How do you avoid rental scams in Georgia in 2026?

Stop when someone refuses an in-person viewing, claims to be overseas, or asks for a booking deposit before you stand in the flat. Stop when the same photos appear under different addresses or prices far below Vera, Vake, or Batumi boulevard norms: Rent in Georgia. Stop when the person showing the keys cannot match the NAPR owner name and has no notarised power of attorney.

Scammers push chats into private messengers and invent competition for the unit. Facebook groups are useful for leads and high-risk for stolen photos. Portal ads lower some noise and still need registry verification: How to rent a home.

Request the cadastral code early. Pull or review a recent Public Registry extract (Amonatsari-style ownership printout via napr.gov.ge workflows) and confirm the signer is the owner or authorised representative. Walk the exact address, check floor and heating claims, and photograph meters at handover once a deal is real.

Use a bilingual written lease that separates first rent, security deposit, and any agent fee, with a clear deposit-return deadline and inventory list. Prefer transfers that match named parties after signing, not anonymous personal accounts under time pressure: Open a bank account. Keep dated photos of every room and meter reading the day you move in, and share that evidence with the owner immediately. Shortlist real districts first so fake bargains stand out: Living in Tbilisi, Living in Batumi, and Where to live in Georgia.