Rental Property & Communal Charges

[Tuppence]

On a long term rental contract are communal charges usually included in the rent, paid on top of the rent or does it depend on who the landlord is or the area?

Anyone have an idea of what the charges would be on a two bed, two bath apartment in a small complex with lift but no pool?

[trevnhil]

We always paid them on top of the rent. This was on two rentals in two different villages.
Same with Electric and Water

[ApusApus]

We include ours in the rent.


Shane

[galexinda]

From my experience, communal charges have always been included in the rent. The amount each apartment pays is according to the square metre value of each property. Amount will vary according to the number of properties in the complex ie small number = higher fees. Communal fees can include all or some of the following: communal area insurance, the communal water, lift maintenance and service fees, cleaning, gardening and although not applicable in your case swimming pool cleaning and maintenance. Utilities such as water, rates, sewerage, electricity, telephone & internet are usually in the name of the tenant. A guesstimate would be an average of about €40-€60 per month (no pool and 12-14 properties).

[darrow]

If you read Nigels Cyprus Property News, availsble online, yoi will find everything pertaining to proprrty including communal fees. They are the responsibility of the owner, not the tenant, in law! It is also obligortary to have communal insurance on buildings. Contents are for owner or tenant depending on whether furnished or unfurnished. His site is a mine of information on all things connected to proprty in Cyprus.

[Lofos-Jan]

Hi Tuppence

They are almost always included in the rental for an apartment. I think Trev means the local authority community charge (council,tax) rather than a complex communal fee. Most apartments will include all bills except electric but make sure it is written in the contract. Some will ask you to pay the water/local authority charge on top but almost never the comple. communal fees.

Jeanne

[Uncle D]

Legally the owner should pay and charge accordingly to the tenant. What happens quite often is the owner advertises the rent without the fees so as not make it look too expensive and then they tell the renter to pay the fees.
Sometimes some dodgy owners charge the tenant and don't pay the fees then when asked about the fees they blame the tenant for not paying them.

[Varky]

It all depends upon what is written into your tenancy agreement. All options within that agreement are possible. Therefore before entering into a tenancy agreement read the small print to avoid nasty surprises later on.

[Tuppence]

Thanks for replies.

We have lived here permanently for quite a long time & are currently in our 2nd rental. Both have been 3 bed detached properties in villages (with good landlords) & we have always had water & electricity in our name. Now we are getting older we would like to downsize, dispense with a garden & move nearer to town & more amenities. We are starting to look for an unfurnished apartment but they seem to be quite rare these days!

The unfurnished 2 bed apartment I saw advertised was asking for €50 communal charges on top of €500 per month rent. I thought this was a bit steep as I don’t think there is as much room for negotiation as there used to be. Never having looked at apartments before perhaps i'm a bit out of touch!

[Uncle D]

It would need to be exceptional for €500 per month, €300-350 would be more like it. Keep looking.