5 TIPS For Finding Your Apt For Rent In Jerusalem
- Know Your Stuff & What You Need
– Duration of lease: from what date are you willing to start your lease and for how long (1 year or more)
– Area: what neighborhood(s) are you interested in?
– Number of rooms: how many bedrooms do you require?
– Features: what are your required criteria, e.g.: furnished vs unfurnished apartment, renovated apartment, elevator, new building, balcony, parking place, storage room…
– Budget: What is your maximum monthly budget? You need to take into account the extra charges beyond the rent i.e. building fee (vaad bait), property taxes (arnona) and utilities (electricity, water and gas if any)
- Research & View apartments
Search by yourself online or choose a good and trusted realtor to help you find your apartment. FYI a major website for long term rentals is yad2.
Look well at the apartments you visit and pay attention to the state of the apartments (painting…) and possible water damage and mold which is pretty frequent in Jerusalem older buildings and especially on the top floors.
- Decide fast, negotiate rent & contract
Let the owner/agent know that you are interested in the apartment. Rent is often negotiable unless it’s in high demand or the price is already low. In this case, give a reasonable offer to the owner/agent and agree on the rent and on the entry date.
Get and review the contract with your lawyer, a contact or a family member/friend (long term rentals contracts are mainly in Hebrew).
There are always guarantees on a rental contract. It can be 1 or 2 guarantors, 1 to 3 months rent returnable security deposit and other types of guarantees.
Most of the time, you have to give 12 checks for each month’s rent at the signature of the contract. Often, the owner asks for checks in the name of arnona, vaad bait, electric and water companies with no amount in case the tenant doesn’t pay these charges.
Ask your questions but don’t be too picky on the terms and check who needs to do the repairs and if they expect you to paint the apartment at the end of your lease (accept this condition only if you get the apartment painted for your arrival).
- Signature of the contract & document any damages
You’re ready to sign, make a date for the signing w/ everything ready: checks, guarantors, ID.
We recommend you document by writing and taking pictures of defaults/stains/cracks… and send them to the owner so that they’ll know these issues/damages existed before your arrival.
- A Realtor Can Help
Realtors help you to find an apartment according to your criteria, help you negotiate rent and conditions and follow and assist you throughout the whole process of the rental of your apartment. A trusted and recommended real estate agent may be the way to avoid any headaches and get your Jerusalem home more simply. They can also help you with Hebrew in case you don’t yet know the language.
Tzion Apartments is a real estate agency that specializes in sales, long term and vacation rentals, plus rental management in Jerusalem, Israel.
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