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Before transferring the deposit, check who is entitled to rent out the home and sign a contract that clearly states when you will get your money back. When the keys are handed over, record the meter readings and any existing defects. These details help you work out what you have to pay when moving in and how much you should receive when you leave.
In the Republic of Moldova, a lease agreement for immovable property must be drawn up in writing, under Article 1252 of the Civil Code. In the contract, the person who grants you use of the home is the landlord, while you, the tenant, are the lessee.
Who signs the contract and who receives the money
Ask the owner for a recent extract from the Register of Immovable Property. The document confirms the registration of rights to the property. The extract can be requested by the owner or a person authorised by them.
Compare the apartment details in the extract with those in the contract. If a representative signs, check that their authorisation allows them to conclude the contract and, if they will collect the money, to receive payments. If the bank account holder is someone other than the person signing, ask for the contract to state whom you are paying and on what basis.
What to include in the contract before the 1st payment
What to check | What to record in writing |
|---|---|
The home and the lease term | The full address, spaces included, handover date and rental period |
Rent | The amount, due date, account or payment method, and the conditions under which the price may be changed |
Deposit | The amount, what it covers, how any deductions are justified, and the deadline for its return |
Utilities | Who pays for each service and how bills covering days before the move-in date are divided |
Repairs and access | Whom to notify of a fault, who approves the work and how the landlord’s visits are arranged |
Moving out | How to give notice of termination, when to hand over the keys, and how bills and the deposit are settled |
Fill in the amounts and dates before signing. Keep a signed copy together with the inventory and any other annexes.
When you get your deposit back
Ask for the 1st month’s rent, the deposit and any commission to be listed separately. The contract should let you answer 3 practical questions about the deposit. When will it be returned? What amounts can be withheld? How will they be substantiated?
Also agree what happens if the final utility bill arrives after you move out. If you want the deposit to cover the last month’s rent, record that agreement before the payment due date. For any amount requested as a reservation fee, ask for the refund terms in writing before transferring it.
Example. If the 1st month costs 6 000 lei and the deposit is also 6 000 lei, you pay 12 000 lei when moving in, excluding any commission. Make 2 transfers or ask for confirmation showing separately how much is rent and how much is the deposit. If paying in cash, ask for a signed receipt stating the date, amount, recipient and purpose of the payment.
What to record when you receive the keys
Sign a handover report. Record the number of keys, furniture and appliances, visible defects and meter readings. If the landlord promises to repair something after you move in, write down what work must be done and by when.
Test the appliances you will use and note anything that could not be checked. Photograph the defects and meters, then send the images to the other party on the day of handover. Also ask for the latest available bills so you can distinguish any outstanding debts from your own consumption.
Who pays when something breaks
Under Article 1274 of the Civil Code, major repairs are generally the landlord’s responsibility, subject to exceptions provided by law or contract. Article 1265 provides that the tenant is not liable for normal wear and tear if they have used the property in accordance with its intended purpose and the contract.
When a fault occurs, notify the landlord in writing, describe the problem and keep the photographs. Before commissioning the work, agree who approves it and who pays. Under Article 1274, major repairs must be carried out within the period set in the contract or when required by an urgent necessity. If the landlord fails to meet these obligations, the tenant has the right to carry out the major repair and charge the costs against the rent. Check that these conditions are met before deducting any amount from the rent.
What to sign when you move out
Check in advance the notice period and method set out in the contract. At handover, record the date, keys returned, condition of the home, final meter readings and the amount of the deposit returned. If you are waiting for a bill, write down the amount still to be settled and when it will be settled.
If you are asked to cover damage, ask for a description and calculation of the amount. Compare them with the inventory and photographs from when you moved in.
Before handing over any money, make sure you have 3 things: proof that the person signing is entitled to rent out the home, a signed contract setting out the deposit terms, and a way to prove every payment. When you receive the keys, add the handover report with the inventory and meter readings.
Sources
- Autoritatea Aeronautică Civilă — Codul civil al Republicii Moldova, articolele 1252, 1265 și 1274, copie cu modificări până la LP134/2024
- IP Cadastrul Bunurilor Imobile — Servicii cadastrale: extrasul din Registrul bunurilor imobile
- IP Cadastrul Bunurilor Imobile — Ghidul solicitantului: proprietar și persoană împuternicită
Written with AI assistance from the official sources above and checked by the editors.
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