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IntermarkSavills is a partnership of Intermark and Savills, the leading international property services group.

If you are looking to rent an apartment or country house turn to IntermarkSavills and we will select the most suitable variants for you. The process of searching for an apartment can be stressful for you and your family, but you can rest assured that IntermarkSavills will solve all your problems connected to renting a home.

With us you can always count on efficient, effective and professional services. You can familiarize yourself with current offers on the rental market on our website, which has a daily updated database of properties. Here you will find detailed descriptions, conditions of rent, good quality photos, floor plans and also maps of the local area for each property.

If you are interested you may select a property on our website.

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Question:
Hi, I am planning on relocating to Moscow over the next few months. I will be working around Kosmodamianskaya Nab. and wanted to find an apartment to rent that would be reasonably close to my work place. I have the following questions:
1) How much would be a reasonable rent for a 1-2 bedroom apartment (appr. 50-70 sq.m), no parking, and a well maintained building in a safe and good area.
2) In Canada, the real-estate agent is paid by the landlord, how is the situation in Moscow (how much are those fees?) What other fees are typically involved in a transaction? How large is the security deposit.
3) How much time should I plan for, from the moment I find the right place to the moment I can move in? Are there many places that are vacant?
4) Are most rent agreements are for a full year, more/less, and are they flexible in terms of early termination or extension?
5) Are most transaction being executed directly between the tenant and landlord, or is there a real-estate agent involved?
6) How to chose a good real-estate agent?
Thank you,
Alex
Answer:
Dear Alex,
Thank you very much for your inquiry regarding housing options and procedures in Moscow. Your office is located in the Zamoskvorechie area, which is highly regarded due to its central location, beautiful classical architecture, and easy access to quality restaurants and entertainment. Current rental rates in the Zamoskvorechie area for luxury 50-70 square meter, 1-2 bedroom apartments average between $3,000-$5,500/month. Generally, there is constant availability of 1 and 2 bedroom luxury properties in Moscow. However, the availability of quality 3 and 4 bedroom apartments is lower and thus a tougher search.

In terms of fees, Moscow differs from Canada. Upon successful signing of a lease agreement, the tenant pays the real estate agency a "finder's fee" usually equivalent to one month's rent. The tenant typically pays the landlord an amount equal to two month's rent security deposit + first month's rent). Some landlords also pay the agency 100% of one month's rent. However, it is more common for landlords to inform several agencies of their property and thus, agree to pay a smaller percentage or no fee at all if they feel that their property will "sell itself". Most landlords want rental agreements for a minimum of one year, and the broker will try to help negotiate additional terms (longer lease, break clauses, etc.) desired by the tenant.

IntermarkSavills provides a variety of additional relocation services that ensure expatriates and their families have a smooth transition to Moscow. These services include orientation tours (schools, hospitals, entertainment, and service provider introductions), furniture procurement, translation assistance when setting up insurance/bank accounts, and move-in assistance (installations). Additionally, our HelpDesk provides ongoing support to our clients, responding to requests efficiently and expediently we provide specialist call-out for urgent or time-sensitive repairs and liaison with landlords regarding maintenance issues. We pride ourselves on the provision of the highest quality relocation & real estate services and look forward to counting you as one of our valued customers.
Paul Nordlund
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