The swift movement of the frontline in the Donetsk oblast has triggered a new wave of displacement. Thousands of people have been forced to move farther away from the war. Most have settled in the Dnipropetrovsk oblast, hoping to visit their homes if they survive. This has led to a surge in demand for housing, causing rental prices to skyrocket. However, even having money doesn't guarantee finding a decent apartment and being able to settle in.
Elderly people, people with disabilities, families with young children, and pet owners have been automatically blacklisted by realtors and landlords. These groups are denied housing due to fabricated issues or face increased rent prices. Displaced people have become easy targets for unscrupulous landlords. Unfortunately, even having a rental agreement doesn't always protect tenants.
What the housing market in Dnipro offers
Currently, the prices for one-bedroom apartments range from UAH 5,000 ($120) to several hundred or even thousands of dollars. Listings typically state they are willing to accept tenants without pets or small children. This applies to both apartments with modern renovations and those in poor or "Soviet-era" conditions.
Upon opening a real estate website, you can see beautiful apartments with modern renovations, new furniture, located in prestigious areas of Dnipro. However, prices for these start at $1,000. When factoring in the security deposit and realtor or real estate agency commission, renting such an apartment would cost at least $3,000 for the first month. And on top of that, you need to add utilities. However, pets are not allowed here.
If you apply a filter for "cheapest to most expensive", you’ll find many options starting at UAH 5,000. These apartments are usually in Soviet-era conditions or empty, bare concrete spaces. Each option has its own peculiarities. In some places, there’s no kitchen (and still, no pets allowed). In other places, it might seem okay, but they only accept tenants without children or pets, or they specify, "for rent to a single woman".
Even listings without furniture or utilities are available. They advertise them as available "for repairs" or for storage (many people are leaving the Donetsk oblast with their furniture and are looking for empty apartments to rent). For one of these apartments, they are asking UAH 6,000 ($145) with a security deposit and 100% realtor fee. So, to move into a "shed" without electricity or gas, you’d have to pay UAH 18,000 ($435), and then also renovate the place at your own expense.
The Kochash family from Myrnohrad has already gone through this. Anna, along with her younger son, was the first to travel to Dnipro, while her husband stayed behind to sort out his work situation. He’s the head of a section at the Kapitalna mine, which is currently preparing for relocation. Because of their pet cat, it took them a long time to find a rental. They finally managed to rent a house that needed repairs. However, the price for it was UAH 8,000 ($195) per month, plus utilities. The realtor, who turned out to be the property owner, was quick to charge an additional "realtor fee" equivalent to one month’s rent. In total, Anna had to pay UAH 24,000 ($580) upon moving in.
To make the rented house feel more like home, Anna brought decorations and family photos from their home in Myrnohrad
"Before moving in our furniture and appliances, my husband and I spent three days cleaning the rented house. It was filthy, full of smoke residue. We scrubbed everything from the floors to the ceiling. We then decided to paint the doors and windows because everything was a gray-yellow color, and the grime was so deep it wouldn’t come off. We also put up new wallpaper. Only after all that could we move in", - Anna explains.
Her son is still attending his school in Myrnohrad online, as she's unsure if they'll stay in Dnipro long-term. The main reason is the high cost of housing.
The woman signed the rental agreement in mid-August. The family moved their furniture from Myrnohrad (which cost them UAH 15,000 ($360)), but after just a month, the owner informed her that he had sold the house. He had hidden his intentions to sell. At the request of the new owner, Anna was asked to vacate the house by October 1st. They were forced to sell their furniture and appliances for next to nothing because they had nowhere to store it. The quality belongings they had earned over their married life were converted into a small sum.
Anna cleaned everywhere and did her best to organize the kitchen. However, within a couple of days, plumbing issues began: the pipes started leaking, and insects started crawling out from every crack. She had to deal with an invasion of bugs, ants, and slugs.
"Now I'm constantly on the phone, looking for new options. Because of the cat, everyone is either refusing me or asking for an absurdly high price. If they do allow pets, it's for some kind of shack—they seem to haunt me in every listing. I don't want to go through that ordeal again. I'll have to pack up my belongings and move to my eldest son's place, where I'll continue searching for a decent home. At this point, it's not as scary anymore, since there's nothing left to lose", - says Anna.
By the way, the new owner also got caught in the trap. The former owner, who is also the realtor, didn't forget to take his cut from the sale of the house.
Legal advice
How not to get trapped and protect your rights when renting a property was explained by lawyer Olena Kovaliova. The specialist offered several tips to pay attention to when signing a rental agreement.
The first thing you need to do is verify the landlord and the apartment. The apartment owner must have documents. Ask them to provide them and compare the information with their passport. If there are multiple owners, each must sign the agreement. Or one of the owners with proper powers of attorney.
Don't move into the apartment immediately—check it before signing the rental agreement. There are many cases where the apartment in the photos looks different from the actual one. Even seemingly minor details can affect the rental cost (plumbing, electricity, microwave, kettle, etc.), and if something is missing, you can negotiate to lower the price. Therefore, it’s better to meet with both the realtor and the apartment owner at the same time.
You absolutely need to review the contract terms and carefully read the sections on contract termination conditions and the landlord's rights to evict you (ideally, when signing the contract, discuss and include fair legal conditions). Often, people sign first, and the problems arise later. In any dispute, you should try to find peaceful solutions. Talk to the landlord, and submit a formal request.
If the issue can't be resolved peacefully, seek the help of a lawyer, who can assist and possibly take the case to court. In any case, document everything. This will serve as evidence to help resolve disputes in your favor. However, remember that the landlord does have the legal right to terminate the rental agreement if:
- The tenant owns and/or uses the property against the terms of the contract or its intended purpose;
- The tenant transferred the property to another person for possession and/or use without the landlord’s permission;
- The tenant's careless behavior poses a threat to the property;
- The tenant did not start necessary major repairs if the responsibility for such repairs was placed on the tenant.
Pay attention to the subject of the contract (make sure it's the exact apartment you intend to rent, ideally matching the details in the ownership documents) and the duration of the agreement.
Clearly outline the responsibilities of both parties, and if the property is co-owned, all co-owners must be listed in the contract. Additionally, it is advisable to include a clause regulating rent increases or adjustments over a certain period.
It’s also advisable to include terms regarding the owner’s visits to the apartment: how many times a year, when, and based on what prior agreement. Otherwise, overly concerned owners might start visiting weekly without any notice.
Also, specify what is included in the monthly payment: a fixed amount or a fixed amount plus utility bills (based on meter readings) with a deadline for payment.
Unfortunately, the war hasn't instilled morality or compassion in those who lacked it before. Not everyone, but many, are trying to profit from others' misfortunes. The state cannot protect displaced people. So, don’t rely on anyone but yourself, at least when it comes to what you can do for yourself—read the documents and document any violations.
Olena Yermolenko, for OstroV
Photos by the author
The material was created with the participation of CFI, Agence française de développement médias, as part of the Hub Bucharest Project supported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.