How to rent a home in Kabul: a step-by-step guide

Renting in Kabul is usually straightforward if you know what to check. This guide walks through the process, from setting a budget to the day you move in.

1. Set your budget

Start with the monthly rent you can afford, then add the costs that come at the start:

• Rent in advance. Many owners ask for one or more months in advance.
• Security deposit. Some owners ask for a deposit that is returned when you leave.
• Setting up. Most homes are unfurnished, so budget for furniture, carpets, curtains and heaters.
• Running costs. Electricity, water, gas and any charges for shared parts of the building.

To see what is normal, check the Kabul price report, which shows typical rents by number of bedrooms.

2. Choose an area

Think about where you work or study, schools, and how you will get around the city. The Kabul guide describes where homes are listed and what to check in each.

3. Search and shortlist

Search homes for rent in Kabul and narrow the list by price, number of bedrooms and property type. Save the homes you like so you can compare them, and use the map to see where each one is.

4. Contact the owner or agency

Call or send a WhatsApp message straight from the listing. Before you visit, ask:

• Is the home still available, and from when?
• What is included in the rent, and which bills will I pay?
• How many months are paid in advance, and is there a deposit?
• How is the home heated, and where does the water come from?

5. Visit and check carefully

Visit in daylight and, if you can, again at a different time of day. Check:

• Water. Turn on the taps and check the pressure. Ask whether there is a tank and how it is filled.
• Electricity. Check the meter, sockets and lights, and ask about power cuts and any solar or generator backup.
• Heating. Look at the heaters or stove connections, and check that windows and doors close tightly.
• Damp and leaks. Look at ceilings, corners and bathrooms for stains or mould.
• Security. Check the main door, the locks and any window bars.
• The building. Check the lift and stairs, rubbish collection, parking, and how shared costs are split.
• Neighbours and noise. Ask the neighbours what living there is like.

6. Agree the terms in writing

A written rental agreement (qarardad) protects both sides. It should state:

• the names of the owner and the tenant, and the address of the home;
• the monthly rent, the currency and the day it is due;
• how many months are paid in advance, any deposit, and when the deposit is returned;
• how long the agreement lasts, and the notice each side must give;
• who pays which bills, and who is responsible for which repairs;
• how many people will live in the home.

Ask to see the owner's tazkira and proof that they own the home or are authorised to rent it out. Sign the agreement in front of witnesses and keep a copy.

7. Pay safely

Pay only after you have signed the agreement. Get a signed receipt for every payment that shows the amount, the currency, the date and what the payment is for. Never pay a "holding fee" for a home you have not seen. The guide to avoiding property scams explains why.

8. Move in

On moving day, take photos of each room and of any damage, and write down the meter readings. Share them with the owner, so there is no dispute about the condition of the home when you leave.

Browse homes for rent in Kabul