A short let in Malta is, in law, a “short private residential lease”: a written lease of up to six months for one of four groups of tenants, registered with the Housing Authority within 30 days and never extended. If you do not fit one of those groups, the law treats the contract as a one-year lease.
The four groups are mainly non-residents working or studying here for less than six months and residents who need a temporary home. Holiday rentals for tourists are a separate, licensed regime.
This guide explains which kind of short let Malta landlords can legally offer you, what to check before you pay a deposit and how to move from a short let into something longer without losing money. It is written for people in their first months on the island, when a flexible lease is often the sensible first step.
What counts as a short let in Malta
Malta’s rental market is governed by the Private Residential Leases Act (Chapter 604 of the Laws of Malta). It recognises two kinds of residential lease. A long private residential lease is the normal one: it is for your primary residence and cannot be shorter than one year. If a contract says three months but is really a long lease, the law treats it as a one-year lease anyway. A short private residential lease is the exception, and that is what most people mean when they search for a short let in Malta.
The Act defines a short lease as one negotiated for a duration of six months that is meant for specific categories of tenant. Three provisos matter in practice:
- The contract must name the category you fall into and attach documents that prove it. Without both, it is treated as a long lease.
- A short lease agreed for more than six months is also treated as a long lease.
- Short leases may not be extended. When the term ends, you either leave or sign a new kind of contract.
That last point surprises many newcomers. You cannot roll a six-month short let into another six months with the same landlord simply by signing a renewal. If you want to stay, the honest route is a long lease, which comes with the stronger protections described below.
Who can sign a short private residential lease
The law lists four groups. Your contract has to say which one you are in, with supporting paperwork.
| Category in the Act | Typical example | Documents you might attach |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident workers employed for under six months, or for a specific task finishing within six months | A contractor on a four-month project, a seasonal worker | Employment contract or engagement letter showing the dates |
| Non-resident students enrolled on courses shorter than six months | A twelve-week English course, a one-semester exchange | Enrolment letter from the school or university |
| Residents who need an alternative primary residence for under six months | A family whose flat is being renovated, someone between sales | Proof of the main address and the reason for the move |
| Non-residents renting for under six months who are not seeking to settle in Malta | Someone visiting family for a long stay, an extended trial before deciding | A declaration and evidence of residence abroad |
Categories from Chapter 604, article 2; examples and document ideas are ours. Last checked November 2026.
Notice the fourth category: it is for people who are not trying to establish their long-term residence in Malta. If you have moved here for a permanent job, you are, in plain terms, settling, and a long lease is the correct contract. Many people who move for work start on a short let anyway while they look around. That can be legitimate if your first months really are temporary, for example a probation period before you decide, but it is worth being honest with yourself and the landlord about which box you fit.
Short let, holiday let or one-year lease
When you browse listings, three very different products are all called a short let. It helps to know which one you are looking at.
| Option | Legal basis | Length | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday or tourist let | Licensed by the Malta Tourism Authority | Nights to weeks | Your first one to four weeks while you view flats |
| Short private residential lease | Chapter 604, registered with the Housing Authority | Up to six months, no extension | Temporary workers, short-course students, a trial period |
| Long private residential lease | Chapter 604, registered with the Housing Authority | Minimum one year | Anyone making Malta their main home |
Last checked November 2026.
Tourist accommodation sits outside the residential lease law and needs a licence from the Malta Tourism Authority. It is usually priced by the night, includes bills and cleaning, and costs more per month than a residential lease. It is a good bridge for your first weeks, not a long-term plan. A long lease looks less flexible, but the Act lets you leave early with notice once a minimum period has passed, so a one-year lease is often less of a trap than people fear. Our step-by-step guide on how to rent an apartment in Malta covers the long-lease route in detail.
What the contract must include
Every private residential lease, short or long, has to be in writing. The Act lists what it must contain, and a contract missing an essential element is null and void. Check that yours includes:
- The property being let, clearly identified.
- The agreed use, which for you is residential.
- The period, with start and end dates.
- Whether and how it can be extended. For a short lease the answer is that it cannot.
- The rent and how it is paid.
- The deposit you leave as security.
- A signed inventory describing the condition of the flat, furniture and appliances. Photographs with short descriptions are accepted, and an inventory is needed even for an unfurnished flat.
- Your short-lease category and the documents attached to prove it.
