How to make a rental agreement in TRNC North Cyprus?
- 11.11.2022
- Guide
You have decided to rent a house in TRNC Northern Cyprus. How to make a rental agreement in Cyprus? In this section, we will explain the details of the lease agreement to you.
First of all, in order to prepare our rental agreement, we download our word file, prepared in Turkish and English, to be edited. We have indicated the places you need to change in our Word rental agreement file. You can complete your rental agreement by changing the places in the ready rental agreement in a very short time.
What is written in the rental agreement?
Make sure that the list of fixtures in the house is in the rental agreement. Including the main items of the whole house in the rental agreement will prevent a possible problem for the landlord and the tenant. In this way, we recommend that you sign your house rental agreement.
How are rent payments made?
It is the healthiest way to send the rent payments to the bank account of the landlord by explaining the information of the house you are staying in. If you are paying the rent in cash, get a written signed paper that you have paid the rent. Always take the safest route. You will have proof against any future disputes.
Can the landlord evict you before the lease end date?
No. As of the dates written in your rental agreement, that house belongs to you. If you're paying the rent, you don't want to leave the house. You can stay in your home until the end of your rental agreement. Under no circumstances can the landlord ask you to leave the house by force during the validity period of the rental dates.
How to save the lease agreement?
The lease agreement between the landlord and the tenant becomes official by making a stamp transaction at the tax office. In order for your rental contracts to be valid, stamps must be made from the tax office. After signing the Rental Agreement, you must go to the tax office where the rented residence is located, within working hours, for registration. To complete this procedure, you will need to submit: An original of the signed rental agreement in three copies (one copy remains with the tax office and one for each party), copies of the landlord's and tenant's passports, a copy of the layout of the apartment or house, a copy of the proof of ownership and payment for stamps (you can buy on the spot).
How to return the deposit at the end of the rental period?
Deposit refund is usually a problem in itself. In this regard, we will inform you about the refund of your deposit at the end of your rental agreement.
According to the laws of Northern Cyprus, the landlord has the right to deposit one or two months' rent from you for the security of the property. This is for long term rentals. For a short term, let's say weekly rental of 1+1 flats, the deposit can be £100-200.
The deposit is the landlord's guarantee that potential damages (other than expected depreciation/depreciation) caused by the tenants will be repaid and that the tenants will not have any debts if they are evicted for utilities (water, electricity). We recommend that this be written into the contract.
With real estate damage, everything is simple - when returning the apartment, the landlord himself or his representative must inspect the building, and in case of damage, prepare an estimate and present an invoice.
Important tip 1: Take a video of the building you are renting when you move, preferably as soon as you take it into use. If you encounter any problems during your stay (for example, the kettle does not turn on and you did not check when checking in), immediately notify the host in writing.
With electricity bills, things are more complicated, because when leaving, the final bill may not have occurred yet. Therefore, the landlord has the right to refuse to return the deposit, which supposedly guarantees the payment of the debt. Important tip 2: If you have agreed to pay your water and electricity bill, be sure to take a photo of the meters at check-in and send the photo to the landlord or their representative to record the readings. Be sure to specify when the electricity / water bill will be charged and how the first receipt will be calculated (if you arrived in the middle of the month and the bills will be due at the end of the month, discuss your compensation.). At the end of your contract, it makes sense to go to the electricity office with the owner (if the meter is in his name, then the meter readings will only be given to him), you can find out the debt on the day you leave there and pay it immediately. If a new type of meter (electronic) and manual meters have been installed in your apartment / house, there is an alternative option - you can offer the landlord an amount based on previous bills.
The easiest way to get your deposit back is to ask for it back when you hand over the keys. Of course, a lot depends on the honesty of the landlord, but in order to avoid possible troubles, be sure to specify in the contract the need to return the deposit even before the start of the rental, specify the terms of its return (very preferably on the day of departure).
If the owner comes into conflict and deliberately does not give money, record the state of the apartment when leaving - shoot a video. If possible, get a receipt from the owner that he or she has no claims against you. In the future, you will go to court with this evidence and your contract. But this is with the most negative result.
How long is a rental agreement required for a residence permit?
In order to obtain a residence permit, a minimum 6-month lease agreement must be signed, the money must be paid in advance and approved by the tax office. For detailed information about the residence permit, see our article: TRNC Residence Permit
We wish you pleasant days in your new home.
