Renting abroad feels exciting right up until you’re staring at a contract written in a language you half-understand, with clauses you’re too eager to move past. You sign quickly because you’re relieved to have found a place, and that’s exactly where things start going wrong. Most horror stories about rental contract abroad don’t start with a bad landlord. They start with an unread contract.
Here are five things worth knowing before you put pen to paper.
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The rent is never just the rent
That headline figure you budgeted around is rarely the full story.
According to The Black Expat, your first three months abroad typically pile on costs like:
- agency fees
- furniture setup charges
- local registration fees
Before signing, go through the contract line by line and ask your landlord to confirm, in writing, every fee you’re expected to pay in addition to monthly rent. If it’s not in the contract, it’s a conversation you’ll be glad you had.
Many international tenants lose part of their deposit simply because they don’t know their rights. Source: Pexels
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Your deposit is at risk the moment you hand it over
Security deposits abroad can equal two to three months’ rent — a significant sum with little protection. A 2025 ScienceDirect study found that 24.5% to 42.6% of rental units in Norway exhibited irregular deposit practices, with landlords routinely failing to use the legally required accounts.
International tenants are especially exposed: a March 2026 WOON report found they are disproportionately likely to face unfair deductions after leaving the country, and many are unaware of basic rights like independent check-out inspections or Rental Committee disputes.
The structural problem runs deeper than individual landlord behaviour. Unlike the UK, where the Tenancy Deposit Scheme mandates third-party protection, the Netherlands has no central system — landlords hold deposits in their own accounts and collect the interest. They also face no requirement to ring-fence the funds. If a landlord goes bankrupt, tenants lose their deposit entirely.
Before signing a lease abroad, check the ventilation and look behind furniture for early signs of mould. Source: Pexels
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Mould is a health issue, not a cosmetic one
Many contracts say nothing about mould, which means you have little recourse when you find it creeping up the bathroom wall in winter. A 2025 survey by Health Equals found that 28% of UK residents live in homes affected by damp, mould, or cold, and nearly half of those reported physical symptoms as a result.
The same dynamic plays out in rentals across Europe. Before you sign, look for ventilation issues and check behind furniture. Crucially, ask the landlord directly whether the property has had any history of damp. Get their answer in writing.
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Know what your landlord is actually obligated to fix
Landlord responsibilities vary dramatically by country, and a vague contract will always favour the person who wrote it. Your lease should clearly outline who is responsible for structural repairs, plumbing, heating, and pest control.
In the UK, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 legally requires landlords to maintain safe living conditions, but many countries have no equivalent. Research your destination country’s tenant protections before you arrive, not after something breaks.
A simple phrase like “utilities included” can hide several extra costs. Source: Pexels
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“Bills included” rarely means what you think
Inclusive utility clauses are among the most misunderstood parts of any rental contract. Water, gas, electricity, and internet are not always grouped together under that phrase, and some contracts cap usage at a fixed amount before extra charges kick in. Eurostat data cited by Expat.com shows that utility costs rose sharply across Ireland, Spain, Italy, and Cyprus between 2010 and 2024.
Ask your landlord to define exactly which utilities are covered, whether there are usage caps, and what happens when you exceed them. Then ask for it all in the contract.
