Interested to hear any advice for someone who has just arrived in Paphos and looking now to rent a house or apartment here. We are just living in a hotel at present. I have never been to Paphos before and I am also not driving now due to medical condition. Any good advice for the following things ?
1. I will have to rent a flat or house in or near Paphos at the start. I have just stayed in a property owned by a relative back home for the last few years and so I have no recent landlord references or anything. Will it be a big problem finding a place to rent in or near Paphos? Our budget is up to about €1,200. Any suggestions on where to look or any good websites to search? I would be ok with any location with some amenities so long as I can get a taxi or bus into Paphos once or twice a week.
2. Also, should I try to open a Cyprus bank account here first or is it best to try to get a property to rent first? Will the bank require a permanent rental address in Cyprus before they will open an account? And if I have no local bank account here yet then will I be able to get a house or flat to rent as I will presumably have to pay one month rent and deposit at the start? Can I pay the rent from a non-Cyprus account at the start?
Thanks for any help and advice.
Just arrived - help
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wantoosoon
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Sun May 23, 2021 10:05 pm
Re: Just arrived - help
1. You don't need references or a credit check. Your budget is high and you'll have no trouble finding a large detached house. I had a good experience with Fox Smart Estate Agency, though there are plenty of others to choose from. You could also look on Bazaraki to find landlords directly but be prepared to waste quite a lot of time. Public transport here is poor and everyone drives, so it's often surprisingly difficult to get anywhere without a car. Do you want to live in a village or an urban area? Somewhere like Konia has a village feel but is very close to town.
2. Many people live here without a local bank account. I mostly use a euro account at a UK bank and I transfer my rent using that account. Opening a local bank account wasn't straightforward for me. Bank of Cyprus wanted a lot of documentation (including a signed rental agreement) and I had to go to the branch for two hour-long sessions. A local account isn't necessary in order to rent but you may find it more convenient depending on your situation.
Edit: On both the places I've rented in Cyprus, I managed to negotiate the advertised rent down by about 15%. It's always worth making an offer.
2. Many people live here without a local bank account. I mostly use a euro account at a UK bank and I transfer my rent using that account. Opening a local bank account wasn't straightforward for me. Bank of Cyprus wanted a lot of documentation (including a signed rental agreement) and I had to go to the branch for two hour-long sessions. A local account isn't necessary in order to rent but you may find it more convenient depending on your situation.
Edit: On both the places I've rented in Cyprus, I managed to negotiate the advertised rent down by about 15%. It's always worth making an offer.
Re: Just arrived - help
Interesting scenario
You don't say who and how many "we" are
I suspect you could get something for about half your original budget.
If your 'wealth' is in the UK, then maybe a UK owner would take payments in sterling to save the complications of exchange rates ... perhaps?
You don't say who and how many "we" are
I suspect you could get something for about half your original budget.
If your 'wealth' is in the UK, then maybe a UK owner would take payments in sterling to save the complications of exchange rates ... perhaps?
J B
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The Aquila
- Posts: 1066
- Joined: Sun Mar 10, 2019 11:12 am
Re: Just arrived - help
Strange post!
Unless you’re escaping a war zone in which case the government would help, why on earth would you move somewhere you know absolutely nothing about?
Unless you’re escaping a war zone in which case the government would help, why on earth would you move somewhere you know absolutely nothing about?
Re: Just arrived - help
You obviously have some knowledge about Cyprus as you state ''I have just stayed in a property owned by a relative back home for the last few years and so I have no recent landlord references or anything''.
If you use Facebook I suggest you join 'Paphos Chat' for practical and up to date information from people who have moved here recently.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/182633002288773
Rental agents will collect you from your hotel and take you to view properties.
Make a list of exactly what you are looking for and check a few websites to get a comparable price - do not reveal your top limit as you may end up paying far more than the property is actually worth.
I have always paid cash to the landlord (and obtained a receipt).
Paphos is made of many different communities, some more scenic than others, so you really need to get out and about to check out a few areas.
