Is it safe to pay a deposit for short-term apartment rental in Batumi, and what to do if the landlord scams you?
Based on 2 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: today
TL;DR
Prepayment for short-term rentals in Batumi is common but also a frequent scam — some landlords take the deposit and never hand over the keys. Police reports rarely get the money back, so verify the landlord in advance and avoid wiring large sums to strangers outside verified booking platforms.
What the community said
One traveler paid a deposit for an apartment, but on arrival was not given the keys and the landlord refused to refund the money. He asked whether it makes sense to go to the police or other authorities.
35 days ago Prepayment scam
Discussion pointed out that if you've already paid a deposit and the landlord suddenly stops responding, that's a clear scam pattern, not a coincidence.
35 days ago
Another traveler asked whether paying a deposit for short-term rentals in Batumi is normal practice at all, or usually a red flag for scammers rather than something legitimate landlords require.
35 days ago Short-term rental deposit