"Responded to 95% of ads — and all refused." Russians are not wanted as tenants in Grodno
Various reasons are given.
Grodno. Photo: Nasha Niva
A Belarusian who is helping his cousin from Russia find an apartment in Grodno for a long term has encountered a total unwillingness of Grodno residents to rent housing to Russians.
Screenshot: @s.revalto / Threads
“What is generally happening with apartment rentals in Belarus for foreign citizens (Russian Federation)? I responded to 95% of Grodno ads, and all refused,” the man wrote on Threads.
Russians are refused housing rentals. Various reasons are given
One of the commentators explains this by saying that renting out housing to a foreigner under a contract means acquiring a lot of problems. For example, with tax payment, if this tenant decides to leave without warning.
"You will have to prove in court that no one lives in your apartment. And all these months, until you prove it in some incredible way, you will pay tax and will not be able to rent to other people. And renting without a contract, on word of honor, is not an option at all," one of the commentators explains.
"They absolutely need to register the rental of housing to foreign citizens. They don't want to bother," adds another.
To which the author of the post replied that he had only today sent applications for more than 50 apartments and most perceive registration as registering an unknown person into their property, which is why they refuse.
"Someone simply doesn't want to rent at all due to rumors. Passport specialists generally advise against getting involved with the Russian Federation," he writes.
Another commentator shares that the police advise against dealing with Russians, allegedly saying it's better to house Vietnamese or Chinese people, as there are fewer problems with them.
Are Russians themselves to blame for being disliked?
At the same time, many note that the unwillingness to rent housing to Russians may be caused not only by bureaucratic issues.
"Grodno doesn't like Russians. That's the whole answer," says one of the most liked comments.
"I always knew that the best people live in Grodno, keep it up! We, Minsk residents, are not like that," another ironizes.
"Oh, well done, compatriots, I'm proud," a man writes.
Illustrative photo: Nasha Niva
There are also those who believe that Russians themselves are to blame for the current situation.
"This happens because very many Russians behave very badly in the country and have earned a terrible reputation," a woman wrote.
Meanwhile, a woman was found who has been renting an apartment to a Russian for many years and has no problems with it.
"I have been renting an apartment to a man from Kazan for over 7 years, everything is according to the contract and the law, there are no problems," she wrote and added that it is absolutely necessary to register with the housing office (ZHEC) with a contract, and then register with the district police officer and pay tax.