Here are some tips for you who want to rent an apartment in Tunisia. Use your time well to check out the rental market in the area you want to live so you don’t end up paying to much for your apartment, specially if you are a foreigner.see also (Tips for tourists who want to visit Tunisia )
When you use an agent to rent an apartment in Tunisia
If you want to use an agent you have to be aware that they might charge you a fee as much as a houserent or they will charge you everytime they show you an apartment.
That’s why it’s important that you are very spesific about what you want and where you want to live. Do not do not expect the rental company to help you if you have problems with the landlord. Maybe some company helps, but I have not met anyone.
When you don’t use an agent
If you don’t want to use an agent or check advertisments on internet, you can go to the local coffee in the area you want to live and ask for the 《samsar》. A 《samsar》is a person who knows where you can find rental apartments.
This is the cheapest way to do it as the samsar will charge you at least 50% less than an agent.
You can actually negotiate the rent. In some cases where you feel you have to pay more than you feel you get back, this is possible before signing the contract. In many cases, the landlord can lower the rent a bit.
Spend a long time renting a house.If something seems too good to be true, well then it may not be true.
t’s normal to pay a month deposit in advance for the apartment. Make sure the contract is registered. Before you sign a contract there are a few things you need to check.
Check the location when you want to rent an apartment in Tunisia
Do the area have a lot of coffee bars, discoteques, community houses where they arrange weddings and mosques? If you can’t handle the loud noise from this places I will advice you to settle down in another location. If you want to live in that area be prepared to sleep with earplugs. see also ( Tips to avoid harassment In Tunisia )
Check for humidity
Are you renting an apartment in the summer it can be difficult to find out, but in some houses you can smell it. Be aware that it will be much worse during the winter.
Make sure the windows are not leaking when it’s raining, and that the entrance has a high doorstep and slopes away from the wall.
Check the electrisity when you want to rent an apartment in Tunisia
Check that the electrical system is strong enough for the electrical appliances you want to have.
If you want to have a fixed internet you have to check the signal and how strong it is.
Before you move in
Before you move in bring the owner on a tour around the apartment to check that everything as taps, windows, construction and humidity is ok.
Take a lot of pictures so that you can document how the apartment looked like when you moved in. In that way, when you move out, the owner can’t accuse you of destroying something that was already broken.
If the neighbour has a dog who barks 24 hours a day, it wont help to complain.
The kids are playing in the streets and the families here are very loud. That’s just the way it is. If you can’t handle it it’s better you settle far out in the countryside.
When you move out from an apartment
Don’t expect to get the deposit back. Some house owners are very nice and help you to fix broken things, but others don’t bother.
A golden rule for me is to ask the owner for permission if I want to change something in the apartment. After all, it’s not our house.
Written by carita
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