What to resolve first
- Record meter readings before the previous occupant leaves
- Confirm who must transfer the electricity account
- Check water, common expenses and internet in the lease
- Keep account and payment records as address evidence
The handover should be documented
At the handover, photograph the electricity and water meters, note the meter numbers and record the readings on a signed inventory. Ask for the last bills and identify who pays any balance up to the handover date. This prevents a disagreement about consumption from becoming a problem after the deposit is paid.
Verify that power and water are working. Test internet speed at the actual property if remote work is central to the move; an advertised fibre area does not guarantee service at every address.
Electricity is a contract, not just a switch
The Electricity Authority of Cyprus provides an application for transferring supply to a new tenant. Its guidance describes a new supply agreement, documents such as a tenancy agreement and identity evidence, and possible consent from the previous customer or a declaration in some circumstances. Check the current process and charges directly before planning a move-in date.
Do not assume the landlord will keep the account in their name. Put the agreed arrangement in the lease and obtain copies of all submissions.
Water and building costs need separate questions
Ask which authority supplies water, whether the account changes name and how final readings are handled. In an apartment, obtain the common-expense schedule, what it covers, and whether the landlord or tenant pays it. Pools, lifts and shared maintenance can materially change the cost of an apparently modest rent.
Connectivity and billing
Ask providers whether installation needs landlord permission and whether the contract can be ended if you leave early. Add mobile coverage and a temporary data plan for the first weeks. Choose a payment method that works before local bank onboarding is complete; ask whether cards or direct debit are accepted.
Leave a clean evidence trail
Save the lease, transfer confirmations, account numbers and monthly bills in one folder. They help with budgeting and can provide dated evidence of occupation for other applications, although a utility bill alone does not prove tax residence.
Frequently asked questions
Can the previous tenant leave electricity in their name?
Clarify the arrangement with the landlord and supplier; a new tenant may need a new agreement.
Who pays common expenses?
The lease should state this expressly and identify the expected amount.
Will a utility bill make me tax resident?
No. It can support evidence of occupation but does not replace the tax tests.