Renting in Morocco 2026: Leases, Deposits and Rents

Expats · Morocco

Renting in Morocco is governed by a 2013 law that applies to foreigners and locals alike, and the lease has to be written and dated. The main risks are practical ones: vague inspection reports, undocumented payments and rents that swing widely from street to street.

The Short Answer: A Written Lease and a Two-Month Cap

You can rent a home in Morocco on an ordinary written lease, and the law that governs it applies whatever your nationality. The deposit is capped at two months’ rent, and the lease should come with a signed inspection report.

Rents depend heavily on the city and the street. Listings put an 80-square-metre apartment in Marrakech’s Guéliz district at roughly 40% to 60% of the price of the same space in Casablanca’s Ain Diab.

This guide covers the lease rules, the paperwork and the rent ranges we could verify. For the wider picture, see our Morocco hub and our ranking of the best places to live in Morocco.

What the Law Says

Law 67-12, dated 19 November 2013, governs leases of homes and of premises used for non-commercial professional purposes. Moroccan legal guides note that it applies to premises in Morocco whatever the nationality of the landlord or the tenant.

The law requires a lease that is written and dated with legal certainty (article 3), according to a Moroccan legal information site. It should name both parties, describe the property, and state the rent, the charges and each side’s obligations, with an inspection report attached.

The length is negotiated, and one year, renewable, is common for homes. Our sources disagree on whether the law sets a minimum term, so confirm the clause with a notary.

Deposit, Inspection and Notice

The deposit is capped at two months’ rent (article 20), and it must be returned within one month of the keys being handed back, less justified amounts owed. Ask for a signed receipt for every payment, because that paper is your proof if a dispute follows.

Articles 7 and 8 call for an inspection at move-in and again at move-out, attached to the lease and free of vague wording such as “good condition”. Photograph every room on the day you collect the keys, including meters, taps and fittings.

A landlord must give at least two months’ notice and a legal reason, such as personal use, demolition, necessary repairs or rent arrears (article 46). The law sets no notice period for the tenant, so agree one in the lease.

A landlord who ends a lease to move in owes the tenant one year’s rent plus moving costs, according to the same legal source. That payment applies only where the termination is valid.

How Rent Increases Work

Under Law 67-12, rent cannot go up within three years of signing or of the last revision (article 32). After that, and unless the parties agree otherwise, an increase is capped at 8% for homes (article 33).

A revision can also come from a clause in the lease, by agreement or from the court of first instance, which looks at the current market rental value of the home. Unilateral increases are not allowed.

If you want certainty, read the revision clause before you sign. Our sources do not say whether a lease can set a higher cap, so ask a notary.

What Rents Look Like in 2026

We found no official rent index by neighbourhood, so the ranges below come from Moroccan property portals. Treat them as listing guides, not as a census of what tenants actually pay.

The table shows monthly rents for an 80-square-metre apartment as listed by the property investment portal Wafir in May 2026, which itself says listed rents run 10% to 15% above signed ones. We converted at 9.80 dirhams per US$ (EODHD, 15 October 2026).

Older national averages give a sense of the overall level. Mubawab, a Moroccan property portal, reported averages of about MAD 7,700 (about US$790) for an empty apartment and MAD 8,800 (about US$900) for a furnished one in early 2023, as reported by Hespress.

Furnished homes therefore cost more, by about MAD 1,100 (about US$110) a month in that report. The advisory firm Sands of Wealth puts a central one-bedroom in Rabat at MAD 6,500 to 9,000 (about US$660 to US$920) a month in 2026.

Sale Prices Edge Up

Rents follow the housing market only loosely, but the official sale-price index gives some context. Bank Al-Maghrib, the central bank, and the land registry ANCFCC reported that their property asset price index rose 0.7% year on year in the second quarter of 2026.

Residential prices rose 1% and apartment prices 1.1%, while houses fell 0.7% and villas 0.3%. Transactions rose 6.3% overall and 3.9% for residential property.

These are sale prices, not rents. A flat sale market may limit how far landlords can push rents, but we cannot confirm that link from the data.

