Rental & Landlords

No. Since 1 July 2026, rent for any property in Cyprus must be paid electronically: by bank transfer, by debit or credit card, or by another recognised electronic payment method. The rule is in Article 48A of the Assessment and Collection of Taxes Law (N.4/1978), added by the 2026 tax reform. It applies to all individuals and companies, whatever the amount of rent and whatever the property is used for, and a landlord may not accept rent in any other way (Tax Department). Keep your bank or card records as proof of payment.

Sign a new Electricity Supply Agreement with EAC Supply in your own name: the existing account is not simply renamed. Apply through the EAC Portal or at an EAC Customer Service Centre with your tenancy agreement, ID or passport, the previous customer's written consent (or a solemn declaration if you cannot reach them) and the meter number or a copy of a bill. The fee is €15 + VAT. Tenants also pay a deposit on signing: €200 for Cypriot and EU citizens, €350 for third-country nationals (EAC). The deposit is refunded on your final bill, minus any unpaid amounts.

For an ordinary tenancy, Cyprus law sets neither the amount of the deposit nor a deadline for returning it: both are whatever the tenancy agreement says. Before you sign, check that the agreement states the amount, what the landlord may deduct from it (for example unpaid rent or bills, or damage beyond normal wear and tear) and how soon after you move out it is paid back. Pay it by bank transfer or get a receipt, so you have proof. Older homes under the Rent Control Law may have their own rules; in a dispute, ask a lawyer.

Only within limits, and the limits depend on the tenancy. In an ordinary tenancy the signed agreement governs: during its term the rent changes only if a clause allows it or the tenant agrees, and a landlord who wants the tenant out must go through the courts rather than change the locks. Older homes in controlled areas, completed by 31 December 1999, can fall under the Rent Control Law: a statutory tenant's rent can rise at most once every two years, by up to 6% between 22 April 2025 and 21 April 2027, and eviction is possible only on grounds the law lists, such as unpaid rent or the owner's genuine need. Check your case with a lawyer.

No. Cyprus abolished stamp duty from 1 January 2026 as part of its tax reform, so a tenancy agreement signed on or after that date carries no stamp duty and does not need to be stamped. Agreements signed up to 31 December 2025 remain under the old Stamp Duty Law: if duty was due on them and was not paid, it is still payable, with penalties for late payment. Keep the signed agreement safe all the same: EAC, for example, asks for it when a tenant transfers the electricity account.

Whoever agreed to pay it: the commission, its amount and who pays it are set in the agreement with the agent, so read it before you sign. VAT at 19% is added because an agent registered for VAT must charge it on its fee, and registration is compulsory once taxable supplies exceed €15,600 in 12 months. Renting out a home is exempt from VAT, so a landlord usually cannot reclaim that VAT. Use only a licensed estate agent: under Law 71(I)/2010 an agreement with an unlicensed intermediary is void.

Yes. A home let to tourists for short stays as self-service accommodation, whether through Airbnb, Booking.com or otherwise, must be registered with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism before it is advertised or let. The registration number it receives should appear in your listings. Since 20 May 2026, EU Regulation 2024/1028 also requires online platforms to show registration numbers where a registration scheme exists and to share data on stays with the authorities. Short-term letting has its own tax and VAT rules too, so check them with a tax adviser before you start.