When renting an apartment in Tbilisi, do tenants pay the first and last month upfront, and who pays the agent fee?

From messages by 3 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 51 days ago

TL;DR

In Tbilisi, paying the first and last month of rent upfront is commonly accepted. Make sure the contract defines this as rent rather than a refundable security deposit; local reports indicate that the landlord usually pays the agent’s commission.

What the community said

When moving into a Tbilisi apartment, landlords often request the first and final month’s rent upfront. The final month is prepaid rent for the end of the tenancy, so it is normally used toward that month rather than refunded separately.

First and last month’s rent

Have the lease clearly distinguish the last month’s rent from a security deposit: they are different payments. Confirm that the amount is labelled as rent and that early-termination and deduction rules are stated separately.

Rental agreement

According to local renter experience, the property owner usually pays the real-estate agent’s fee for a long-term rental in Tbilisi, not the tenant. Confirm this before viewing and ensure no agency commission is charged to you.

Agent fee paid by landlord

Ask for a lease version you can understand; renters report using three-page agreements with a Russian translation. In any language, check the lease term, final-month payment, utility bills, and early-move-out terms carefully.

Three-page lease with translation