The landlord must register the lease with the Housing Authority within 30 days of the start date. Registration has a fee, and late registration costs extra. If the landlord does not register it, you can register it yourself at the landlord’s expense and keep back part of the rent to cover the fee. An unregistered contract is null and void under the Act, so ask for the registration confirmation within the first month. You will often need a registered lease for official paperwork such as a residence application or a bank account in Malta.
Leaving early and what happens at the end
Short leases have their own exit rules in article 12 of the Act:
- You cannot withdraw during the first month.
- After that, you can leave at any time by giving at least one week’s notice by registered letter.
- No penalty can be imposed on you for leaving within these rules.
At the end of the term, a short lease simply ends. It is not renewed automatically, and it cannot be extended. Plan your next move about six weeks before the end date, so you have time to view places and give notice properly if you find something earlier.
For comparison, a long lease of under two years cannot be ended by the tenant during the first six months. After that, the tenant can leave with one month’s notice by registered letter. If you leave before the minimum period, the landlord may keep up to one month’s rent from the deposit. That is a real cost, but a capped and predictable one, which is why many people choose a one-year lease even when they are not sure they will stay.
Getting your deposit back
The inventory is your best protection. Take dated photos of every room on the day you move in, send them to the landlord by email or message so there is a record, and repeat the process when you leave. Return the keys in person if you can and ask for written confirmation of the date.
What a short let in Malta costs
A short let in Malta usually costs more per month than a comparable long lease, because the landlord takes on more empty weeks and more turnover. Expect furnished flats, and expect some landlords to ask for bills on top of rent. Before you agree, ask these questions:
- Is the monthly rent fixed for the whole term?
- Are electricity and water included, or billed separately through the meter? See our guide to electricity bills in Malta for how utility charges work.
- How big is the deposit, and when will it be returned?
- Is there an agency fee, and who pays it?
- Is internet included and how fast is it?
For a realistic sense of monthly rents by area and flat size, compare any short-let quote with the registered-lease figures in our rent prices in Malta guide. If the short let is far above those numbers, a room in a shared apartment in Malta may be a cheaper bridge for a few months. If you would rather skip agency fees altogether, our guide to renting an apartment in Malta direct from the owner shows how.
How to find a short let Malta landlords can legally offer
- Start with two to four weeks in licensed holiday accommodation, so you can view flats in person rather than wiring money for a place you have only seen in photos.
- Tell agents and landlords exactly how long you need and why. A clear category makes a proper short lease easy to write.
- Ask for the draft contract before paying anything, and check the eight points listed above.
- Never pay a deposit before viewing or before you have met the landlord or agent. Rental scams in Malta often use real photos copied from other listings.
- Ask about registration: who registers the lease, and when you will receive confirmation.
- Check the commute at the hour you will travel. A cheap short let far from work can cost more in time and taxis.
Turning a short let into a real base
A short let is a trial run. Use it to learn the island before you commit to an area for a year. Walk the neighbourhood in the evening, try the bus at rush hour, and notice where you naturally end up at weekends. People who rush into a long lease in their first week often move again within months.
Use the same months to build a few routines that make a place feel like home: a café you go to on Saturday mornings, a gym or sports club, a regular evening plan with people you have met. It is much easier to sign a one-year lease when you already know why you want to live in that particular town.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? Open MeetNow and see the plans in Malta. It is free and works in your browser: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins from the short notes people send. MeetNow is live on the web, starting in Malta.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How long can a short let be in Malta?
A short private residential lease is negotiated for a duration of six months and cannot be extended. If it is agreed for longer than six months, or the contract does not state and document your short-lease category, the law treats it as a long lease of at least one year.
Who can rent on a short let in Malta?
Four groups: non-resident workers employed for under six months, non-resident students on courses shorter than six months, residents who need a temporary alternative home for under six months, and non-residents renting for under six months who are not seeking to settle in Malta.
Does a short let need to be registered?
Yes. Every private residential lease, including a short one, must be in writing and registered with the Housing Authority by the landlord within 30 days of the start. If the landlord does not register it, you can register it yourself at the landlord’s expense.
Can I leave a short let early?
Yes, after the first month. From then on, you can leave at any time with at least one week’s notice by registered letter, and no penalty can be imposed for leaving within those rules.
Is an Airbnb the same as a short let in Malta?
No. Holiday and tourist rentals are licensed by the Malta Tourism Authority and sit outside the residential lease law. They are useful for your first weeks, but a residential short let or a one-year lease is the right contract once you are living here.
