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Renting a flat

Decoding a Russian rental advert, where a “two-room flat” has one bedroom and the bills are a separate word.

Quick answer

Сдаётся means “for rent”, снима́ть is what the tenant does, сдава́ть what the landlord does.

The advert

кварти́раkvartíraflat
сдаётсяsdayótsyafor rent
дву́шкаdvúshkatwo-room flat
сту́дияstúdiyastudio
ремо́нтremóntstate of renovation
ме́бельmébelfurniture (f.)
балко́нbalkónbalcony

The money

аре́ндная пла́таaréndnaya plátarent
зало́гzalókdeposit
коммуна́лкаkommunálkautility bills
счётчикshchyótchikmeter
коми́ссияkomíssiyaagency fee
догово́рdogovórcontract

The people

хозя́инkhozyáinlandlord
хозя́йкаkhozyáykalandlady
рие́лторriéltoragent
сосе́диsosédineighbours
снима́тьsnimátto rent (as tenant)
сдава́тьsdavátto let out

Reading the advert

A двушка is a two-*room* flat, which in Russian counting means a living room plus one bedroom — the kitchen is never counted. Евроремо́нт means a modern renovation. Коммуна́лка as a cost is utilities; as a place it is a shared Soviet-era flat, so context matters.

Ско́лько сто́ит в ме́сяц?How much per month?
Коммуна́лка включена́?Are the utilities included?
Како́й зало́г?How big is the deposit?
Мо́жно посмотре́ть кварти́ру?Can I view the flat?
На ско́лько ме́сяцев догово́р?How many months is the contract for?

The things to check

Agency fee (комиссия) is often one month and paid by the tenant. The deposit is usually one month too. Ask whether the счётчик readings are noted in the contract, and get the догово́р in writing even for a short let — a verbal agreement with a хозя́ин is common and leaves you with nothing to point at.

Typical mistakes

Я сдаю́ кварти́ру — as a tenant

Я снима́ю кварти́ру.

сдава́ть is to let out; снима́ть is to rent.

мой ме́бель

моя́ ме́бель

ме́бель is feminine and singular — it means furniture collectively.

Check yourself

You are the tenant. Which verb do you use?

The tenant снима́ет.

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