How to Check a Rental Agreement Before Signing in Romania

How To10 min read

A good rental agreement is not the longest one, but the one in which the important matters are set out clearly: who is renting the property, what home you are getting, how much you will pay, when you will pay, what happens to the deposit and how the agreement can end. Do not sign on the spot simply because the apartment looks good or because there are other interested parties. Ask for the agreement in advance, read it without rushing and compare every clause with what you saw and discussed.

Below is a practical list for checking a rental agreement in Romania. It is an informational guide and does not replace legal advice when large sums, co-owners, companies, subletting or unusual clauses are involved.

Check the person renting the home to you first

The first question to clarify is simple: does the person signing as the landlord have the right to rent out the apartment? Ask to see a document showing their right over the home and check that the name matches the one in the agreement. You can also request a recent land register extract or ask the owner to provide one.

If the apartment has more than one owner, the agreement should state who they are and who is signing. In practice, it is prudent for all co-owners to agree to the letting, or for the person signing to be able to prove that they represent them. If discussions and signing are handled by someone else, ask for a document proving their authority; do not rely only on an explanation that they are the owner’s “brother”, “agent” or “friend”.

Do not send money before you have a clear identity for the landlord, a payment document and a written version of the terms. Very rushed listings, implausibly low prices and a refusal to arrange a viewing are warning signs. The same basic rule applies to offers presented as “promotions” that push you to pay immediately: it is worth recognising the pressure mechanisms used in promotional offers, including outside shops.

Compare the agreement with the apartment you saw at the viewing

The home must be identified unambiguously in the agreement: the full address, apartment number, floor and, where applicable, the parking space, storage unit or other included areas. Do not accept vague wording such as “apartment in area X”, and do not assume that parking or furniture is included merely because it appeared in the listing.

Also check the following:

the number of rooms and ancillary spaces you will use;
furniture, appliances, keys, remote controls and meters;
existing defects: leaks, mould, windows that do not close, non-functioning appliances, scratches or damaged items;
meter readings on the handover date;
the condition of the walls, floors, bathroom and kitchen.

The most useful protection is a handover report attached to the agreement. It should include an inventory and the condition of the items, and dated photographs may be attached or explicitly referred to. Take photographs together before moving in, including of the meters and any visible defects. Then send the images by email or in a conversation you can retain.

This is not a sign of distrust. It is how you avoid a difficult discussion at the end about a refrigerator that was already scratched, a wall that was already stained or a bill that includes the previous tenant’s consumption. If you are going to furnish your home, keep the inventory as a starting point for organising your home space efficiently as well, without buying unnecessary items for a temporary rental.

Rent must be stated in full, not just as a monthly amount

A clear rent clause answers five questions: how much you pay, in which currency, by what date, by which method and into which account. If the amount is stated in euros, the agreement must say whether payment is made in euros or Romanian lei and, in the latter case, which exchange rate applies and on which date it is calculated.

Check whether there is a rent increase clause. Wording such as “the owner may change the rent at any time” is too vague and may lead to conflict. A predictable version should state the condition, timing, calculation method and prior notice. If you do not understand exactly how much you might pay in a few months’ time, ask for the clause to be redrafted.

Where possible, pay by bank transfer, with the reference “rent month/year”. For cash payments, ask for a receipt or a signed written confirmation. Informal messages such as “received” are better than nothing, but they are not the safest record.

Do not confuse rent with all housing costs

Before signing, ask for a realistic estimate of monthly costs and the latest available bills, where the owner can show them. The agreement should state who pays for electricity, gas, water, internet, building maintenance charges, waste collection, the parking space and any owners’ association costs.

It also matters how utilities are paid: directly by the tenant to the provider, through the owner based on supporting documents, or as a fixed amount included in the rent. Avoid an unexplained amount for “estimated utilities” if there is no calculation rule and no proof of the costs. For your personal budget, calculate rent together with all these expenses, rather than separately; the principles in the guide to saving a monthly amount without impossible measures are easier to apply when fixed costs are known from the first day.

The deposit: amount, conditions for withholding and return deadline

There is no mandatory standard deposit amount for all rental agreements. It may equal one month’s rent, several months’ rent or another negotiated amount. This is precisely why the agreement must state exactly:

the deposit amount and the date on which you pay it;
whether it is paid in full or in instalments;
which debts or losses it may cover;
which documents the owner must provide if they withhold part of it;
how many days after the home is handed back the remaining balance will be returned.

A clause allowing the owner to keep the deposit “at their discretion” does not provide sufficient protection. Any withholding should be linked to unpaid rent or utilities, missing items or damage exceeding normal wear and tear. Normal wear and tear means, for example, ordinary use of the home; it is not the same as a broken item or work carried out without permission.

