How to Let a Flat in Cyprus Long-Term

Updated

06.10.2026

Reading time:

4 min

Reading time:

4 min

A long-term let of a flat in Cyprus is set up with a tenancy agreement, usually for a year. For homes built after 2000, the law imposes very little: the parties set the term, rent, deposit and move-out terms themselves. That is why the level of detail in the agreement decides how easily a landlord can settle a dispute with a tenant.

This article covers which laws apply to long-term letting, what to put in the agreement, how the deposit works, when a tenant can be evicted and what the landlord is responsible for. Both ways of letting, long-term and short-term, are compared in our article on how to let a flat in Cyprus.

Which law applies to your flat

Cyprus has two tenancy regimes.

Regime	Which flats	What it means for the landlord
Freedom of contract	Buildings completed from 2000 onwards and most flats on the market	The agreement sets the terms, and disputes go to the district court
Rent control law	Buildings finished by 31 December 1999, in areas where the law applies, if the tenant has protected status	Rent can be raised once every two years and not above the set cap; eviction is possible only on statutory grounds

Furnished homes let for up to 6 months are not covered by rent control. Before letting a flat in an older building, it is worth asking a lawyer whether the rent control law applies to it.

How to Let a Flat in Cyprus Long-Term

What to include in the tenancy agreement

There is no compulsory template, and the agreement does not have to be registered with any public authority. Stamp duty no longer applies to agreements signed from 2026 either. The agreement should set out:

the term of the tenancy and how it is renewed;
the rent, the payment date and the payment method, which must be non-cash;
whether and how the rent can be raised on renewal;
the size of the deposit and the terms for returning it;
who pays for electricity, water, internet and the complex's common expenses;
who is responsible for minor repairs and who for major ones;
the notice period for moving out for each party;
whether pets and subletting are allowed;
an inventory of furniture and appliances with photos.

"An inventory with photos is the cheapest way to avoid a dispute over the deposit. When there is something to compare against at move-out, deductions are settled in a single conversation," advises a Nicosia lawyer specialising in housing disputes.

Deposit

Landlords usually ask for one or two months' rent as a deposit. No dedicated deposit law exists in Cyprus, so everything depends on the agreement. The landlord can deduct from the deposit:

unpaid rent;
the cost of repairing damage beyond normal wear and tear;
unpaid utility bills and common expenses, if the agreement passes them to the tenant.

It is worth stating in the agreement how soon the deposit is returned after move-out, for example 30 days after the final bills are settled.

Rent and running costs

Since 1 July 2026, all rent in Cyprus, of any amount, has to be paid electronically: by transfer, card or similar. Paying cash costs the tenant their tax deduction and puts the landlord in breach of the law.

By law the owner pays the complex's common expenses, but the agreement often passes them on to the tenant. Electricity and water accounts are usually transferred to the tenant's name for the duration of the tenancy. This suits both sides: the landlord is not liable for someone else's consumption.

If the flat is under rent control

If the rent control law applies to the flat:

the rent may go up at most once in 2 years;
the maximum increase is 6% for the period from 22 April 2025 to 21 April 2027;
eviction is possible only for reasons listed in the law.

The grounds for eviction are:

rent arrears;
the landlord or their family needs the flat;
the tenant disturbs the neighbours or uses the home unlawfully;
the tenant damages the flat;
the building is to be demolished or rebuilt.

How to Let a Flat in Cyprus Long-Term

How to evict a tenant

Under rent control. A tenant can be evicted only through the Rent Control Court and only on the grounds the law allows, rent arrears among them. The landlord first demands payment of the arrears in writing and then applies to the court. The timescales in each case are best confirmed with a lawyer.

Under an ordinary agreement. If rent control does not apply, the dispute goes to the district court. If the tenant fights the eviction, proceedings may last for years. That is why the grounds and timescales for ending the tenancy are best spelled out in the agreement in advance.

The landlord's obligations

Energy performance certificate. It must be shown to the tenant before the agreement is signed. It remains valid for 10 years.
A home in good order. The flat must be fit to live in, and the utilities must work.
Taxes. Rental income goes on the tax return, and income tax and the GeSY contribution are charged on it. See our article on rental income tax in Cyprus.

Who long-term letting may not suit

Owners who want to use the flat themselves for several months a year. A one-year agreement does not allow for that.
Buyers of an older flat with a sitting tenant. Under rent control the rent can hardly be raised, and a tenant can be removed only for statutory reasons.
Landlords who let without a detailed agreement. A dispute in the district court can drag on for years.

What changed in 2025–2026

Rent-controlled homes: increases limited to 6% through to 21 April 2027.
Stamp duty on tenancy agreements was scrapped on 1 January 2026.
Rent has had to be paid electronically since 1 July 2026.
From 2026, landlords no longer pay the special defence contribution on rent.

Frequently asked questions

How long are flats in Cyprus usually let for?

Most often for 12 months with an option to renew. The parties set the term in the agreement.

What deposit is taken when letting a flat in Cyprus?

Typically the equivalent of one or two months' rent. With no dedicated law, the return terms are set in the agreement.

Does a tenancy agreement have to be registered?

No. The agreement does not need to be registered with any public authority, and no stamp duty has been payable since 2026.

Can a tenant be evicted for unpaid rent?

Yes, but only through the courts. If the flat is under rent control, the case is heard by the Rent Control Court; otherwise it goes to the district court.

Find a flat in Cyprus

For long-term letting, flats close to workplaces, schools and transport work well. In the Cyprus-Real.Estate catalogue, look for flats in Cyprus near employers and schools, as well as new developments in areas with steady demand.