Rental Agreement: Security Guarantee or Useless Paper?

Many landlords and tenants prefer to enter into rental agreements unofficially, avoiding paperwork and additional costs. However, this approach can lead to serious problems for both parties.

Lawyer Yunis Khalilov explained why it's so important to properly formalize rental relationships.

According to Article 675 of the Civil Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, under a property lease agreement, one party is obligated to provide the second party with an apartment for use. In turn, the tenant is obligated to pay the property owner a certain fee. The absence of a written contract can lead to legal complications.

Firstly, the tenant risks being evicted at any moment, as the owner can evict them without warning. Proving one's rights and defending interests in such a situation is extremely difficult.

Secondly, problems arise with confirming rent payments. An unscrupulous landlord may demand money again, claiming that payments were not received. Proving otherwise without official documents will be difficult.

The issue of utility payments also remains unclear. Without a contract, it's unclear who should bear these expenses - the tenant or the property owner. Disputes on this matter are almost inevitable.

Furthermore, if the tenant damages the property, holding them accountable and recovering compensation will be much more difficult.

And finally, properties rented without a contract are often used for illegal purposes - for fraud, drug trafficking, or organizing dens of vice. Identifying responsible parties in such cases is complicated.

Thus, refusing to officially formalize a rental agreement carries serious risks. To avoid problems, the lawyer strongly recommends concluding a contract in written form with a detailed description of the rights and obligations of both parties.

Source: Bizim.Media