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Malta · Housing & Relocation

Renting in Malta

Verified data Last verified June 15, 2026 Reviewed by Henry van de Vorming

Most rentals in Malta are advertised through estate agents and aggregator portals, and the market skews heavily furnished, especially in expat hubs like Sliema and St Julian's. Long-term leases are regulated under the Private Residential Leases Act (in force since 1 January 2020), which sets a one-year minimum term for long lets and requires the landlord to register every lease with the Housing Authority.

The rental basics

Typical lease
1 year
Deposit
1 mo rent
Furnished
Furnished common
Mid-term market
Moderate mid-term market
Address registration
Required

Agency fee: Estate-agent commission is unregulated and negotiable but conventionally split: the tenant usually pays 50% of one month's rent plus 18% VAT, and the landlord pays the other half. In practice this means the tenant pays roughly half a month's rent plus VAT.

Address registration

Two separate registrations apply. Newcomers register their residence with Identità (the national identity agency) to obtain an eResidence document; EU/EEA nationals staying longer than three months must register and can be fined if they do not. Separately, the Private Residential Leases Act requires the landlord to register every long-term lease with the Housing Authority within 10 days of commencement; an unregistered lease is null and void.

Your rights as a tenant

Under the Private Residential Leases Act (in force since 1 January 2020), long-term leases have a minimum one-year term, and any annual rent increase may not exceed the variation in the National Statistics Office Property Price Index and in no case may exceed 5% of the previous rent.

Good to know

  • Furnished apartments (often including white goods and air conditioning) are the market norm, easing setup for newcomers
  • Aggregator portals like djar.ai pull listings from most major agencies into one search
  • Long-term tenants are protected by the Private Residential Leases Act: one-year minimum term and a rent-increase cap that may never exceed 5% per year
  • Upfront cash is limited: advance rent is statutorily capped at one month, and a security deposit of one month's rent is the standard ask

Watch out for

  • Confirm the landlord has registered the lease with the Housing Authority within 10 days of commencement; an unregistered contract is null and void and forfeits your legal protections
  • On top of the deposit and first month, the tenant typically pays an agent commission of around half a month's rent plus 18% VAT, so budget for the upfront cost
  • Prime expat areas (Sliema, St Julian's) are tight and pricey; furnished stock moves quickly
  • Early-withdrawal rules apply (the tenant generally cannot leave a long lease under 2 years before 6 months, with notice), and the landlord may retain up to one month's rent from the deposit if you withdraw early

Where to look

djar.ai (aggregator across major agencies)Frank Salt Real EstateQuickLetsRE/MAX MaltaDhalia Real Estate

Platforms are listed for orientation only — we don't endorse or rank them.

Renting in Malta: FAQ

Renting in Malta: FAQ

How much deposit do I need to rent in Malta?

Landlords typically ask for around 1 month of rent as a security deposit, on top of the first month upfront, plus any agency fee (estate-agent commission is unregulated and negotiable but conventionally split: the tenant usually pays 50% of one month's rent plus 18% vat, and the landlord pays the other half. in practice this means the tenant pays roughly half a month's rent plus vat.). Budget for that as a lump sum before you arrive.

Do I have to register my address in Malta?

Yes — Two separate registrations apply. Newcomers register their residence with Identità (the national identity agency) to obtain an eResidence document; EU/EEA nationals staying longer than three months must register and can be fined if they do not. Separately, the Private Residential Leases Act requires the landlord to register every long-term lease with the Housing Authority within 10 days of commencement; an unregistered lease is null and void.

Can I find furnished or short-term rentals in Malta?

Furnished common and the mid-term market nomads rely on is moderate mid-term market. Start your search on djar.ai (aggregator across major agencies), Frank Salt Real Estate, QuickLets.

Sources