Malta - British Expat Forum

Hi everyone, I have just joined having broused around your excelnt forum over the past few weeks. My wife and I are thinking of moving out to Malta at the end of the summer. We will probably rent for the first couple of years just to get to know if we can settle for the rest of our lives there. We will want to be in an area whre we can enjoy brisk walking each morning and though not entirely isolated we dont want to live above a night club. We have heard that much of the Island towns and villages can look run down with little or no cafe life or places to sit and watch the world go by. I hope this is not true and that your reasoning for having moved there and for keeping the forum so lively is because the Island is genuinely wonderful like others have told us too. We dont mind promenades provided they are not only found in the heavy tourist areas. I understand that we probably wont want to live around St Pauls Bay or Paceville if we want peaceful balmy evenings with a glass of wine folowed by a quiet nights sleep. Any advise about where to consider starting our search would be most welcome. I appreciate you cannot recommend particular suppliers however can anybody confirm if there are independant property finders on the Island that can act on our behalf to find suitable options and secure us the best deal?

Hi Annie's Dad, and welcome to the forum

We will probably rent for the first couple of years just to get to know if we can settle for the rest of our lives there.
very sensible

Any advise about where to consider starting our search would be most welcome
much of Gozo fits your requirements, as does a lot of Malta away from the Northern coast

I appreciate you cannot recommend particular suppliers however can anybody confirm if there are independant property finders on the Island that can act on our behalf to find suitable options and secure us the best deal?

Not that I'm aware of, but estate agents act in the middle for rentals, as both parties pay a fee. Your best way of getting a good deal is to use an agent and view lots of properties, both different areas and different styles. You will soon realise what is a reasonable rent. If you need a recommend agent, there are several on the recommended suppliers (RS)boards. There is no compulsion to join the RS boards (which costs £25 with 50% going to help the animals at Gozo SPCA), but that's the place to get recommendations of companies if you decide you need them. There is also a free adverts board there, where members can place adverts for items wanted or for sale

When we were contemplating a move to Malta / Gozo, we came over for a few weeks, using nearly ALL the estate agents, and viewed literally dozens and dozens of properties.

Even if you sign a Contract for a year, if you do not like it where you live, you can move on after the year. Also, some contracts ( you must insist ) have " get out " clauses for certain things, and you give a short period of notice and move on.

Thanks for the quick response guys. I have spent every minute since posting reading the "Where to Live in Malta" section. Sooo much to take in. I really appreciate the advise re building in clauses to any rental agreement to ensure verbal promises made are kept to. Will sign up for the inner circle stuff and gladly contribute to the animals in need of care. Will organise a couple of trips out to get to know it all better between now and the end of the summer. Great forum and I am sure everyone must appreciate all the hard work you do Gozomark, as others have said often you are a star, thanks for making us welcome before even getting there. Any further comments welcome.

Thanks for the kind words

ps there is a thread in the RS about what to look for, and what to ask to be included in a rental agreement contract

What should a tenant look out for in a lease contract ?
http://www.britishexpat.com/expatforum/malta/viewtopic.php?t=9650

I appreciate you cannot recommend particular suppliers however can anybody confirm if there are independant property finders on the Island that can act on our behalf to find suitable options and secure us the best deal?

Actually the answer to that is yes. You can hire someone called a Sensar to source property for you. There is no association or anything formal where you'd contact one, although some do advertise their services.. but you generally find one by asking in a cafe or bar and someone recommends someone they know who found a house for their second-cousins-sister-in-laws-grandmother type thing. We found one when we were thinking of living on Gozo by going into a cafe in Victoria and asking, but they're around and about on Malta itself too.

happy house hunting!

stroppy knickers

Please remember that nepotism is the order of the day here in Malta / Gozo We had a few recommendations from such kind people, and the places we saw were sh**e From experience, I would feel much easier spending a few ewros by using an estate agent, than the well intentioned recommendations from someones grannies, auntie-in-laws, cousin

Also, just like anywhere else, it is not a good idea to get TOO friendly with the Landlord, as familiarity often breeds complacency on the Landlords part

Other people may disagree with me 8)

Thanks for more feedback. I read in the Easyjet Mag this morning that people from Gozo are probably the friendliest people anywhere but even so I am more inclined to want to engage a pro and Malta is my preferred Island anyway. Thanks again AD

Annie'sdad wrote: I am more inclined to want to engage a pro

What I've seen doesn't involve professionals, just someone not dissimilar to an estate agent who is working for themselves. Don't expect someone with an office, with insurance etc - I'd sooner trust an estate agent TBH, atleast you have some legal comeback that way.

As a 'first time' renter I would definitely agree with GozoMark's suggestion.

Use an Estate Agent, even if you only rent for 6-12months initially, then once you are more settled and know more about the islands you could consider doing more 'private' deals/negotiations.

Thanks guys when we get to the point of coming over for a good look early summer we will sign up for the insider info and the recommended Estate Agents. AD