What Renters Can Do When Leases End Amid Tight Supply in Tunis

For thousands of tenants in Tunis, the end of a lease now often means entering a competitive scramble for housing. In Mutuelleville, one of the city’s centrally located neighbourhoods, listings posted in the morning are sometimes gone before noon. Supply is tight, and rising prices have made even modest apartments a financial stretch for many.

The squeeze comes at a time when home buyers too are feeling the pinch from steeper mortgage rates at Banque de Tunisie and shrinking inventories. The rental market, already competitive, becomes even more volatile as expatriates, students and professionals compete for a dwindling pool of available flats.

From La Marsa to Centre Urbain Nord: The New Reality for Renters

Take Ghofrane Ben Youssef, a recent university graduate searching for a one-bedroom apartment near rue de Marseille. After her lease ended last week, agents told her rents in the area have climbed above 1,000 dinars per month—a 15% jump since late 2024. On the other side of town near El Menzah 6, long a magnet for public sector workers, roadside banners now advertise furnished studios for 1,200 dinars, a steep ask compared to pre-pandemic prices.

According to ImmoExpert, a Tunis-based property platform, the number of apartments available for rent in central districts in June 2026 was down 28% year-on-year. The trend echoes across the metropolitan area, including La Marsa, where newly refurbished two-bedroom units rarely stay available more than a few days.

Agents at Agence Immobilière Les Berges du Lac report that in newly developed areas like Centre Urbain Nord, waitlists are growing. “Anything under 1,300 dinars is snapped up instantly,” one manager said. Demand is especially fierce in locations near Berges du Lac business parks and the Aéroport Tunis-Carthage.

Strategies for the End-of-Lease Crunch

What options do renters have when faced with an expiring lease in this atmosphere? Some are extending temporarily by negotiating short renewals with landlords, even if it means paying a premium—sometimes 5-10% above the previous rate. In Lac 2, several landlords are reportedly offering three-month extensions for tenants agreeing to new terms.

For those unable or unwilling to absorb higher rents, flat-sharing is making a comeback, particularly near Ariana Université and on the outskirts of the city in Ennasr. Online groups like "Colocation Tunis" on Facebook have seen a surge in new posts, with hundreds of listings in the past month as renters seek to split costs. Meanwhile, specialised relocation firms such as Move2Tunis are advising clients to begin apartment searches at least 60 days before lease termination, particularly for family-sized properties in Gammarth or Le Kram.

According to Institut National de la Statistique, median monthly rent in the broader Tunis region reached 940 dinars in Q2 this year. That’s up from 780 dinars at the same time in 2023. Mortgage rates ticked up to an average of 8.2% in June. These factors have pushed more young professionals and new arrivals into the already strained rental sector, further limiting choices for those hoping to sign a new lease in July or August.

Any renter facing a lease expiry should act early. Agents advise getting documentation in order and lining up guarantees (caution bancaire) before making offers. For many, flexibility on location—from Carthage’s seafront to the less-glamorous but more affordable El Mourouj—may be the key to finding a workable solution in the coming months. With no sign of an immediate supply surge, quick decisions and creative arrangements are the order of the day for tenants determined to stay in Tunis.