Renting a property is fairly expensive in Antigua and Barbuda as most of the properties available for rental are intended for the short term holiday let market, with very few designed for long term tenants. As a result if you wish to rent long term you will find that landlords are reluctant to drop prices to take that into consideration, as they can earn a great deal more from holiday lets, which are calculated by the week rather than the month.

If you do find a property for long term rental you will find that the rent does not include items such as utilities, maintenance and domestic help, which are all factored in to a short term let. The tenancy agreement that you sign will detail which expenses you are responsible for as the tenant and any other details such as the removal of household refuse. Long term rentals are usually for a minimum of 6 months, though contracts of a year can be negotiated.

As Antigua and Barbuda are popular with tourists, many of the properties available to rent are villas or apartments aimed at the wealthier visitor. In an apartment complex facilities such as swimming pools and gyms are not uncommon and there are usually shared facilities such as a laundry room.

A short term rental is usually for a period of one month or less and is ideal for those who are moving to the island while they look for alternative accommodation or while a property purchase is carried out. The landlord will include the cost of maintenance and utilities in with the rent and deal with any issues themselves. These also generally include domestic cleaning and gardening help. It is possible to rent a place on a month to month basis but as most landlords will have arranged to let to holiday makers in advance this is rare and if you need a short term let such as this for a transition period then you will need to make arrangements several months in advance to ensure you have a place to go to when you arrive.

Finding a reasonably priced rental is quite difficult but there are several estate agents across the country which have long term rentals available, and if you are prepared to live off the beaten track and away from the most touristy areas then you should be able to find something to suit. It will, however, still be pricey as Antigua and Barbuda has one of the highest costs of living in the Caribbean.