Apartments for rent in Kef Est

Looking for a flat in Le Kef means accepting there are not many. The town grew as detached houses clinging to the slopes of Jebel Dyr, and the purpose built block of flats is still the exception. In the Kef Est delegation, which covers the Hached, Ben Ainine and Zaafrane districts, apartment listings are rare, often floors or studios in small family buildings, and nearly all posted by private owners.

On Houni every listing gives the owner's direct contact, with no middleman. When the page is empty or close to it, which happens outside the back to school season, it is worth looking at apartments to rent across the Le Kef governorate, which also shows listings from Kef Ouest and the other delegations.

The studio, the most wanted property

The search that comes up most is a simple one: studio to rent in Le Kef. It comes from students at the town's higher education institutions, young teachers on their first posting, nurses and doctors at the regional hospital, and staff in the government offices of the regional capital. They all want a room with a kitchenette and a shower room, furnished if possible, within a reasonable distance of the centre.

These studios are often fitted out on the ground floor of a house or on the roof, with their own entrance. The rent stays modest, often under 300 DT, a little more if the place is furnished and heated. They get let between late August and early October, then supply almost vanishes until the following summer. If you are transferred mid year, be ready for a longer search.

S+1 and S+2: where to look in Kef Est

Two and three room flats are mostly in the more built up parts of Hached and Ben Ainine, in low blocks of two or three storeys, or in houses split into separate units. An S+2 to rent in Le Kef is often negotiated at 350 to 550 DT a month depending on the floor, condition and fittings. That is a rough guide, not a price list.

Zaafrane sometimes offers more space for lower rents, but the distance from the centre shows if you have no car. For a family with children, a whole house with a courtyard can cost the same as a flat: compare with the page for renting in Kef Est, which brings houses and flats together.

By the day or by the year

A lot of searches are for apartments to rent in Le Kef by the day. The demand is real: people in town for a recruitment exam, families invited to a wedding, tourists coming up to see the kasbah and the medina, summer festival goers. The supply, though, is largely informal, with a few owners letting a furnished studio for a few nights. Call the advertiser directly and ask whether they take short stays, giving your dates.

For a yearly let, the pattern is the usual one: one or two months' deposit, a month in advance, a written contract. Ask whether water and electricity have their own meters or are shared with the owner living downstairs.

Think about winter before you sign

Le Kef sits at almost 800 metres, and winter is long and cold, with wind and sometimes snow. A north facing flat, or one on the top floor under a poorly insulated slab, is hard to heat. On the viewing, check the windows, any damp in the corners, the water heater and whether a gas heater can be connected safely. A flat that costs a bit more but gets the sun often saves the difference in gas bottles.

Look at the access too: some streets in Kef Est are very steep, and parking gets awkward on winter evenings. For those who prefer the space of a house, the houses to rent in Kef Est are a common alternative for the same budget.