Uzbekistan · Transaction safety
12 move-in checks before renting a flat in Uzbekistan
From meter readings to photographs of the furniture — what to document on move-in day so the deposit comes back when you leave. A checklist for tenants in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and other Uzbek cities.
Deposits are lost not because landlords are malicious, but because nobody documented the real condition of the flat on move-in day. These 12 points close that gap. Go through them on the day you take over the flat — ideally together with the owner — and save the result as photographs and a signed handover act.
§ 01
Before signing the agreement
- 01Owner's documents
Check the passport of the person letting the flat against the name in the extract from the property register (Davlat kadastri — the Uzbek state cadastre). If a 'representative' is letting the flat, ask for a notarised power of attorney; without one, do not sign the agreement.
- 02Spouse's consent
If the flat was bought during a marriage and is registered to one spouse, written consent of the other is formally required for a long-term tenancy. It is rarely checked, but in a dispute it protects the contract from being declared invalid.
- 03Registered occupants
Ask whether anyone else is registered as living in the flat. Otherwise a month later a 'distant relative' with a right of residence may turn up whom by law you will not be able to evict.
§ 02
Move-in day — documenting the state
- 01Meter readings
Photograph electricity, water and gas meters in close-up, with the date and serial number visible. Enter the figures in the handover act and sign it together with the owner.
- 02Photo album of the flat
30–50 photographs: each room from a wide angle, furniture, kitchen, plumbing, every scratch and stain. Save them to cloud storage with an automatic date stamp — that becomes your evidence if the landlord tries to withhold the deposit for 'damage'.
- 03Inventory of contents
Attach a list of furniture and appliances with condition notes ('working', 'scratch on the door') to the agreement. The more detailed the inventory, the fewer disputes on move-out.
- 04Keys and number of sets
Record how many keys you received and which locks they fit. Return exactly the same number when you leave. If the flat has an electronic lock, ask for the code to be changed.
§ 03
Checking the utilities
- 01Utility arrears
Ask for recent bills or a certificate confirming there is no debt. The previous tenant's debts are not your responsibility, but if you don't fix the 'zero point' you will have to prove it in a dispute.
- 02Internet and provider
Find out whose name the internet contract is in and who pays for it. Ideally — re-register the contract in your own name or pin that obligation down in the tenancy agreement.
- 03Appliance functionality
Switch on everything that comes with the flat: hob, oven, washing machine and dishwasher, air conditioner, water heater. Anything broken must be recorded in the act — otherwise the repair will be charged to you.
§ 04
Formalities
- 01Deposit receipt
Handing over the security deposit is a separate document, not part of the tenancy contract. The receipt must contain the amount in words, the date, the basis ('deposit for the rented flat at address…'), passport details of both parties and signatures.
- 02Channel of communication and complaints
Agree which channel (WhatsApp / Telegram / e-mail) you will use to communicate and to log complaints. Keep the correspondence — it works as evidence in court on a par with a written letter.
⚠ This material is for informational purposes only and does not replace legal advice. For major transactions always work with a qualified specialist in your country.