Videos · Renting in Kyiv
Kyiv rental scams: how to spot a fake apartment ad (zakiduha)
5:34 · 2021 · Sean Almeida
A zakiduha is a fake or out-of-date rental ad: real photos, a price that is too good, an apartment that is no longer available. Sean Almeida explains how it works and how to spot one.
Questions this video answers
What is a zakiduha?
A local word for a bait and switch: a fake or out-of-date apartment advertisement. The ad uses real-looking photos and information, but the apartment is not available at that price, or not available at all.
Sean Almeida, as said in 2021 · watch at 0:18
Who runs these ads, and why?
Sean says real estate agents are not licensed in Ukraine, and some less scrupulous agents, often freelancers without a website or listings of their own, use fake ads to get a client to call them.
Sean Almeida, as said in 2021 · watch at 0:29
How can I recognise a fake ad?
Sean describes three patterns: old photos and details of a flat that was already let or sold, photos of interiors that do not exist in Ukraine (a reverse image search can show they come from another country), and a real flat advertised at half its real price to beat the competition.
Sean Almeida, as said in 2021 · watch at 3:12
What should I do if I do not know the city well?
Hire a professional agent you trust. Sean adds that if something goes wrong with a broker you chose at random, you have little recourse, so choose carefully.
Sean Almeida, as said in 2021 · watch at 4:44
Laws, prices and rules change. These answers describe what was said in 2021; check current conditions before you act.
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