Housing Guide for Expats in Romania
Finding the right home in Romania – whether renting or buying. Here’s everything you need to know.
Bucharest Neighborhoods
Premium/Expat-Friendly
| Area | Vibe | Rent (2-bed) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorobanti/Floreasca | Upscale, quiet, embassies | 800-1500 EUR | Families, professionals |
| Herastrau/Aviatorilor | Parks, luxury, international schools | 900-2000 EUR | Families with kids |
| Primaverii | Villas, diplomatic area | 1000-2500 EUR | Executives |
| Pipera | New builds, malls, corporate | 600-1000 EUR | IT workers, young professionals |
Mid-Range/Popular
| Area | Vibe | Rent (2-bed) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unirii/Universitate | Central, vibrant, nightlife | 500-800 EUR | Young professionals |
| Tineretului | Parks, residential, good metro | 450-700 EUR | Couples, value seekers |
| Drumul Taberei | Family-oriented, new metro | 400-600 EUR | Families on budget |
| Titan/Balta Alba | Affordable, improving | 350-550 EUR | Budget-conscious |
Trendy/Creative
| Area | Vibe | Rent (2-bed) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town (Lipscani) | Historic, bars, tourists | 600-1000 EUR | Nightlife lovers |
| Cotroceni | Bohemian, cafes, students | 500-800 EUR | Creatives, academics |
Rental Tips
Finding Apartments
- OLX.ro – Largest classifieds (filter: “Proprietar” for owner-direct)
- Storia.ro – Clean interface, verified listings
- Imobiliare.ro – Comprehensive listings
- Facebook Groups – “Apartments for Rent Bucharest”, “Expats in Romania Housing”
Expat-Friendly Agencies
- Blitz Imobiliare (English-speaking)
- Regatta Real Estate
- Coldwell Banker Romania
- RE/MAX Romania
Standard Rental Terms
- Deposit: 1-2 months rent
- Agency fee: 50-100% of one month rent (if using agency)
- Contract: Minimum 1 year typical
- Notice period: Usually 30-60 days
- Utilities: Often not included (add 100-200 EUR/month)
Red Flags
- Requests for payment before viewing
- No proper contract offered
- Owner unwilling to register contract with ANAF
- Pressure to decide immediately
- Utilities in previous tenant’s name
Utilities Setup
Average Monthly Costs (2-bedroom apartment)
| Utility | Summer | Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 50-100 RON | 100-200 RON |
| Gas (heating) | 50 RON | 300-600 RON |
| Water | 50-80 RON | 50-80 RON |
| Internet | 50-70 RON | 50-70 RON |
| Building maintenance | 100-300 RON | 100-300 RON |
Providers
- Electricity: Enel, E.ON, Electrica
- Gas: Engie, E.ON
- Internet: Digi (best value), Orange, Vodafone, Telekom
Buying Property
Can Expats Buy?
- EU citizens: Yes, same rights as Romanians
- Non-EU citizens: Can buy apartments/buildings, NOT land directly (use SRL company)
Purchase Process
- Find property & agree price
- Pre-contract (antecontract) with 10% deposit
- Due diligence (land registry, building permits)
- Final contract at notary
- Register with land registry (Cartea Funciară)
Costs
- Notary fees: 0.5-1% of property value
- Land registry: 0.15%
- Agency fee: 2-3% (usually paid by buyer)
- No stamp duty for individuals
Last updated: December 2024
