Why Tenant Rights Matter Before You Sign

A lease is a legal document. Once signed, it defines your obligations and protections for the entire tenancy period. Most tenants sign leases they have not fully read, in languages they may not understand, with landlords who have more experience with the process. The imbalance is structural — but it can be addressed with preparation.

What Every Lease Should Include

Regardless of which country in the Caucasus you are renting in, a legitimate lease should contain at minimum:

Full names and ID details of both landlord and tenant
Full address of the property being rented
Monthly rent amount, payment date, and accepted payment method
Tenancy start and end date (or notice period for open-ended leases)
Deposit amount and conditions for its return
Who is responsible for what maintenance
Notice period required by both parties to end the tenancy
Rules on subletting, guests, and modifications

If any of these elements are absent, ask for them to be added before signing. A landlord who refuses to include basic terms in writing should be treated as a significant warning sign.

Deposits: Your Rights

Georgia: Georgia's Civil Code does not prescribe a maximum deposit amount. Market practice is 1–2 months' rent. The deposit should be returned at the end of the tenancy minus documented deductions for damage beyond normal wear and tear. "Normal wear and tear" — minor scuffs, small holes from picture hooks, carpet wear in traffic areas — cannot be deducted. Get a written condition report at move-in and at move-out, signed by both parties.

Armenia: Similar framework. Deposits are typically 1–2 months' rent. The key protection is documentation: a condition report with photos at move-in prevents disputes about whether damage was pre-existing.

In both countries, if your landlord refuses to return a deposit after the tenancy ends and you have complied with the lease terms, you have grounds for a small claims action. GeraRent provides mediation for tenants and landlords who used the platform — a significant practical advantage.

Rent Increases: What Is Allowed

During a fixed-term lease, the rent cannot be increased unless the lease specifically provides for it (and specifies the mechanism). In an open-ended lease, notice requirements for rent increases vary — check your lease and local law.

A landlord who demands a rent increase mid-fixed-term without a contractual basis is acting outside the lease. You are not obligated to accept it.

Eviction: Your Protections

In both Georgia and Armenia, a landlord cannot evict a tenant without following due process: providing the contracted notice period, and in the case of fixed-term leases, typically only for specific grounds (non-payment, serious breach of lease terms). Changing the locks, removing belongings, or disconnecting utilities to force an exit is illegal in both countries, regardless of whether you have a formal written lease.

If you face illegal eviction pressure, document everything (photos, messages, records of conversations) and seek advice immediately from a local legal clinic or contact GeraRent's support team if you rented through the platform.

Before You Sign: A Checklist

Read the entire lease, or have a trusted person with local language skills read it
Confirm the landlord's identity and ownership of the property before paying any deposit
Take and document the condition of the property before moving in — photos with timestamps
Get a receipt for your deposit payment
Confirm exactly how rent should be paid and keep payment records

GeraRent leases are drafted by local legal specialists for each market and reviewed annually. When you rent through GeraRent, the lease is a starting point you can customise — not a document you need to source yourself. See our landlord guide or country-specific rental information.