Paphos People

Hi,
I am considering renting long term but I have no knowledge of what the landlords responsibility are in regard to expenses such as rates,community charges (if any), property maintenance,geyser repairs, pool cleaning, garden services, etc.
The tenants are obviously responsible for the costs of all services - electricity - phone - water - refuse collection.
All comments would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Willam

William this varies

We let one small apartment and pay the complex maintenance of pool/ common areas charge and obviously fair wear and tear repairs. The other rates are paid by the tenant. Who pays what should be in the lease.

If you go through an agent you must make sure that they do proper credit checks and references as most just introduce you to a tenant,relieve you of a month's rent for the "service" and do no checks whatsoever.
Try and find a tenant yourself and do all the checks yourself.You need to see their passport and take a copy,ask for previous landlord's references,bank references and employers references.

If the tenant is retired (the best type) then they will usually have a bank account here and proof of income through pensions etc.

Get a good contract drawn up with 2 months notice for both Landlord and tenant. You want a months rent as a damage deposit and you
need to get them to take the electricity on in their name. Refuse tax,Water and communal charges you can ask them to pay also but it is best for you to pay the communal charges but allow for that when fixing the rent.

A no smoking indoors is a must and if your property is an apartment then no animals also should be part of the contract
Depending on the tenant,you can always revise some of the conditions.

Good luck

Hi William

we are in our 3rd long term rental property
all done direct with the landlord themselves
each have been diferent contracts
our first one was for a 1 bedroomed fully furnished apartment for 6 months.....all was included in the rent including electricity

our seccond one was for a 2 bed fully furnished bungalow with large garden and pool, this time for 8 months ...the landlord provided the lease terms herself and their was a comprehensive list of what was in the bungalow and the condition of the floors etc etc etc...the landlord paid the comunity tax, pool cleaner and gardener and general upkeep of property...we paid for electricity, water, broadband

our third one, where we are right now, is a 3 bed unfurnished bungalow with pool, we have signed for a minimum of 2 years, the lease has gone through a solicitor, not an agent, we both have asked for a 4 month get out of contract agreement as that suits both us and the landlord, we pay for all things such as garden, pool care, comunity tax, water and electricity. the owners are liable and are covered in their insurance for things that may go wrong with the bungalow structuraly, as well they are in charge of the upkeep of the cooker, washer etc etc which where part of the deal

so all 3 diferent long term lets all 3 dealt with diferently

for all we paid a deposit of 1 months rent in advance

hope this helps

maggie