Ukrainian lawyers advise all apartment renters to sign a formal lease agreement

Ukrainian lawyers advise all apartment renters to sign a formal lease agreement, despite no mandatory registration being introduced. This document secures rental terms and helps avoid problems for both owners and tenants, including specifying the lease term, property condition, payment amount, and termination procedure. Before signing, tenants must verify property documents, especially if the rent is suspiciously low. Landlords may hide that the property is rented without the owner's consent, belongs to others, is mortgaged, under arrest, or has improperly filed paperwork. The landlord must also present an identity document. The contract should include full names and addresses of parties, the rental object, the date and duration, payment terms and methods, utility payment arrangements, and details on the security deposit and its return. A handover act describing the property's condition is also recommended.