When a tenant damages a rented apartment and refuses to cover the cost, landlords have legal options. According to Igor Akishin, president of the St. Petersburg Bar Association “Akishin, Remorenko & Partners,” there is a clear procedure property owners can follow.
It starts with documentation. If a renter throws away furniture or breaks appliances, the landlord should take photos of the damage right away. These images serve as basic evidence.
The next step involves a notary. Akishin recommends calling one to inspect the apartment in person. This inspection leads to a formal report that can be attached to the apartment’s handover act, a document marking the end of the lease.
Once the damage is confirmed, a specialist should assess the cost of repairs. This evaluation will provide an official estimate of how much it would take to fix or replace the damaged items. With that, the landlord can move forward with a claim or request compensation.
Still, not everything goes smoothly.
Alexander Babichev, a lawyer from Baranov’s Law Office in Rostov-on-Don, pointed out a potential complication. If a landlord conducts the damage assessment on their own without involving a third party, the tenant might challenge it in court.
Babichev also noted that damage is not always limited to broken chairs or stained wallpaper. Tenants can cause more serious problems. Water leaks, fires, or infestations are not uncommon. There have been cases where renters left behind apartments infested with cockroaches or bedbugs. In such situations, the security deposit rarely covers the full damage.
The issue touches on a broader housing trend. According to data from “Mir Kvartir,” the average rental price in major Russian cities dropped by two percent in April. Out of 70 cities surveyed, rent for one-room apartments fell in 57 cities. Thirteen saw prices rise, including Vladivostok, Kaliningrad, and Sochi. The steepest declines were seen in Yakutsk, Kirov, and Grozny.
The shift in rental prices might not be directly related to property damage, but it adds another layer. When margins are tighter, landlords may feel the financial strain more acutely if tenants leave a mess behind.
So what do you do if you’re a landlord facing this?
You act quickly. Photograph everything. Get it notarized. Bring in an expert to estimate costs. It’s not ideal, but it gives you a legal path forward. Whether it leads to court or compensation, at least you won’t be left empty-handed.
