Your First Rental in Luxembourg: Process, Deposit and Agency Fees

Finding a home is often the biggest challenge for newcomers to Luxembourg: the market is tight and rents are high, especially in Luxembourg City and its outskirts. The good news: the 2024 rental lease reform, in force since 1 August 2024, has significantly strengthened tenant protection.

What changed in August 2024

These rules apply to new contracts; leases signed before that date remain under the old regime (a deposit of up to 3 months was possible).

The steps to rent

1. Set your budget: count the rent, the charges (monthly advances for heating, water, waste) and insurance.
2. Search on property portals and through agencies; prepare a file: ID, employment contract, last three payslips.
3. Visit quickly — properties go fast — and ask about the energy class and actual charges.
4. Sign the written lease; check the duration, notice period and any rent indexation.
5. Set up the security deposit (blocked transfer or bank guarantee) and pay your share of the agency fees.
6. Carry out a detailed move-in inventory (état des lieux), with dated photos, signed by both parties.
7. Take out household and civil liability insurance, then declare your new address to the commune.

Points to watch

Rents for older dwellings remain regulated by law; in the event of a dispute (excessive rent, deposit not returned, contested charges), you can turn to your commune's rent commission and then to the justice of the peace. The deposit must be returned to you at the end of the lease, minus any damage recorded in the move-out inventory. Never transfer money before visiting and signing: fraudulent listings targeting newcomers exist in Luxembourg too.

Official sources

• Logement.lu – Rental lease FAQ (2024 reform)
• Logement.lu – Rental lease reform
• Ministry of Housing – logement.public.lu