QUESTION: Renting: how to protect yourself from scammers when renting a property?

Safety in finding and renting housing requires a balanced approach, so try to avoid extremes: do not inflate your expectations too much regarding cheap offers, nor give in to panic when choosing a suitable property. Always leave room for common sense and personally check the owner's basic documents, cross-checking them with the originals of their passport and an extract from the USRN.

Document the entire preparation process for the transaction with small check-points so you can notice suspicious moments in time. The first red flag is a demand to make a prepayment for viewing or booking the apartment even before signing an official contract and inspecting the premises in person.

To protect yourself from scammers, use proven tools: work only through reliable digital platforms, insist on a personal meeting with the owner or their official representative holding a notarized power of attorney. Never transfer large sums to anonymous e-wallets or cards of third parties who have nothing to do with the real estate property.

Set a strict deadline for verifying title documents and analyzing the market. If the landlord is rushing you, gets nervous when asked to show their passport, or offers to sign a dubious lease agreement with enslaving terms, it is better to turn down such an option and continue your search.

Set up regular saving of all receipts, correspondence, and promissory notes in a separate folder. Digital hygiene and a meticulous attitude to details at every stage of the transaction will allow you to completely minimize the risks of encountering scammers and save your nerves and money.