Tangier, the fifth largest city of Morocco, is a prime destination for expats after Marrakech and Casablanca. It is not difficult to find housing in the region, as there are many choices. You will mostly find hotels, apartments, and villas. No matter what you choose, you will have the opportunity to enjoy beautiful beaches and proximity to the ferry to Spain or Gibraltar.
Neighbourhoods in Tangier
The city of Tangier has been gaining more and more popularity with expats for the past few years. Many of them have settled around the city, including Malabta, Playa, Boulevard Pasteur, Ennejma, and California in the uptown part of the city. You will find not only the necessary facilities such as shopping malls, schools, markets, and local authorities, but you will also have the opportunity to live in a house with a view of the ocean.
If you are looking for medium size housing, you can settle in neighbourhoods like Merchane, Lalla Chfia, Bel Air, Val Fleury, and Drissia, where you will mostly find apartments. Many European expats have settled in the city of Tangier. You should also know that neighbourhoods like Bir Chifa, Hawma Chik, and Souk Dakhel are not recommended.
Rent prices in Tangier
Although most expats in Tangier prefer to live in villas by the sea, apartments of various sizes are also available throughout the city. Rent in Tangier is generally cheaper than in other metropolitan cities. You can rent a three-bedroom apartment from 3,500 dirhams and a five-bedroom apartment from 6,000 to 7,500 dirhams. You can find a decent apartment starting from 2,500 dirhams. You can find a furnished apartment in the city, but the price may be higher. Even though you are not likely to find studios in Tangier, you can rent a traditional house in the older neighbourhoods in the city for a lower price, but be careful to pick the area you choose. To rent a villa, you will need at least MAD 10,000 per month. Rent can even reach 20,000 dirhams depending on the level of comfort. If you want to buy an apartment in Tangier, you will need at least 300,000 dirhams while the price of a house or a villa starts as from 800,000 dirhams and can reach several million dirhams.
Good to know:
If you consider buying property, be careful with the company you buy from; housing projects often stop before completion and so you're left with a lot of unfinished houses. Buy either from big and reputable companies or from finished projects.
Lease procedures
Once you find rental housing in Tangier, make sure to negotiate the price with the landlord. The price doesn't include water and electricity bills. The rent contract is then drawn up and has to be notarized. The lease usually lasts for one year, so it has to be renewed. You will also have to pay a tax for the rent, which could be equivalent to a month's rent. The last part is to put the utility bills in your name. To do this, you fill out a form, which then has to be signed by the landlord, and present it to the utility company's local office (you can also pick up the form from their counter).
Good to know:
A good way to find a place is by checking social media group and post, mostly Facebook. You can also find flat-sharing offers for expats.
Useful links:
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