We always made sure we were within easy walking distance of a decent supermarket/kiosk, pharmacy, butcher, baker, coffee shop etc and so don't have to rely on a car or public transport.
From personal experience I can recommend the following rental agents:
Smart Rentz Cyprus. Website http://smartrentzcyprus.com/
Mr Rent Paphos. Website: http://www.mrrent-paphos.net/
If you use Facebook I suggest you join 'Paphos Chat' for practical and up to date information from people who have moved here recently.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/182633002288773
Rental agents will collect you from your hotel and take you to view properties.
Make a list of exactly what you are looking for and check a few websites to get a comparable price - do not reveal your top limit as you may end up paying far more than the property is actually worth.
I have always paid cash to the landlord (and obtained a receipt).
Paphos is made of many different communities, some more scenic than others, so you really need to get out and about to check out a few areas.
We always made sure we were within easy walking distance of a decent supermarket/kiosk, pharmacy, butcher, baker, coffee shop etc and so don't have to rely on a car or public transport.
From personal experience I can recommend the following rental agents:
Smart Rentz Cyprus. Website http://smartrentzcyprus.com/
Mr Rent Paphos. Website: http://www.mrrent-paphos.net/
Re: Just arrived - help
If you want to reside here for longer then 90 days, as advised above, make an appointment with immigration first, they will answer all your questions
Re: Just arrived - help
Thanks for all the help and advice so far. I had thought that I would need to open a local bank account but if it is possible to just use a euro account from home to pay the rent then that is fine. So will an overseas bank account also be ok for paying for everything else here like electricity bills and things?
We have had a walk around the main town and everywhere so far seemed ok to live. I did not know that rental agents would collect us for viewings so that is good. Do they all do this or just some? And are there any no-go areas in Paphos that we should avoid for renting?
We have had a walk around the main town and everywhere so far seemed ok to live. I did not know that rental agents would collect us for viewings so that is good. Do they all do this or just some? And are there any no-go areas in Paphos that we should avoid for renting?
Re: Just arrived - help
You might want to give Chloraka a missAndsee wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 1:48 pm Thanks for all the help and advice so far. I had thought that I would need to open a local bank account but if it is possible to just use a euro account from home to pay the rent then that is fine. So will an overseas bank account also be ok for paying for everything else here like electricity bills and things?
We have had a walk around the main town and everywhere so far seemed ok to live. I did not know that rental agents would collect us for viewings so that is good. Do they all do this or just some? And are there any no-go areas in Paphos that we should avoid for renting?
Re: Just arrived - help
Chloraka is quiet now, and in many respects is a good place to live as the village has almost everything to hand that you need for ordinary day to day living. It has a large supermarket, fresh fruit and veg outlets, bakery, book shop, computer shop, a bank and about 4 pharmacies... It is also only about 2-3 kms from Paphos.
I haven't actually lived in Paphos, but there are a lot of new developments there. Specially around the Universal area where there is a bus service, a kiosk, a restaurant and so on.
Dee
I haven't actually lived in Paphos, but there are a lot of new developments there. Specially around the Universal area where there is a bus service, a kiosk, a restaurant and so on.
Dee
Re: Just arrived - help
Yes, Chloraka does have much to offer and I know the area well from St George's Hotel up the steep hill to Papantoniou supermarket.
There is a reliable and regular bus route from Kato Paphos all along the coast road to Coral Bay (Route 615) and also a bus route through the village from the market car park in Pano Paphos to Peyia which has a few buses every day (Route 607). I also endorse what Kili01 says about the facilities in the village. Chloraka is an active village with a good mix of nationalities and many places to eat and drink. Also has a branch of Hellenic Bank.
There is a reliable and regular bus route from Kato Paphos all along the coast road to Coral Bay (Route 615) and also a bus route through the village from the market car park in Pano Paphos to Peyia which has a few buses every day (Route 607). I also endorse what Kili01 says about the facilities in the village. Chloraka is an active village with a good mix of nationalities and many places to eat and drink. Also has a branch of Hellenic Bank.
