During your residency in Malta and in the processes before it, you will most definitely come accross rental contracts. Rental contracts in Malta serve as the backbone of the landlord-tenant relationship, ensuring clarity, accountability, and legality in property arrangements.
In this comprehensive guide, we dig deep into residential rental contracts, shedding light on the crucial aspects of each type of contract. If you are thinking of moving to Malta with the aim to establish residency, this article will provide you with the essential knowledge.
Residential Rental Contracts
A residential rental contract, governed by The Private Residential Leases Act, is obligatory for any property rented out for residency. These contracts clarify responsibilities for both landlords and tenants, serving as a reference point for dispute resolution. To avoid misunderstandings, it is imperative to select the appropriate type of rental contract:
Long Let
This type of contract is ideal for someone who is planning to stay in Malta on a long-term basis:
- Minimum duration of one year, extendable to two years or more.
- Mandatory first six months for tenants.
- Lessor must provide three months’ notice if not renewing the lease.
Short Let
This type of contract is ideal for someone who is a temporary foreign worker, students pursuing short courses and others who would not be seeking to establish residency in Malta:
- Suitable for temporary residents (less than six months).
- One-month mandatory stay.
- Non-renewable.
Shared Residential Spaces Let
This type of contract is ideal for those seeking to co-living on a short-let basis:
- Ideal for shared apartments with communal facilities.
- Lease duration is six months.
- One-week notice for termination.
Non-renewable.
Clauses Included
There are some specific pieces of information that you must include in a Residential Rental Contract to define your residency:
- Details of tenants and landlords
- Property details
- Rental duration
- Payment terms
- Security deposits
- Renewal conditions
- Inventory of the premises
- Water and electricity metre readings
Additionally, all primary residential lease contracts must be registered with the Housing Authority within ten days of commencement. The Housing Authority approval will also be required to present.
Sciberras Advocates
Moving to a new location is tricky without help. To ensure your rental contracts are reliable and have every piece of information possible, don’t hesitate to contact Sciberras Advocates.
Sciberras Advocates founded by Dr Adrian Sciberras, is a law firm based in Malta. The firm prides itself to be multi-disciplinary, innovative and flexible in order to meet the changing times and any challenges in the local and international legal scenario. No matter what private or corporate complex demands are called for, Sciberras Advocates offers practical and cost-effective legal solutions to achieve your desired results. You may reach Sciberras Advocates by phone on +35627795222 or via email on [email protected].