Do not automatically accept the idea that the deposit covers the last month’s rent. This is possible only if expressly provided for in the agreement or agreed later in writing.

Establish who makes repairs and within what timeframe

This is where many of the most costly disputes arise. The Civil Code regulates, among other matters, the landlord’s obligation to hand over the property, keep it fit for use and ensure its peaceful use. At the same time, minor repairs resulting from ordinary use may fall to the tenant, under the law and the agreement.

Do not leave this division at the level of the phrase “repairs are the tenant’s responsibility”. Ask for examples or a clear allocation:

Situation	What the agreement should specify
Faults in installations, the boiler or the structure	Who calls the specialist, who approves the work and who pays if the problem was not caused by the tenant.
Consumables and minor work	What counts as routine maintenance: light bulbs, taps, filters, cleaning the trap or other minor work.
Emergencies	The contact number and the tenant’s right to quickly limit damage, for example in a flood.
Improvements	Whether you may drill walls, install air conditioning, change the lock or paint, and under what conditions.

Report faults in writing and keep the conversation. If you carry out major repairs without permission, you may later have to discuss both the costs and the alteration of the home.

Read the term, notice period and moving-out rules carefully

The agreement must state the exact start date and whether it is concluded for a fixed or indefinite term. For a fixed period, check what happens if you have to leave early: is there a notice period, a penalty, an obligation to find a replacement or the possibility of termination by agreement?

Do not assume that 30 days’ notice applies automatically in every situation. The period depends on the type of agreement, the applicable rules and the agreed clauses. Ask for the procedure to be specific: notice by email, registered letter or both, the date from which the period runs and how the keys are handed over.

Also check the rules on pets, smoking, the number of occupants, working from home, visitors, use of parking and subletting. Subletting or assignment of the agreement should not be treated as an assumption; if you need this option, it must be discussed and expressly recorded.

What you need to know about registering the agreement with ANAF

For income from granting the use of assets from personal property, the owner is required to register the lease agreement and subsequent amendments with the competent tax authority within no more than 30 days of concluding the agreement or of the amendment taking effect. The rule is set out in the procedure updated by the ANAF Order on the registration of lease agreements.

The tenant does not have to submit the application in the owner’s place. However, it is reasonable to ask for a signed copy of the agreement and ask whether the owner will complete the tax formalities. The form used by ANAF is C168, and the official page indicates a version updated on 26 March 2026: application for registration of lease agreements.

Tax registration does not replace checking the owner’s identity, the home or the clauses. It is a separate obligation and does not remedy an unclear agreement. In certain situations, registration may have important legal effects for the landlord, including in connection with enforcement of the obligation to pay rent; if this issue arises in the agreement, read the clause carefully and seek legal advice before signing.

A 10-minute checklist before signing

The owner’s name and details match the documents provided.
The address, apartment, parking space and included items are described correctly.
The rent, currency, due date and payment method are precise.
Utilities and building maintenance charges have an identified responsible party and a calculation method.
The deposit has clear rules for withholding and return.
There is a handover report and inventory.
Existing defects are photographed and recorded.
Urgent and routine repairs are clearly allocated.
The agreement term, notice period and moving-out conditions are easy to understand.
You have received a complete copy, signed by the parties, with all annexes.

If any of this information is missing, you do not necessarily have to give up the home, but it is a good reason to pause signing until the document is completed. A good-faith owner has an interest in making the rules clear for both parties.

Frequently asked questions

Is it mandatory to sign a handover report?

It is not merely a formality. Even if there is no universal practical rule to replace it, a report with an inventory, meter readings and photographs is the most useful evidence of the home’s condition when moving in and moving out.

To supplement the information above, you can also consult Work placement, internship or job: what rights you have in 2026 and what to check before accepting, an article that explores an aspect directly related to this topic.

Can the owner keep the deposit without explanation?

You should not accept an arbitrary withholding. The agreement must state what the deposit can cover and when it will be returned. Ask for explanations and documents for any alleged arrears or repairs for which you are held liable.

Who pays for repairs in a rented apartment?

It depends on the nature and cause of the fault, and on the agreement. Significant problems with the home and its installations should not be confused with routine maintenance or damage caused by the tenant. Set out examples and the procedure for emergencies in writing.

Is the tenant required to register the agreement with ANAF?

In the usual case of renting out an asset from personal property, the obligation to register with the tax authority falls to the owner or landlord, under the conditions set out in tax legislation. The tenant should keep their own signed copy of the agreement.

Can I leave a rental agreement before it ends?

It is possible depending on the type of agreement, the notice clauses and the agreement between the parties. Before signing, read the conditions for early termination, any penalties and the form in which notice must be sent.