All the private residential leases drawn up after the law come into force on 1st January 2020 shall be done in writing and must include the following requirements:
- The property which is being leased;
- Intended use as agreed;
- The period covering the lease;
- Whether, and how, the lease can be renewed;
- The lease amount and how this should be paid;
- Any amount deposited by the lessee by way of security, for the performance of his obligations;
- An inventory attesting the condition of the premises as well as the state of any furniture and domestic appliances supplied by the lessor.
Long Private Residential Lease –
Long Private Residential Lease cannot have a duration of less than one (1) year.
Explanation of a one-year lease contract
- The first six months are mandatory for the lessee;
- Following the obligatory six months, the lessee may be released from the contract by giving at least one (1) month notice to the lessor by means of a registered letter;
- If the lessor does not intend to renew the lease, the lessee must be informed three (3) months prior to the termination of the contract by means of a registered letter;
- If the lessor fails to notify the lessee within the established period, the lease is renewed automatically for a year.
The minimum obligatory duration is one year; however, the lessor and the lessee may agree on a longer lease contract.
Explanation of a two-year lease contract
- The first nine months (9) are mandatory for the lessee;
- Following the obligatory nine months, the lessee may be released from the contract by giving at least two (2) months’ notice to the lessor by means of a registered letter;
- If the lessor does not intend to renew the lease, the lessee must be informed three (3) months prior to the termination of the contract by means of a registered letter;
- If the lessor fails to notify the lessee within the established period, the lease is renewed automatically for a year.
Explanation of a contract for three years or longer
- The first twelve months (12) are mandatory for the lessee;
- Following the obligatory twelve months, the lessee may be released from the contract by giving at least three (3) months’ notice to the lessor by means of a registered letter;
- If the lessor does not intend to renew the lease, the lessee must be informed three (3) months prior to the termination of the contract by means of a registered letter;
- If the lessor fails to notify the lessee within the established period, the lease is renewed automatically for a year.
Short term Private Residential Lease
apply only for:
- Temporary foreign workers who are employed for six months or less;
- Students pursuing short courses of less than six months’ duration;
- Foreign lessees who would not be seeking to establish ordinary residency in Malta;
- Maltese lessees who need to lease an ordinary residency for a short period of less than six months.
Explanation of Short-Let Contracts
- The lease duration is six months;
- The first month of the lease is obligatory for the lessee;
- Following the obligatory month, the lessee may be released from the contract but is obliged to give at least one week’s prior notice to the lessor by means of a registered letter;
- The contract cannot be renewed.
Shared Residential Space
Lease of a shared residential space means the lease of a separate space in an apartment or building, with shared amenities like the kitchen and bathroom facilities.
Explanation of a shared residential space lease
- The lease duration is six months;
- The lessee may be released from the contract at any time by giving one week’s prior notice to the lessor by means of a registered letter;
- The contract cannot be renewed.
You can find more details on https://rentregistration.mt/the-rental-contract/
