Renting in a new country is harder than renting at home for three reasons. Landlords prefer tenants with local payslips and a local history. The best homes go within days, often before you can fly in. And the rules on deposits, contract length and notice are different everywhere.
The way through is to arrive prepared: documents ready, budget clear, and a temporary base so you are not forced to sign the first thing you see.
The steps
Set your budget, including the upfront cash
Landlords look at rent against income, and the deposit, guarantees and fees can add two to four months' rent on the day you sign. Use the affordability calculator.
Book a temporary flat for the first month
It lets you view in person, learn the neighbourhoods and avoid pressure. Furnished monthly lets cost more, but a wrong year-long lease costs more still.
Prepare your documents
Passport, proof of income, employment contract, references and the local tax number. See the documents landlords ask for.
Shortlist neighbourhoods
Work out the commute, schools and budget before you look at flats. Our city guides show typical rents by area.
Search and view
Use the main portals, local agencies and our [AI search](search:2-bedroom flat to rent). View in person or on a live video call with someone you trust.
Apply quickly and completely
Send a short cover note with your documents in one file. Incomplete applications go to the bottom of the pile.
Read the contract before you pay anything
Check the length, notice period, rent updates, who pays which bills, and what is included.
Pay the deposit to the right person, the right way
By bank transfer to an account in the landlord's or agency's name, with a receipt, and after you have signed.
Do the inventory on move-in day
Photos, meter readings, a signed list of contents and defects. It is how you get the deposit back. Use the move-in checklist.
Register what needs registering
In many countries the lease must be registered with the tax office, and you must register your address with the town hall or police.
Deposits and contract length by country
| Country | Cash deposit | Extra guarantees | Letting agency fee | Typical lease |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 1 month | 2 months | Usually paid by the landlord | 5 years (7 if the landlord is a company) |
| Portugal | 2 months | 2 months | Usually paid by the landlord | Fixed-term leases must run at least one year and renew automatically unless the contract says otherwise. A landlord who blocks the first renewal can only make that take effect once three years have passed, unless they need the home for themselves or a child. |
| France | 1 month | None | Often split between landlord and tenant | 3 years unfurnished (6 if the landlord is a company); 1 year furnished (9 months for students); bail mobilité of 1–10 months for temporary stays |
| Italy | 3 months | None | Often split between landlord and tenant | 4+4 years on the free market (canone libero), 3+2 years on agreed-rent contracts (canone concordato); transitional contracts of 1–18 months for temporary needs |
| Switzerland | 3 months | None | Usually paid by the landlord | Usually open-ended, ending with at least three months' notice to the termination dates in the lease. |
| Monaco | 3 months | None | Usually paid by the tenant | Freely agreed, usually 1–3 years, renewing automatically; notice is usually due three months before the end, and early exit only if the lease allows it. |
| Croatia | – | None | Depends on the agency | Fixed-term or open-ended, as agreed in the written lease. On an open-ended lease the tenant gives three months' notice. |
| Greece | 2 months | None | Depends on the agency | At least 3 years for a home, even if the contract states a shorter term |
| Cyprus | 1 month | 1 month | Depends on the agency | Fixed-term contracts, commonly one year and renewable by agreement |
| United Kingdom | 1.2 months | None | Usually paid by the landlord | Open-ended (periodic) tenancy: since 1 May 2026 most private tenancies in England have no fixed term, and tenants can leave with two months' notice. |
| United Arab Emirates | 0.6 months | None | Usually paid by the tenant | One year, renewable, with the tenancy contract registered in Ejari (AED 177.75 online or AED 220 at a trustee centre). |
| United States | 1 month | 1 month | Depends on the agency | 12 months, then renewal or a month-to-month tenancy, which either side can end with 30 days' written notice. |
| Turkey | 3 months | None | Depends on the agency | One year. Unless the tenant gives notice, the lease renews on the same terms each year, and the landlord can end it only on legal grounds (such as needing the home for themselves or close family) or after a ten-year extension period. |
See deposits, fees and tenant rights for the detail behind each country.
How to stand out from abroad
- Send everything at once: a one-page summary of who you are, where you will work, when you move, and your documents as one PDF.
- Offer what removes the landlord's risk: a guarantor, a deposit-guarantee insurance (common in Switzerland and France), or rent in advance where the law allows it. Portugal caps advance rent at two months; England at one month since May 2026.
- Be reachable: answer within hours, not days.
- Use an agent who works for you: in tight markets such as Zürich, Geneva and Lisbon, a relocation agent who views for you and knows the landlords can be worth the fee.
Furnished or unfurnished?
Long-term rentals in Spain, Portugal and Croatia are often furnished; in Switzerland and Germany they are almost always unfurnished, sometimes even without kitchen appliances. Furnished homes cost more, but save a container of furniture and the risk of buying for the wrong home. Check what "furnished" means in the inventory.
Questions people ask
Can I sign a lease before I arrive?
Yes, many landlords accept a lease signed remotely after a video viewing, especially with an agency. Make sure the agency is real and the account is in its name.
How long before moving should I start looking?
In most cities, homes are advertised four to six weeks before they are free. Start seriously a month to six weeks before your move, and earlier for Zürich and Geneva.
Do I need a local bank account to rent?
Often yes, for the deposit and direct debits. Open one as soon as you have a tax number; some banks open accounts for non-residents.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; check the details with a local professional before you sign or pay anything.