Standards can vary considerably, from dilapidated, ill-equipped apartments to luxury villas with every modern convenience.
Always check whether a property is equipped to the standard you require and whether it has central heating if you’re planning to rent in winter.
If you’re looking for a rental property for a several months, e.g. three to six months, it’s best not to rent unseen, but to rent a holiday apartment for a week or two to allow yourself time to look around for a longer-term rental.
Rentals can be found by contacting owners advertising in local newspapers, such as The Cyprus Mail, and in certain publications and through estate agents in most areas, many of whom also handle long- and short-term rentals. A rental contract is necessary when renting any property, whether long or short-term.
As Cyprus is a popular holiday destination, in and around resort areas rentals are limited to self-catering units rather than residential accommodation. Long -term rentals are easiest to find in the main towns and cities and in some resorts, such as Paphos, where retirees often rent for long periods before buying. Properties can be let furnished or unfurnished. If you rent unfurnished, there are a number of companies (listed in the yellow pages) who will hire appliances to you.
There’s no shortage of short-term rental property in Cyprus, but short-term rents are usually high, particularly in popular holiday areas, where many properties are let as self-catering holiday accommodation. You may, however, be able to take advantage of long-term holiday package deals, which many companies offer during the winter (November to Easter), when you can stay in a self-catering apartment or hotel in Cyprus for several months at an extremely reasonable cost while you research your property purchase.
Many estate agents in Cyprus also let self-catering properties in resort areas at a considerable reduction during low season. During the summer, you may get a better deal if you offer to rent long term (e.g. two or three months).
This article is an extract from Buying a Home in Cyprus from Survival Books.