Paperwork You Will Need

Expat guides say the Moroccan residence card application asks for proof of accommodation, such as a rental contract or a property deed, plus a certificate of domicile from the local police. Check the current list with the foreigners’ office of your police prefecture, because we could not find the official list.

Bring your passport, photos and proof of income to the landlord meeting as well. Landlords may ask to see them, even where the law does not require it.

Our guide to Morocco visas and residency explains the permit steps. Our bank account guide covers paying rent from a local account.

Practical Steps Before You Sign

View the home in person or through someone you trust, and never send a deposit for a place you have not seen. Check that the person who signs is the owner or holds a written mandate.

Ask who pays for water, electricity and building charges, and get that answer into the lease. Read the Arabic or French text yourself or have it translated, since we could not confirm that a lease must be bilingual.

Pay by bank transfer where you can, and keep every receipt. Cash payments without paper leave you with no proof.

The Downsides

Asking prices can leave room to negotiate, but we have no data on how large that room is. Prime districts such as Ain Diab and Maarif list at levels that can take a large share of a middling budget.

Lease terms are mostly negotiated one by one, so two similar apartments can come with very different clauses. The law protects you, but enforcing it means going through a court.

What It Means for You

If you plan a stay of more than a few months, budget for a deposit of up to two months’ rent on top of the first payment. Then add a margin for furnishing, since an empty apartment costs less to rent than a furnished one.

For an American on a US$3,000 monthly budget, the portal ranges suggest Marrakech and the outer districts of Casablanca leave the most room. Ain Diab alone can take 40% to 60% of that budget.

What Is Not Known

We could not find an official source for neighbourhood rents, so the figures here are listing estimates that may differ from what you are quoted. We also could not confirm lease registration fees, whether a lease can set a higher increase cap than 8%, whether a lease needs a legalised signature, or the current list of documents for the residence card.

Rules and practice can differ between towns and between landlords. Ask a Moroccan lawyer or notary before you sign anything long term.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do foreigners rent under different rules in Morocco?

No. Law 67-12 applies to premises in Morocco whatever the nationality of the landlord or the tenant. Foreigners get the same lease, deposit and inspection protections as locals.

How much deposit can a landlord ask for in Morocco?

The deposit is capped at two months’ rent. It must be returned within one month of the keys being handed back, less justified amounts owed.

Is a written lease required in Morocco?

Yes, the law requires a lease that is written and dated with legal certainty. It should name the parties, describe the property, state the rent and charges, and attach an inspection report.

How much does it cost to rent in Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech?

Moroccan property portals list an 80-square-metre apartment at MAD 8,000 to 12,000 (about US$820 to US$1,220) in Casablanca’s Maarif and MAD 7,000 to 10,500 (about US$710 to US$1,070) in Rabat’s Agdal. In Marrakech’s Guéliz the range is MAD 5,000 to 7,500 (about US$510 to US$770).

Can a landlord raise the rent whenever they want?

No. Rent cannot rise within three years of signing or of the last revision, and unless the parties agree otherwise an increase is capped at 8% for homes.

Can a landlord end my lease whenever they want?

No. A landlord must give at least two months’ notice and a legal reason, such as personal use, demolition, necessary repairs or rent arrears.

Sources

• Reaconsult, Law 67-12 on residential leases in Morocco
• Wadifa Info, Law 67-12: lease form, deposit, inspection, rent increases, notice
• Masaken, rental contract in Morocco
• Reaconsult, rent revision rules under Law 67-12
• Wafir, rental investment by city, rent ranges, 16 May 2026
• Hespress, average 2023 rent in Morocco, Mubawab data
• Hespress, Bank Al-Maghrib and ANCFCC property price index, second quarter 2026
• ANCFCC, property asset price index, second quarter 2026
• Sands of Wealth, buying and renting in Rabat-Salé
• Maroc Mama, applying for a carte de séjour
• EODHD, USD/MAD rate of 15 October 2026

The Big Picture

Africa: The New Scramble — why the world’s powers are competing for the continent