Step by Step Guide to Renting in Vilnius
- Before deciding on a rental, be sure to learn more about the neighbourhood in question and transportation options. To find out more about your future living environment, go to https://kurgyvenu.lt
- You can search for flats and homes online using the following platforms: Aruodas, Domoplius, Rebaltic.
- If you’d prefer to share, there are a plenty of flat-sharing options in Vilnius. Flatshares are especially popular among young people in the city, and are a great way to meet new people and learn more about different cultures.
Alternatively, you can also contact an agency (visit the Lithuanian Association of Real Estate Agencies website to find the contact info of all the main real estate agencies that, usually for a fee, will help you find you a place to rent).
Before you sign any kind of lease or rental agreement , make sure you have clear information on any utilities or other associated costs you may need to pay. For a lot of buildings, you’ll find that you need to pay a monthly bill for the maintenance of shared spaces (stairwells, doorways, exteriors, etc.) It’s also a good idea to ask for the previous six months’ worth of gas/electricity bills to get a rough estimate of what utility costs you may need to pay for.
It’s important to note that some landlords may not have working knowledge of English or Russian. If you are not able to communicate directly with your landlord, it is essential that you find a reliable intermediary.
It is essential that you make a contract with the property owner or their legal representative, regardless of whether you are renting or buying. This is a fairly straightforward process, and in many cases you’ll find they already have a template contract ready. Your contract is your protection in case of any problems.
You’ll need to keep a copy of the contract once it has been signed. Be sure to have a copy in English as well as Lithuanian.
You and your landlord will have to agree on the main terms: price, length of the rent period, amount of the deposit, payment type (transfer or cash), an inventory list or photos.
Your landlord might also require a security deposit that will be calculated proportionally based on the property’s price and is usually equal to 1-3 months worth of rent. The deposit will be paid back to you when your contract comes to an end. Make sure to make your first payment after the contract is signed, not before.
Never give any money to a landlord prior to signing a contract. If you pay before signing a contract, you will have very little security for your deposit. Always make sure you have the final, signed agreement before making any payments.
Never be scared to ask questions or think a question is too obvious. The more questions you ask, the more transparent the agreement is going to be and the less likely you’ll encounter any issues later on.
Important tip: Every resident of Lithuania (including foreigners with residence permits) must declare their place of residence in the county. If you are living in a rented apartment, your rental agreement (only the ones registered at SE Centre of Registers) will count as the owner’s consent for you to register your place of residence in this apartment. Otherwise, the owner will need to provide their written consent for you to register in their property.
Seasonality in the rental market
If you are looking to rent, it’s best that you avoid searching in August and September. This is the beginning of the University academic year and the market is flooded with students. This influx also inflates prices. Ideally, you should start looking at the beginning of the year, or late summer.
Average apartment rents
Rental prices vary across the city, with a nice apartment in the centre setting you back as much as EUR 600-1,000 (still very reasonable in comparison to many other EU capitals). If you are more inclined to settling further from the centre and explore the suburbs, you’ll discover the prices drop quite substantially.
Apartment rent in Vilnius (1,2,3 rooms)
Apartments in the city are divided into 1, 2 and 3 room apartments. Unlike other countries, this doesn’t mean bedrooms, but all rooms. So, if you’re looking for two bedrooms, you’ll need to search for a 3-room apartment. And as you’d expect, the cost of the apartment will depend on the number of rooms, although you’ll find that the area also factors heavily into the price.
Step-by-step guide to buying a flat or a house
Step-by-step guide to buying a flat or a house
Find a place to live
Whether it's an apartment in the centre or a house in the suburbs you're after, you'll find that Vilnius real estate market has the right home sweet home for you.