Houses for rent in Sidi Bou Saïd

Renting a house in Sidi Bou Saïd is not like renting anywhere else in the northern suburbs. The stock is small, owners choose their tenants, and many houses stay on the market for only a few days. Those who type rent sidi bou said are rarely after just a roof: they want a terrace over the gulf, a patio, a village you can walk home to from the TGM station.

Here we deal only with the sector's houses and villas, listed by private owners and agencies with their direct number. To compare with Byrsa, Amilcar or Salammbô, the page of houses for rent in the Carthage delegation covers the whole area.

Who rents, and for how long

Year-round tenants are mainly expatriate families, diplomats posted for two or three years, foreign teachers and researchers, and Tunisian couples who grew up in the northern suburbs and want to stay there. Houses are almost always let furnished, sometimes with old furniture that is part of the charm, sometimes with tired furnishings that need listing room by room.

Summer changes everything. Some owners prefer to rent by the month or the week from June to September, when demand from holidaymakers and Tunisian families living abroad soars. For a yearly lease, the search is easier from October to spring, when houses freed up after the season come back on the market.

Village house or villa on the slope

The typical sidi bou said house stands in the upper lanes: white facade, studded door, patio, rooms opening onto the courtyard rather than the street, one or two roof terraces. These houses are beautiful and cool in summer, but they can be damp in winter, and the car often stays several hundred metres away. Expect rarely less than 2,000 to 2,500 DT a month for a small house without a view.

A villa in sidi bou said, lower down the slopes or on the edge towards La Marsa, offers a garden, a garage and sometimes a pool. Rents then rise quickly, often between 4,000 and 8,000 DT for a property in good condition, more with an open sea view. The sector stays a notch above Byrsa for similar features; those who want a bigger garden for the same budget often look at houses for rent in Carthage Byrsa, a few TGM stops away.

Everyday practicalities

The TGM puts central Tunis half an hour away, and La Marsa, with its markets and supermarkets, is a few minutes off. The international schools of the northern suburbs can be reached by car, which explains the demand from foreign families. The downside is spring weekends: the upper lanes fill with visitors, and driving home on a Saturday afternoon takes patience. A house with a private parking space rents faster and for more.

If a whole house is beyond your budget, widen the search to all accommodation to rent in Sidi Bou Saïd, which also includes villa floors and flats.

Lease, deposit and charges

Ask for a written, registered rental contract stating the term, the amount of the deposit (often one to two months' rent) and the conditions for getting it back. For a furnished house, an inventory signed by both parties avoids arguments when you leave. Make clear who pays for water, electricity, the gardener and pool maintenance: in a villa with grounds, these items weigh heavily. Finally, note the condition of the terraces and woodwork when you move in, as the sea air wears them quickly. And if you plan to stay a long time, take a look at houses for sale in Sidi Bou Saïd: some tenants end up buying.