Apartments for Rent in Tzfat (Safed)
Apartments for Rent in Tzfat (Safed)
"apartments for rent in tzfat israel" is one of the most common searches we receive from clients abroad, and the honest answer is that the right choice depends on the street, the building and your plans. Here is the local picture.
Official market data — Israel (CBS, 2026)
National average: ₪2,392,000 in H1 2026 (+3.9% vs. H1 2025); the CBS housing price index for February–March 2026 was down 1.2% year on year
Purchase tax for a foreign resident or investor: 8% up to ₪6,055,070 and 10% above; bank financing for non-residents is capped at 50% of the property value (up to 75% for an Israeli resident buying a single home)
Source: Israel Central Bureau of Statistics — average apartment prices for the first half of 2026 (published 15 September 2026), the housing price index (published 15 May 2026) and the Q1 2026 rent survey. These are city-wide averages; the actual price depends on the neighborhood, size, floor and condition. Before any decision we show you real transactions recorded with the Israel Tax Authority in the area you are considering.
Below you will find how renting apartments in Tzfat (Safed) actually works – lease conventions, what landlords ask for, which areas suit which tenants, and how to secure a good apartment without being in the country.
Tzfat (Safed) at a glance
Tzfat (Safed) is the mountain city of Kabbalah in the Upper Galilee, at around 900 metres, with a historic Old City of stone lanes, an artists' quarter, synagogues from the sixteenth century and cool summers that make it a retreat from the coast.
Its market combines old stone houses that need restoration, religious neighbourhoods, and newer districts on the city's edges.
Getting around:Highway 89 and Route 90; Rosh Pina and the Kinneret are minutes away; about two and a half hours from Tel Aviv.
Renting apartments in Tzfat (Safed)
Renting in Israel is fast and informal compared with most Western markets: good apartments in Tzfat (Safed) are let within days, viewings are brief and decisions are expected on the spot. The lease itself is usually a twelve-month contract with an option year; the tenant covers arnona, building fees and utilities; and landlords ask for cheques, a bank guarantee or guarantors as security.
How we secure a rental for a client who is abroad:
Brief – budget, move-in date, size in rooms and square metres, furnished or not, parking, elevator, safe room, pets, and any community or school requirements.
Search – we combine agency listings, private listings and our own network in Tzfat (Safed), then pre-screen every candidate in person.
Video viewing – you see the apartment, the building and the street before deciding.
Lease review – we read the Hebrew contract with you, negotiate the option year, security and maintenance clauses, and arrange a translation.
Move-in – meter readings, inventory, keys, and set-up of arnona, electricity, water and internet in your name.
Neighbourhoods to know in Tzfat (Safed)
Location within Tzfat (Safed) matters more than almost any other factor. These are the areas our clients ask about most:
The Old City and the Artists' Quarter –stone houses, galleries and synagogues
Canaan and the northern neighbourhoods –family apartments
Ramat Razim and the new districts –modern buildings and projects
Housing stock and who rents in Tzfat (Safed)
What you will find on the market: historic stone houses, 1970s–80s apartments and new projects.
Who you will be competing with: religious and spiritual buyers, artists, Anglo families and vacation-home owners.
Rentals serve students of the religious institutions and holiday visitors.
Lease terms and costs you will see in Tzfat (Safed)
Term –twelve months is standard; an option year at a pre-agreed rent is common and worth negotiating
Security –post-dated cheques, a bank guarantee or a promissory note, sometimes with guarantors; overseas tenants can often substitute a larger deposit
Running costs –arnona (municipal tax) set by the city and the property's zone and size, va'ad bayit (building fees, higher in towers with elevators, pools or a doorman), electricity, water and gas
Agent fee –customarily about one month's rent plus VAT if an agent found the apartment for you
Repairs –the lease should say who fixes the air conditioning, water heater and appliances – in Israel this is often the tenant for minor items
How Kobi Elkayam Real Estate helps
Kobi Elkayam Real Estate Ltd is part of the Elkayam Group, a Tel Aviv family business whose roots go back to 1945 and is now in its third generation. The group is active as a developer – in urban renewal, combination deals and complex transactions – and as a brokerage for international clients, working in English, French and Hebrew from its offices at 37 Rival Street, Tel Aviv.
Rental search in Tzfat (Safed) –agency, private and off-market listings pre-screened in person
Video viewings –so you can decide from abroad
Lease negotiation and translation –option year, security, maintenance and notice clauses
Move-in and set-up –utilities, arnona, internet and furniture where needed
Buy-later planning –if the rental is your first step towards buying, we plan the purchase in parallel
Can a foreigner rent apartments in Tzfat (Safed)?
Yes. There is no residency requirement to rent in Israel. Landlords will want identification, proof of income or savings and security – cheques, a bank guarantee or guarantors – and an overseas tenant can usually offer a larger deposit or a foreign guarantor instead. Signing can be done remotely with a power of attorney or in person.
How much deposit or security do landlords in Tzfat (Safed) ask for?
Conventions vary by landlord rather than by law. Common arrangements are post-dated cheques for the year, a bank guarantee equal to a few months' rent, a promissory note with Israeli guarantors, or a cash deposit. Overseas tenants without Israeli guarantors usually negotiate a larger deposit instead.
Are apartments in Tzfat (Safed) rented furnished?
Most long-term rentals in Israel come unfurnished but with kitchen cabinets, a water heater and usually air conditioning; furnished units are a minority and often belong to owners abroad. Rentals serve students of the religious institutions and holiday visitors.
What extra costs come with a rental in Israel?
On top of rent the tenant pays arnona (municipal tax), va'ad bayit (building maintenance), electricity, water, gas and internet. Arnona depends on the city, the zone and the size of the apartment; building fees are higher in towers with elevators, pools or a doorman. If an agent found the apartment, the customary fee is about one month's rent plus VAT.
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Talk to us about a rental in Tzfat (Safed).Call +972-53-658-4252, write to support@kobielkayamrealestateltd.com, orleave your detailsand a member of the team will get back to you in English, French or Hebrew.
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