Filenews 24 October 2025 - by Charalambos Zakos
Several citizens who seek to rent a home are now going through personal interviews, being asked to declare their income and their marital status to the owners of apartments and houses.
The phenomenon is mainly attributed to increased demand and reduced housing supply. Interested parties "crowd" and compete with each other to secure properties that are considered, in relation to market prices, "bargains".
This trend has intensified recently, with high rents not acting as a deterrent, as the need for housing prevails. Although landlords have always asked for information on the "who's who" of prospective tenants, now the demand and the multiple options available to landlords make the procedures more "strict".
There are many criteria
For property owners, as is logical, the main criterion remains the amount of salary and in general the financial ability of the tenant concerned. Stable income, type of work and payment of advance payments are decisive factors, however, the "control" does not stop there.
Depending on the case, the additional requirements of the owner are also differentiated, since sometimes additional information is requested regarding the marital status of the person concerned, or even if he has pets.
In fact, in many cases the existence of pets can act as a deterrent, as many owners worry about damage or inconvenience. This phenomenon existed in previous years, however, with today's data and the many options available to owners, there is a chance that an interested party will be rejected because of a pet, without even reporting it directly.
At least in the past, property descriptions explicitly stated that pets are prohibited, a practice that had provoked strong criticism from both animal lovers and citizens who considered it unfair. Over time, this was the reason for many owners to change their attitude and accept pets as normal members of a family, thus allowing their presence in their properties.
Few options
In the current context of the housing crisis, the options for renting apartments or houses are limited. If a property is located at a reasonable price, interested parties must be prepared for intense competition.
On the contrary, the options for owners have multiplied. Properties are difficult to stay vacant and that is why they are rarely offered to the first interested party. Landlords now know that they can choose between many candidates, sometimes raising, in addition to rent prices, their requirements.
Low-wage earners in an unfavourable position
It is no longer enough for a tenant to be able to simply cover the amount of rent, since he will have to compete with others in terms of satisfactory income, guarantees and often the social profile that satisfies the respective owner. In particular, in addition to the already high rents, they are called upon to compete with dozens of other interested parties for a few available properties, since even when they find a property at an affordable price, they are often rejected due to income or family criteria.
Where have rent prices reached?
According to the latest data from the Real Estate Agents Registration Council, Limassolians continue to face the biggest problems for renting an apartment, with prices exceeding €2,000.
Specifically:
Nicosia
⦁ One-bedroom apartment: From €600 to €650
⦁ Two-bedroom apartment: From €800 to €900
⦁ Three-bedroom apartment: From €1,000 to €1,100
Limassol
⦁ One-bedroom apartment: From €1,000 to €1,100
⦁ Two-bedroom apartment: From €1,400 to €1,500
⦁ Three-bedroom apartment: From €1,900 to €2,000+
Larnaca
⦁ One-bedroom apartment: From €500 to €600
⦁ Two-bedroom apartment: From €700 to €800
⦁ Three-bedroom apartment: From €900 to €1,000
Paphos
⦁ One-bedroom apartment: From €500 to €550
⦁ Two-bedroom apartment: From €700 to €800
⦁ Three-bedroom apartment: From €800 to €900
