Rent an Apartment in Sliema — Life on Malta’s Seafront

Rent in Sliema: prices by size

Neighbourhoods and streets to know in Sliema

• Tower Road and the seafront. The promenade from Balluta to the Point: open sea views, the busiest cafés and the highest rents in town. Ask about summer noise on the lower floors.
• Tigné and Qui-si-Sana. Newer blocks around Tigné Point and The Point shopping mall, a short walk from the Qui-si-Sana swimming spots. Modern, bright and close to the Valletta ferry.
• The Strand and the ferries. Facing Manoel Island and the Valletta skyline, with the ferry, buses and shops on the doorstep. Very convenient; busier with traffic during the day.
• The centre and back streets. The streets between the Strand and Tower Road, around Bisazza Street’s shops, where older townhouses and converted apartments offer more space for the money.
• Upper Sliema towards Balluta. Quieter residential streets rising towards St Julian’s: calmer evenings, easier parking and often better value, still within a walk of the sea.

Your Sliema lease: what Maltese law says

Every long let in Sliema falls under Malta’s Private Residential Leases Act (Chapter 604). These are the clauses that matter most when you sign:

• At least 12 months. A long let can’t be shorter than one year. Anything shorter is a short let, which the law only allows in specific situations.
• The six-month lock-in (di fermo). On a one-year lease you’re committed for the first six months, and it can’t be longer than that. After it, you can leave with one month’s written notice.
• Longer leases, longer notice. Two-year leases need two months’ notice; three-year leases need three months’, with a lock-in of up to one year.
• Registered within ten days. The landlord must register the contract with the Housing Authority within ten days of the start date. An unregistered lease is null and void, so always ask for confirmation.
• Rent increases are capped. Rent can go up at most once a year, and by no more than 5%.
• An inventory is part of the contract. The condition of the home and every item of furniture and appliances must be documented. Check it room by room and take dated photos when you move in.
• Deposit and renewal. The deposit must be written into the contract and returned at the end, less any documented damage. If the landlord doesn’t want to renew, they must tell you at least three months before the lease ends.
• Utilities through ARMS. Water and electricity are usually billed to the tenant through ARMS. Make sure the number of residents is registered correctly so you pay the right residential rates.

Before you view in Sliema

• Parking is the big one. If you drive, ask whether the home comes with a garage space, because street parking in central Sliema is hard.
• Check for construction nearby. Sliema is always rebuilding, and a quiet street today can have a building site next door next month.
• Sea-facing homes can be humid in winter. Look for a dehumidifier, good ventilation and any signs of damp on outer walls.
• Test the lift and the air conditioning in every bedroom — both matter in Sliema’s summer.

Still comparing? Read our guides to renting in St Julian’s and renting in Gżira, or compare all 15 towns side by side in Where to live in Malta.