Renting a flat in Tashkent: checks to make before paying

It’s easy to remember the bright kitchen and forget to ask about the deposit. Later, you discover that internet costs extra or the washing machine doesn’t work. A few checks before paying will help you understand the actual cost and the terms of moving in.

Check who is letting the property

Ask to see the owner’s identity document and proof of ownership. Match the name, address and property details. A passport photo sent in a chat does not establish a right to let a particular flat.

If you meet a relative, agent or another representative, check their authority to sign the lease, receive money and hand over keys. Where there are several owners, clarify how consent to the letting is documented.

Pressure to “pay now or lose it” is a reason to slow down. Don’t transfer money merely to reserve a viewing before seeing the flat and checking the documents. If you agree to an advance, put its purpose and refund conditions in writing.

Try the taps and windows

Check water pressure and drainage, look beneath the sink, and open and close the windows and locks. Test the appliances included in the rent. Ask about heating, hot water, internet and who services the air conditioner or pays when an appliance breaks down.

Note leaks, damp smells and furniture damage. If repairs are promised, record exactly what will be fixed and by when. Photograph existing defects and agree on their condition with the owner before moving in.

Look at courtyard lighting, the entrance, the lift and the route to public transport. If possible, return in the evening: a daytime viewing tells you little about late music nearby or parking outside the entrance.

Work out the full cost

List rent, utilities, internet and building-service charges separately. If an agent is involved, confirm their fee, when it is payable and what service it covers.

Agree on the deposit amount, when it will be returned and what deductions are possible. How will normal wear be treated? Can the deposit cover the last month’s rent? Put the answers in the lease rather than relying on a casual message.

Sign the lease and check registration

A residential lease between individuals must be in writing. Mandatory notarisation is not required for an ordinary agreement of this kind, but tax registration is required. The landlord must register it within three days. The Madad legal guidance portal explains these rules.

My.gov.uz provides lease registration and tenant confirmation services. Check the details before confirming and save the registered document. Tax registration itself is free.

Lease registration and residence registration are separate procedures. If you need temporary residence registration, including as a foreign national, check those requirements separately. A lease should not be treated as automatic compliance with every immigration requirement.

Record the handover

Take meter readings together. List furniture, appliances, existing damage and the number of key sets in a handover record. Attach photographs or exchange them in a conversation where both parties confirm the condition.

Keep evidence of every payment showing the recipient, purpose and period covered. For cash, agree on a written receipt in advance. If someone else receives the money, their authority should be clear before you pay.

When you move out, the same record will help you compare the condition, settle bills and discuss the deposit. Writing it down at the start leaves less to reconstruct from memory later.