to find a good option.

One of the options for “divorce” is reletting the living space. Some rent it on a daily basis, during this time they find tenants on a permanent basis, move them in, take payment for two months and disappear. To avoid falling for scammers, check their ownership. This is the basic rule for renting an apartment without intermediaries.

Conclusion

When starting to look for an apartment to rent, we recommend turning to the Internet. This is the most accessible resource. In it you will find many options for solving your problem. The downside, however, is that there is a wall of realtors that prevents you from getting through to the real owners. But over time, you will learn to distinguish private advertisements from branded ones.

Be sure to sign a rental agreement. And do not give any money without supporting documents. Make sure you communicate with the apartment owners to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

The “blacklist of landlords” can be found on the Internet. You should definitely familiarize yourself with it before you start looking for housing on your own.

You can search for an apartment wherever there is at least some advertisement containing “I rent an apartment from the owner” or “Please do not contact intermediaries.” That is, you can turn your attention to real estate sites on the Internet, advertisements in newspapers, through friends and even in advertisements at bus stops. It all depends on your desire.

If you have turned your attention to the Internet, then searching ONLY on real estate sites is not always productive. I bet one hundred to one that you have accounts on social networks! So, use the search engine VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, Facebook. All this can be used when searching for an apartment.

You can also try searching on free classifieds sites. For example, Avito.ru. Of course, there may also be intermediaries, but direct advertisements can also be found. If desired. By the way, you can look through the options in this section - rent an apartment in Moscow without intermediaries (there are also options in other cities).

And finally, you can advertise yourself that you want to rent an apartment without intermediaries. Again, we use free classified ad sites, ask friends, or post ads in the area you like. Of course, there cannot be one hundred percent certainty in this option.

Pitfalls of finding an apartment without intermediaries

You managed to find a suitable option, but how to make sure that the transaction will take place without intermediaries? What types of landlords are there?

1. There is a very small group of homeowners who do not contact the agency because they feel sorry for clients who pay crazy amounts of money for services. These are mostly older women who rent out rooms to students.

2. Quite conscientious landlords who also feel sorry for them. Not the clients, but their money. They differ from the first category in that they rent out options in person at inflated prices or with a deposit that is never returned!

   This also includes landlords who do not want to burden themselves with any contractual relationships or who have their own lease agreement under which tenants have many responsibilities and no rights. There may also be a standard contract, the validity of which is one month.

   • If you rented an apartment without a deposit, then, most likely, your price will simply be raised significantly, and not immediately, but from September. You won't have a choice - you'll have to pay. In the fall, clients are ready to pay agencies 100% and 150% for services for relatively affordable housing, but just at this time there are no such apartments (in August and early September, all were already occupied by students, migrant workers and experienced tenants).
   • If there is a deposit in the contract concluded for a month, then you will not survive until September: a maximum of three months. The owners will do everything to get you to leave (the deposit, of course, will not be returned) - after all, there are still many people outside the doors who want to rent a cheap apartment without intermediaries.
3. Mostly older women (with rare exceptions) scared of socialist realism or taxes. In this case, most likely, there will be no agreement and you will be asked to tell your neighbors that you are relatives of the owners. But they will not ask for a deposit, and they will not increase it sharply. This category of owners tries to find tenants through friends.

Fraudsters!

Their actions are simple and clear. They rent an apartment (daily, monthly - it doesn’t matter) and during this period they try to re-rent it to as many clients as possible. Usually in such cases a short delay before arrival is agreed upon, about a few days. And they even present documents, for example, a stolen passport or military ID, a photocopy of the purchase and sale of an apartment (not necessarily the same one).