Barbados Expat Homes’ clients are always asking for rental advice, here are the most asked questions and answers about the rental process in Barbados. This Q&A is also perfect for those overseas who are applying for the new 12-Month Barbados Welcome Stamp visa, who probably have not rented a property in Barbados long-term before. Please feel free to comment below if you have any additional questions that you would like us to answer for you!
1. Where Do I Find a Barbados Real Estate Agent?
Reputable and professional real estate brokerages/agents can easily be found online via the Barbados Estate Agents & Valuers Association (BEAVA). You can check the real estate agent’s direct website for updated content and reviews from past clients. Of course, we at Barbados Expat Homes would be happy assist you.
2. How Many Real Estate Agents Should I Hire?
When deciding on hiring a real estate agent, it’s best to hire just one. The reason for this is that Barbados is a small island and the inventory of property listings is usually duplicated in ads across many offices. It is much easier for you to have just one real estate agent who will have access to all of the listings on the island to avoid duplicating the efforts and the time of multiple real estate agents who just send you the same listings.
3. What Type of Home Should I Look For in Barbados?
Be as transparent as possible. Do you have any pets or young children? How many bedrooms do you need? What type of property: apartment, townhouse, or house? Do you want a furnished or unfurnished property? Do you want amenities like a gym, a swimming pool, and tennis courts? The more specific and transparent you are, the easier it will be for the real estate agent to find you the perfect home.
4. What Should My Rental Budget Be?
Properties closer to the beach or right on the sand in Barbados come at a premium price. The more inland the property is, more likely tend to be a bit more reasonably priced. To give you a general idea, these are average rental prices seen over the years by Barbados Expat Homes. A modern furnished 2-bedroom apartment right on the beach usually starts from USD$2,750/Month and a furnished attractive 3-bedroom standalone house that’s inland usually starts from USD$1,600/Month.
Generally, a 1-bedroom furnished apartment starts at USD$600/Month, a 2-bedroom furnished apartment or townhouse starts at USD$900/Month and a 3-bedroom furnished apartment or townhouse starts at USD$1,250/Month.
5. Should I Carpool with my Real Estate Agent?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted all of our lives in some way, most Barbados real estate agents are no longer carpooling with their clients. Some real estate companies have also put protocols put into place that forbid real estate agents from carpooling. So, a meeting point can be set, then you follow your real estate agent to the first showing location in your own vehicle or you can have a driver.
6. I Found a Property That I Love, What’s Next?
Some landlords are open to negotiations on the rental price, while others are not, especially since the Barbados real estate market is so active. When you find a property that you love, you will need to complete a tenant screening form and attach your photo ID. This will be sent to the landlord for review via your real estate agent at Barbados Expat Homes. The mentioned form essentially gives the landlord an idea of who you are. Question topics include: where you’re moving from, current employment, professional references, and whether or not you have pets or children.
7. The Landlord Has Accepted My Rental Offer, What Next?
Congrats! The landlord has accepted your rental offer! A rental agreement will now be drafted for your review. If the draft is fine and you don’t have any requests for changes, it’s time to sign. Due on signing the rental agreement in Barbados is the first month’s rent and a security deposit which is equivalent to one month’s rent. The landlord or property manager will return the security deposit at the end of the tenancy after inspection once any damages have been covered. Depending on the landlord, some do request additionally the last month’s rent on signing.
8. What Should I Know About Utility Services in Barbados?
Water, electricity, telephone, internet, cable TV, and gas are usually transferred to the tenant via the Barbados utility company’s transfer forms. Water remains in the landlord’s name and the bill could be updated to be in c/o the tenant’s name. Please note there are some cases where some or all utilities are included in the rent but this depends on the listing at hand. Most of the times garden and pool maintenance are included in the rent but this is up for negotiation with some landlords.
9. What are the Last Things to Tick Off on Move In Day?
An inventory of all the items in the property is usually attached to the rental agreement. This document needs to be completed by ticking off each item on the list, noting the condition and signing off to confirm you’re in receipt of all the items in the property.
10. All Work and No Play Makes Jack A Dull Boy?
Enjoy the Barbados lifestyle! Time to celebrate closing the deal on your new home. So many stunning white tropical sandy beaches, surf, and other water sports, top-notch restaurants and how about buying some house-warming items at one of the many shopping malls on island? Congratulations, your new life in Barbados awaits you!
