Renting before you buy property in Croatia
While searching for your ideal “place in the sun” it’s always nice if you can find somewhere comfortable to stay before you buy property in Croatia.
If your travel involves searching to buy property in Croatia outside the busy summer months of July and August, finding somewhere to rent shouldn’t be a problem.
Almost every town will have at least one hotel of a decent standard, and nightly rates will become increasingly reasonable the further away you base yourself from the major tourist centers and popular attractions.
However, even the cheapest of hotels can get rather expensive if you decide to stay for an extended period of time.
A great alternative when attempting to buy property in Croatia, is renting a private apartment (apartmani).
Settling in Before you Buy Property in Croatia
Renting private apartments tends to be a more cost-effective option before you buy a property in Croatia, with the added benefit of you having your own space. A simple search on the internet will literally unveil thousands of short-terms lets, from coastal apartments to country retreats (agroturizam). Clearly aimed at the holiday market, the prices fall by as much as 50 percent outside the peak season and many offer reduced rates for longer-term lets of more then three weeks or so.
But, if you’re feeling adventurous while looking to buy property in Croatia, by far the cheapest option is a pitch up at one of Croatia’s many campsites. Some campsites can offer you a choice of renting mobile homes with their own bathrooms, while others allow you to bring your own motor home.
If you intend to digest and take a little time over your search, or would prefer to live in an area for a while before you buy property in Croatia and commit yourself permanently, you might consider a long-term lease. Although you will have to pay up to three month’s rent in advance, together with a deposit of at least a further month’s rent, in the long run, this option will undoubtedly be cheaper then renting a holiday apartment.
In Croatia a typical long-term lease is agreed for one year, but in most instances you can terminate the rental agreement early after a pre-arranged notice period (usually 30 days). The widest choice of long-term-lease property can be found in the urban areas of Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik, but your first step should be to find an estate agent who deals with residential lettings/leases.
Lettings/leasing agents are unregulated in Croatia, and the only way of checking the integrity of the agent is through word of mouth, and/or asking to speak to past clients. Be aware that as a foreigner you may be expected to pay more for the lease than a local, and that the agent will charge you commission either as a flat fee or as a percentage of the annual lease. A good tip is to explicitly agree the rate of the commission with the agent before you view any properties.
Once you have found a place you like, the agent should produce a rental agreement that clearly states the responsibilities of both the landlord and you as a tenant. Go through the agreement thoroughly, and check every detail is applicable, including liability for utility bills, notice period and inventories. For peace of mind a great idea is to have independent lawyer look over the rental agreement before you sign just to ensure everything is in order.
Although as an agency, we don’t deal with leases and long-lets, feel free to get in touch, as we would be happy to point you in the right direction.
And if you’re looking to buy property in Croatia, or need help finding your ideal second home, get in touch we’d love to help.
By Nina Lauc
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