Monthly apartment rental in Bucureşti, Romania
Well, well, kids. The world gets crazier all the time. I need to reach out and ask some of you for some advice here. If there’s any to be had, that is.
The recent news has caused me to change plans rather suddenly. Previously, I had been arranging to stay 6 months or 12 months along Black Sea. Now, I’ve cause to shorten the duration significantly.
No, I am not pregnant.
Normally, I’d work through an imobiliare to snag an apartment since that’s how it works in Romania. However, that only applies to normal rental terms of 6+ months. It’s for your typical apartment, owned by a typical Romanian landlord who seeks to abuse the typical tenant. Relationships often start out with false airs of respect, then devolve to general suspicion, and when it’s time to part the fighting begins.
On the other end of the spectrum, you’ve got your overpriced tourist apartments. Here, the greed is honestly established at the outset. Short term rentals are based on daily pricing at rates lower than hotels, which is great if you’re staying 3-7 days. But renting for 1 to 3 months? You can expect to pay the same. Instead of lowering prices slightly in exchange for guaranteed occupancy, it is far less work to simply demand outrageous rates and spurn anyone who balks.
In other countries, like Bulgaria or Czech, the real estate markets often seem to be a bit more refined. The long-term rates for normal folks making yearly contracts are reasonable. Short stays for tourists spending a couple weeks or a few days are reasonable, given the hotel rates. And in the middle ground, there is decent pricing for a person spending two or three months: higher than standard rates, lower than weekly rates.
(Not to mention apartments in those places are better designed, better furnished, and in better condition when compared head-to-head on rates. Frankly, I have no idea how Romanians get away with charging the real estate prices they do.)
It seems not to be the case in Romania. Unless I’m missing something — and believe me I’d be happy to learn — renting an apartment for a couple months in Bucureşti is likely to set you lighten your wallet by upwards of $2500 USD each month.
So, help me out, friends. What’s a person to do? Suck it up and take your lumps?
November 30th, 2008 at 2:18 am
The only way they actually survive with these rates is by, of course, lying. You’ll find out soon enough that nobody wants a contract, and that contract will be made for three months, not more (the landlords don’t actually like to pay taxes). And it will be your little secret… and theirs.
How do they get away with that? Simple. Romania is a land of owners, not renters. So since nobody actually rents, the ones that do have to suffer.
I’m in the same situation, and it’s not fun at all :)
November 30th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Dorin, you are right about contracts. In fact, I can only remember one time when a 6+ month agreement was documented on paper. Everyone else seems to want unreported income.
An interesting conclusion on ownership. I’m not necessarily inclined to agree with you on it, but it’s certainly how they front.
All – As a follow up to my own post, I did find *one* place so far that seems to offer non-decrepit apartments at somewhat reasonable monthly prices. I wouldn’t call these fancy, of course, but they aren’t crap either. Contrast that with the more typical prices demanded by others and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
Anyone else have leads I can follow? Or points to discuss? Heh.
Note to Americans: Beware when the ads say 2 rooms, they mean 2 rooms. Not two bedrooms as we’re accustomed to in the West. Two rooms is two rooms. One bedroom, one living + cooking space. That’s it. (Yes, that’s correct — bathrooms don’t count as rooms. You figure out the logic.)
November 30th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
ask a friend who might know a friend. Or not. Do you feel lucky?
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
AAAA ARE YOU A SINGLE LANDLADY? ARE YOU LIVING ALONE IN A VILLA OR A DELUXE APARTMENT? WOULD YOU LIKE TO IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH FOR FREE? Guest a tall, handsome, highly educated young American gentleman.
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Monsoux – You may yet be a genius.
Strudel – I snorted my drink through my nose!
December 5th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I agree with Dorin……lie because life is full of uncertainties.
December 5th, 2008 at 10:00 am
and events certainly can change
December 6th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Oy…this brings back nightmares of my psycho fraudster landlady from 1996. Not having a real contract means all sorts of crap can happen. Fortunately I made copies of the unofficial one we all signed. She tried to steal one when we had our blow-out argument…but it wasn’t a comfortable situation, so I ditched the place.
I’ve rented short term since then, through friends of friends, and it mostly worked out OK. But it was 2-3 week stuff over the holidays. Most of the landlords were sane and even willing to invite us over for drinks / taifas. ;)
I’m just saying – there’s a huge caveat emptor no matter what you do.
Oh, and if you even THINK about going anywhere near a rental firm called “Acasa 2000″ with an owner named “Bobby,” run far, far away. That man needs a week-long reaming by the Financial Guard and jail time for the criminal he is.
December 6th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Dorin – It took a second person giving me a private lecture on the identical topic to fully appreciate the subtlety of your original point. Take heart, sir; I now get it and shall execute the conspiracy.
Frank – Ah, yes, referenced on ye olde confrontation with Romanian bus ticket controllers of yesteryear. We need more blogoblatherings regarding this nefarious character.
Any company so near-sighted as to join the herd of late 90s gold diggers in registering [YourName] 2000 SRL is not a company I would do business with on general principle. However, if I bump into “Bobby” somewhere along the way I’ll be sure to pass along your sentiments with clear diction.
December 11th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Hmm…. thought about heading to Ploiesti & commuting? It just may be cheaper in the end. :P
Oh apartamentul, thou sucketh.
December 11th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Indeed, the sucktitudinality can reach epic proportions at times. I suspect I may need to delve further into this topic by profiling common types of encounters. O sa vedem noi.