How to arrange electricity and water in Cyprus? Formalities after renting an apartment

Once you've rented an apartment in Cyprus, you'll need to determine who will be responsible for the electricity and water bills. If you're taking over the leases in your name, be prepared with your ID, a lease agreement, and a security deposit. Supplier procedures vary, especially when it comes to water.

Before picking up the keys, check that your utilities are active, record meter readings, and clarify the settlement of previous charges. Transferring a working service, reconnecting it after a disconnection, and installing a new meter are all different things—they may require different paperwork and fees.

First, establish the rules with the owner

In your lease, specify who is responsible for contracts with suppliers and who pays the bills. If the bills are in the landlord's name, agree on how full invoices will be submitted and when they will be settled.

Ask for recent bills, the recipient's account numbers, and information about arrears. On the day of the transfer, photograph the meters so that their numbers and readings are visible. Record the readings in a report signed by both parties.

How to rewrite current in EAC?

Changing customers requires entering into a new energy supply agreement. The existing agreement is terminated, and the previous customer receives a final bill.

A tenant who is a natural person should prepare:

• signed lease agreement;
• ID card or passport;
• a copy of the bill or the meter number assigned to the apartment;
• written consent of the current recipient to terminate his contract;
• certified authorization if the formalities are handled by a representative.

If contact with the current recipient is impossible, the EAC provides a procedure for the new user to submit an appropriate declaration. The situation must be reported to the supplier.

The request can be submitted via the EAC portal after registering with the supplier or at a service point. The fee for rewriting the delivery is 15 euros plus VAT. It is separate from the deposit.

How much is the electricity deposit?

For a tenant who is a citizen of Poland or another EU country, the standard housing deposit is 200 euroFor a tenant from outside the EU this is 350 euroTenants pay security when signing the contract.

The deposit is settled at the end of the contract, taking into account any unpaid liabilities. Please retain your payment receipt.

Don't assume that transferring an account will resolve previous arrears. If the previous payee was the owner, EAC requires that the owner's account be settled before the transfer can be made. Clarify this before initiating the process.

How to prescribe water? Check the procedure for the address

You'll find the provider and account number on your last bill. Policies don't automatically transfer from one district to another.

In Nicosia the required documents include a lease agreement, copies of the tenant's and landlord's identity documents, and a housing deposit 125 euroEither party may come to customer service or the tenant may present the EOA-W005 Owner Consent Form.

In Limassol the tenant submits an application to change the recipient, attaches the lease agreement and a photo of the water meter and pays 250 euro depositThe procedure also requires payment of the outstanding balance.

In Larnaca the housing deposit is 100 euroThe online form requires proof of identity, a lease agreement, and a photo of the water meter taken within the last 48 hours. If acting through a representative, certified authorization is required.

The amounts shown are for account security purposes. Any fees for other services should be checked separately. In Paphos and Famagusta, confirm the current terms with the organization serving the specific address.

Don't postpone the formalities until the day of your move

First, check whether the electricity and water are actually working in your apartment. If the utilities have been cut off, ask about the restoration procedure, required billing, and the timeframe for completion.

Separately determine fees for garbage, sewer, and common areas of the building. Acknowledging the water bill doesn't resolve the entire cost allocation between landlord and tenant.

When moving out, record the readings again and ensure that any contracts are completed or reassigned. Simply returning the keys to the landlord does not replace settlement with the supplier. Keep final invoices and confirmation of how deposits were refunded.