Safety
Short tips on buying, renting and checking a home safely.
How to avoid scams
- A price that is too low plus a demand for an urgent prepayment is a warning sign.
- Do not send money before you have seen the place and met the owner.
- Never share SMS codes or bank card details, even "to reserve".
- Compare the photos and the address: a real place looks like its photos.
- Go to the meeting in daylight, and not alone if something feels off: do not rush.
How to rent a home
- Inspect the place and compare it with the photos in the listing.
- Ask what the price includes: utilities, internet, furniture, deposit.
- Sign a written agreement: term, amount, payment schedule, who pays for repairs.
- When moving in, photograph the condition and the meters, and note the readings.
- Hand over the deposit and payment only after viewing and signing the agreement, and get a receipt.
Daily rental: how to stay safe
- Check the free dates and the price per night in the listing.
- Call or message the owner to confirm the address, check-in and check-out time, and house rules.
- Agree in advance on the deposit and payment: what you pay and when.
- On arrival inspect the place, photograph any defects and tell the owner right away.
- Do not send money for a "reservation" before you have spoken to the owner by phone.
How to buy an apartment
- Set a budget and count the extra costs on top of the price: paperwork, notary, registration.
- View the apartment in person and in daylight: walls, windows, pipes, wiring, neighbors, the yard.
- Ask for the property documents and the owner's passport, and check that the names match.
- Find out whether there are debts, a pledge, registered residents or disputes.
- Put the sale contract in writing through a notary or lawyer. Pay only against a receipt or through a bank.
Which documents to check
- The title document and an extract from the property rights registry.
- The technical passport: the layout must match what you see.
- The owner's passport, or a power of attorney if a representative is selling.
- The spouse's consent, and if children are among the owners, the guardianship authority's approval.
- For your own listing you can order a document check in Uy24: afterwards the "Verified" badge appears.
These are general tips, not legal advice. For property deals, confirm the current rules with a notary or lawyer.