The first thing to do when deciding to go to Romania is finding the best accommodation. Whether you are coming for studies, business opportunities, travel or more, it’s important to have an overlook of your future home. Luckily, the country provides enough furnished and unfurnished accommodation options to meet all the requirements of future expats. You just need to make a decision on which city, neighbourhood or countryside you would love to live.
Types of accommodation for expats in Romania
Expats housing in Romania is visibly divided into some areas: first is the life in the city, then the outlying suburbs and last is the countryside.
In the cities, accommodation is usually limited to the old or modern blocks of apartments. For those who want to live in a house, it can be done, but the offer is limited. Housing beyond the city limits easy access to the centre but offer more space.
Suburbs are perfect for those who are working from home. Prices are lower, and the blocks or houses are more modern than in the city. When it comes to the countryside, you can find beautiful, picturesque housing at more affordable prices than in the suburbs.
Lease conditions in Romania
In most cases, the lease conditions will appear on the lease contract that both parties are going to sign. They can either do a renting contract before a public notary. In general, expats will have to pay the rent in cash, on a specific date. Some owners prefer to pay in lei, some in euros.
Regarding the other expenses, such as electricity, water or gas, these will come separately, on other bills that the tenant will have to pay.
The quality of the housing unit depends on the cleanliness, region, heating installation, furniture, the age of the block, etc. Note that the majority of owners will ask you to pay an initial sum of money as a warranty. Usually, this is the equivalent of a month of rent.
Rent prices in Romania
Although the rent prices have increased across the country, especially in the best economic cities, such as Bucharest, Cluj, Brasov or Timisoara, their value is still smaller than in other European countries.
Surely, the rent in a city will generally cost more than in a smaller town or in the outlying area. For instance, in the big cities, an apartment with two rooms can even cost 600 euros, in the best areas while in smaller cities or suburbs, the same apartment can go to half of this price. These values can go up and down, depending on the variables mentioned above.
Rent agreements in Romania will generally last for 12 months, but expats can negotiate shorter periods as well. For those who will ask the help of an estate agency, they will need to pay a fee.
How to find accommodation in Romania
There is enough variety and supply of housing in Romania for expats to find something that suits them. If you are still in your homeland, you can easily browse through the internet, filter the information depending on the city, the price you can afford and the number of rooms you need.
Websites such as OLX, lajumate.ro, or Piata A-Z are some free portals where expats can find the type of accommodation they want. Apart from online portals, you can seek help from an English-speaking real estate agent. These people are experts on the local market and can help you get rid of possible scammers or fake agents.
Last but not least, it's a great idea to ask people you already know, friends or colleagues who are Romanian and know the local real estate market. They can give you some tips about possible great accommodation.
Can foreigners buy property in Romania?
Yes, expats can own a property in Romania, but it also depends on whether they are EU or non-EU citizens.
EU citizens can own apartments, lands or houses in Romania, just like any other Romanian. They just need to obtain a specific fiscal identification code, which will allow them to pay taxes. This fiscal code belongs to ANAF.
Also, as a non-EU citizen, you can own property, meaning land or a house only through a Romanian company. The easiest way is to incorporate a limited time company “SRL” as the sole owner and buy the property you want through this SRL.
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