How to properly draw up a lease agreement?

[hemogif293]

Hey folks, got a quick question and hoping someone here’s been through the same thing.
So, I recently helped my cousin find a small apartment in Lviv. The place is decent, rent is fair, and the landlord seems chill — but when it came time to sign the rental agreement, things got awkward. The landlord pulled out some basic handwritten contract, said we didn’t need anything fancy, and that “it’s all based on trust anyway.” 😅
Now, my cousin’s only 22 and moving out for the first time, so I didn’t want to push too hard, but something about not having a proper rental agreement freaks me out. Like, what happens if he suddenly decides to kick her out or raise the rent without warning?
I’m curious — what should we really be looking for in a rental agreement in Ukraine? Any must-haves or red flags to watch out for?

[joeygiron]

Yeah, I’ve been through something similar when I moved to Kyiv a few years back. Landlord was super friendly at first, but six months in he decided to "adjust the rent to market prices" out of nowhere — and we had no written agreement to stop him.
Honestly, it’s always worth having a proper, signed contract, even if the landlord says it’s not needed. The contract should clearly state the monthly rent, payment due dates, deposit amount, responsibilities for utilities, and most importantly — duration of the lease and notice period for termination. This stuff protects both parties, not just the tenant.
I found this article really helpful when I was trying to figure things out: 99 legal. It breaks down the key parts of a rental contract in Ukraine and what to look out for. Super useful, especially if you’re not used to all the legal lingo.
Also, just a small tip from me — always take photos of the place before moving in. Saved me once when the landlord tried to blame me for a broken window that was already cracked when I arrived