Renting an apartment in 2026 has become both easier and more dangerous. Easier — because listings and transactions have moved online, and you can verify documents without leaving home. More dangerous — because scammers have learned to forge extracts, create fake accounts, and exploit urgency. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the number of fraud cases in housing rentals is growing, but exact figures for 2026 are not yet available. Therefore, it's better to rely on proven schemes than on statistics.
In this article, I will break down how to verify the apartment, the owner, and the contract, what schemes fraudsters use, and how to draft a contract so that you can get your deposit back even if there is damage. You will get concrete steps and ready-made wording.
Step 1. Check the apartment and the owner before viewing
The first sign of fraud is pressure: "The apartment is going fast, pay a deposit now, you can see it later." A real owner doesn't rush. If a realtor or "landlord" demands money before viewing, that's a red flag.
How to verify ownership
Order an extract from the Unified State Register of Real Estate (EGRN) through Gosuslugi or the Rosreestr website. The cost is about 300–400 rubles, and it takes from a few minutes to three days. In the extract, check:
- Owner's full name — must match the passport of the person showing the apartment.
- Encumbrances — mortgage, arrest, lease. If the apartment is pledged to a bank, the bank's consent is required for renting.
- Shares — if there are multiple owners, you need a contract with all of them or a power of attorney from the others.
If the owner is not the person showing the apartment, demand a notarized power of attorney. Verify it against the registry of powers of attorney on the website of the Federal Notarial Chamber. A regular written power of attorney is not sufficient here.
Check the passport and identity
Ask for the passport. Verify the photo, full name, and date of birth. If the passport raises doubts (no registration stamp, strange series), check it on the Ministry of Internal Affairs website in the "Passport Verification" section. It's free.
If an agency is renting out the apartment, check it in the Rospotrebnadzor registry or on the "Za Chestny Biznes" website. Scammers often use names similar to well-known ones.
Step 2. Inspect the apartment and record its condition
During the inspection, pay attention to locks, meters, and signs of leaks. Photograph every room, meter readings, and defects (scratches, chips). Attach these photos to the handover act later.
If the apartment is being rented for the first time, ask to see its documents: EGRN extract, technical passport. If it's a secondary market apartment, check for utility debts — request a statement from the management company or check your personal account on the GIS Housing and Utilities website.
Step 3. Draft a rental contract with protection against fraud
The contract is the main document. It must contain:
- Subject — exact address, area, cadastral number.
- Term — if more than a year, the contract must be registered with Rosreestr. Otherwise, it is considered not concluded.
- Payment — amount, payment procedure, what is included (utilities, internet).
- Deposit — amount, return conditions, return period after move-out.
- Liability — who pays for repairs, how damage is recorded.
Use wording that protects you. For example: "The landlord undertakes to return the security deposit within 10 days after signing the handover act, provided there is no debt and no damage confirmed by an act." Or: "The tenant is not liable for normal wear and tear of the property."
If the contract is complex, you can run it through the AI twin on asibiont.com: it will find contradictions, calculate the deposit amount and deadlines, and suggest which clauses should be rewritten. But only a signature gives the document legal force — AI does not certify.
Step 4. Transfer money safely
Never hand over cash without a receipt. In the receipt, include: full name, passport details, amount, purpose (deposit under the apartment rental contract at address...), date. If you pay by transfer, in the payment purpose write "Payment under the rental contract dated [date]."
It's better to make the first payment after signing the contract and the handover act. If the landlord demands prepayment before signing, that's a risk.
Scam schemes in 2026
Scammers constantly invent new tricks, but the basis is the same — exploiting trust and urgency.
- Fake listings. An apartment at a reduced price, the "owner" asks for a prepayment to reserve. After the transfer, they disappear.
- Forged EGRN extracts. They send a PDF with fake data. Verify only through official services.
- Double renting. They show the apartment to several people, take a deposit from all, and vanish.
- Fraudulent agent. Takes a commission but has no connection to the apartment. Check whether the agency has a contract with the owner.
What to do if you've already been scammed
If you transferred money and the apartment turned out to belong to someone else, act quickly:
- Collect all evidence: correspondence, receipts, checks, screenshots of the listing.
- File a police report. Indicate signs of fraud (Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
- File a civil claim for unjust enrichment. If the amount is up to 100,000 rubles — to the magistrate's court, if more — to the district court.
- Report to the platform where the listing was posted — they may block the account.
The AI twin can help draft a claim and calculate the amount with interest under Article 395 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, but you or a lawyer will have to file the documents in court.
Trade-off: verification vs speed
The more thoroughly you check, the higher the chance that the apartment will be rented to someone else. Popular apartments in large cities attract dozens of applicants. If you wait a week for the extract, the property will be gone.
Solution: order the extract in advance (online in 15 minutes), and conduct the viewing and signing of the contract on the same day. Realtors who value their reputation send fresh documents themselves. If they don't, that's a reason to be wary.
Non-obvious conclusion: the rental contract protects not only you but also the owner
Many tenants think the contract is only for the record. In fact, a well-drafted contract reduces the risk of conflicts at move-out. If the contract specifies how damage is recorded and what is considered normal wear and tear, you will avoid disputes over the deposit. For example, the phrase "normal wear and tear: scuffs on furniture, fading of wallpaper" will protect you from claims.
When general advice doesn't work
In small towns and villages, obtaining an EGRN extract is more difficult — internet is not available everywhere. Then verify through the MFC (request costs about 300 rubles, takes up to 5 days). If the apartment is in a new building, the owner may be the developer — demand a shared construction agreement or a handover act.
When renting a room in a communal apartment, check that the owner owns that specific room, not the entire apartment. The extract will indicate the share.
If you rent an apartment from a relative, still conclude a contract — it will protect both parties from tax issues.
What you can delegate to the AI twin
The AI twin on asibiont.com can search for documents in your email (for example, an old EGRN extract), break down a rental contract into clauses, calculate the deposit amount with interest, draft a claim, and remind you of deadlines (for example, 30 days before the contract ends). It does not file applications with government agencies or certify documents — you or a lawyer do that.
Start by checking the EGRN extract and passport. If you want to save time on routine, connect the AI twin, which will find the necessary papers in your email and prepare a draft contract with your terms.