A North Macedonian rental contract (договор за закуп / dogovor za zakup) governing the lease of residential or commercial property between a landlord and tenant.
A dogovor za zakup (lease agreement) in North Macedonia is the contract between a landlord (zakupodavač) and tenant (zakupec) setting out the terms on which residential or commercial premises are rented. The agreement is governed by the Law on Obligations (Zakon za obligacionite odnosi).
North Macedonian law requires lease agreements to be in written form for agreements longer than one year. For shorter leases, a verbal agreement is technically valid but practically unenforceable. Written leases protect both parties and are strongly recommended for all rental arrangements regardless of duration.
Landlords are required to register their rental income with the Public Revenue Office (Uprava za javni prihodi) and pay a flat-rate tax on rental income. In practice, the informal rental market remains significant — but legally, both landlord and tenant benefit from a registered written lease.
Security deposits in North Macedonian residential leases are typically one to two months' rent and are negotiated between the parties. The deposit must be returned at the end of the tenancy subject to deductions for unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear. Document the property's condition at the start of the tenancy with a written inventory.
Expats and foreign nationals renting in North Macedonia should ensure the landlord is the registered owner (verify against the Real Estate Cadastre) and that the agreement is in both Macedonian and English for clarity. Machine translations are not legally reliable — have a qualified translator review any bilingual lease.
Yes. There are no legal restrictions on foreign nationals renting residential or commercial property in North Macedonia on a long-term basis.
Disputes are heard by the Basic Courts (Osnoven sud). Eviction proceedings for non-payment of rent or breach of lease terms are initiated through the courts. The process can take several months.
Notarisation is not required for standard residential lease agreements, but it increases enforceability. For commercial leases of high value or long duration, notarisation is advisable.
Browse our verified directory of English-speaking law firms across North Macedonia. All listed firms offer English-language legal services to expats and foreign nationals.
Find My Lawyer in 60 Seconds