Rental contracts in Albania: what the law says and what to put in yours

Most Albanian lets start with a short contract, often a template in Albanian that the owner prints out. If you are moving here to work remotely, study or retire, it helps to know which rules apply whatever the paper says, and which ones only apply if the contract is silent. This guide covers both sides: tenants and the owners who let to them. The facts were checked on 22 October 2026 against the laws linked below.

What the Civil Code says

Leases are governed by Articles 801 onwards of the Albanian Civil Code (Law no. 7850/1994; the consolidated text used here includes amendments up to Law no. 113/2016). The points that matter most:

• Form. A lease of more than one year must be in writing (Art. 803). A one-year lease or shorter need not be, but without a written contract it is hard to prove what was agreed.
• Length. A lease cannot exceed thirty years, and for residential buildings the limit is five years (Art. 803).
• The landlord’s duties. Hand over the home on time and fit for the agreed use, keep it that way, and guarantee the tenant’s quiet enjoyment (Art. 802).
• Repairs. The landlord pays for repairs, except day-to-day maintenance, which falls on the tenant. The tenant must tell the landlord when a repair is needed and may carry out urgent repairs and claim the cost back, informing the landlord at once (Art. 805). If urgent repairs are not done within a reasonable time, the tenant is entitled to a proportional cut in rent (Art. 809).
• Defects. If defects significantly reduce the use of the home, the tenant may ask to end the contract or reduce the rent, unless the tenant knew of them or they were easy to spot (Art. 806).
• The tenant’s duties. Use the home for the purpose in the contract, pay on the agreed dates (Art. 812) and answer for loss or damage during the lease (Art. 813).
• Subletting. Allowed unless the contract says otherwise, but the tenant may not hand the whole contract to someone else without the landlord’s consent (Art. 818).
• Improvements. The tenant is not compensated for improvements unless the landlord agreed to them (Art. 816).
• Ending the lease. A fixed-term lease ends on its date without notice (Art. 820). If the tenant stays on and the landlord does not object, the lease renews on the same terms (Art. 821). For open-ended leases the law requires notice but sets no number of days, so write the notice period into the contract.
• Handing back the keys. The tenant returns the home in the condition described in the contract, apart from normal wear. If the contract describes nothing, the tenant is presumed to have received it in good condition (Art. 814). A tenant who stays late owes rent until handover, plus damages (Art. 815).
• If the owner sells. The buyer must respect the lease if the contract bears a certain date before the sale (Art. 822); a tenant evicted because it did not is owed damages by the landlord (Art. 824). Ask a notary how to give your contract a certain date.

The lease chapter of the Civil Code says nothing about deposits. The amount, what it covers and when it comes back are whatever the contract says, so make sure it says it.

Notary, registration and language

The Civil Code does not require a notary for a residential lease; it only requires writing for terms over a year. A notarial deed is needed if the lease is to be registered:

• Under Law no. 111/2018 on the cadastre, Art. 57, a notarised lease of immovable property for more than 9 years must be entered on the property record, and one for more than a year may be. Since homes are limited to five-year leases, registering a residential lease is a choice, not an obligation.
• Registering a lease or sublease costs 5,000 lek under the ASHK fee list.
• Notarial deeds are drawn up in Albanian. If a party does not know Albanian, the whole content is translated (Law no. 110/2018 on notaries, Art. 100). No such rule covers a private contract, so ask for a bilingual version, or have it translated before you sign.

Your paperwork may matter beyond the lease: the law on foreigners requires proof of accommodation and an address in Albania for the digital nomad permit (Art. 68). The same law (Art. 136) forbids letting property to foreigners without a valid travel document or a valid visa or residence permit, which is why landlords ask for your passport.

What to put in the contract

1. Parties and property: names, ID or passport numbers, the exact address and the property details as shown on the ownership certificate.
2. Term: start and end dates, renewal, and the notice needed to leave early.
3. Rent: amount, currency (rents are quoted in euro or in lek), payment day and method. A bank transfer leaves a record; for cash, get a receipt.
4. Deposit: amount, when it can be kept, and within how many days of handing back the keys it is returned.
5. Bills: who pays electricity, water, gas, internet and building maintenance, and whose name the utility contracts are in.
6. Meter readings: electricity, water and gas readings on the day you move in and the day you leave.
7. Inventory: furniture and appliances with their condition, with dated photos, signed by both sides. Given Art. 814, this is your main evidence at the end.
8. Repairs: whom to call and how fast they should respond.
9. House rules: subletting, pets, number of occupants.

Red flags

• The person is not the owner. Ask for the ownership certificate (certifikata e pronësisë). Under the cadastre law (Art. 17) it is the document that proves title and is issued only to the owner or co-owners. The name must match the ID of the person signing.
• Someone signs for the owner. Ask for the power of attorney; under the Civil Code (Art. 72) it is always in writing.
• Several owners. Each co-owner holds a copy of the certificate; make sure they all agree.
• A tenant offers to sublet. Ask to see their own contract and check it does not forbid subletting.
• Money before a viewing, or cash without a receipt. See our page on avoiding scams.

The tax side for owners is in our guide to rental income tax in Albania. To start looking: homes for rent.

This guide is for information only and is not legal advice; for your own case, ask a lawyer or a notary.