“Ejjar qbal eddar!” 

“When moving consider the neighbors more than the structure.” (Tunisian proverb)

Factors that make your location, location, location good or bad

We just recently changed homes in Tunis and it occurred to me that I've learned a few things about renting here.  I hope they help you!

• Niceness of landlord

In the States landlords are usually out of site and out of mind.  A good one might see you a time or two per year and have a smile on his face.  A bad one might see you a time or two per year and have a frown.

In Tunisia many people build houses to rent as part of their retirement plan.  It's entirely probable that your landlord will live right above or below you.

This makes the LNF (Landlord Niceness Factor) quite a bit more important. 

• Helpfulness of landlord

The concept of preventative maintenance isn’t quite as developed here.  Some repairs happen once it’s really, really broken.  Therefore, unless your place is brand new (and probably even in that case) it’s not a bad thing to have a landlord who is eager to help you locate a plumber, electrician, etc.  A couple of my friends have a landlord like this and I know he saves them tons of time and money (he barters for them).

• Appreciation of landlord

I’ve learned that some landlords treasure the general care that many foreigners give houses—and I don’t think they dislike the prompt, regular payments they receive either.  Believe it or not, because of this some landlords will give preferential prices foreigners.  Find a landlord like this!

• Proximity to public transport

Public transport is so excellent and cheap, and vehicles are so expensive that many people forego the headache and cost of buying a car for a while.  If you are in that group, think ahead though—find a place that’s near a metro stop.  This will make life easier for you and your Tunisian friends.

• Noise sources: mosques, dogs, schools, wedding halls, pedestrian traffic, vehicle traffic, industrial or commercial areas

Did you grow up hearing "the call to prayer" being blasted from a nearby mosque?  Me neither.  Unless you can somehow tune that out (for hours at a time, weeks on end during Ramadan) you probably want to find a place that’s somewhat distant from the neighborhood’s mosques.

Along the same lines, know that grade schools (primary schools) and high schools here function on university-like schedules.  Students come and go all day long.  Because of that if you rent near a school you’ll have constant noise (as opposed to once or twice a day).

The other things in the noise list probably make sense without saying anything but I’d better also mention that weddings here are a BIG deal and especially in the summer.  LOUD, LOUD, LOUD music plays from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. (conservatively).  In the concrete structures here it just resonates through the neighborhoods.  Find out how far you are from a wedding hall.

• Stairs

You know what stairs are… but there’s a slight difference with them here.  Ceilings are built higher here to let summer heat rise, so for each floor there are lots more stairs.  No biggie, unless you have two kids under the age of three and a tiny wife (theoretically, of course).  In that case those long stairs can look like a long hike when a couple of diaper bags and strollers (and how about some groceries?) are factored in.  The Mr. helps when he's around... but that's not 24/7...

• Independent gate
• Quality of electrical system

Air conditioner prices are a fraction of what they were three years ago.  Only a few people had them at the time.  The problem that creates is that houses’ wiring systems weren’t designed to carry the load of AC units.  If you plan on getting ACs, and if your house is several years old, you might have to put in a new breaker box.

• Quality of plumbing system
• Quality of phone line

There is general improvement in this area but beware that some parts of town (even "nice" parts) have generally poor phone line quality.  You can't use that cell phone to download  updates or Skype your mom...

• Nice/clean factor
• Security

People in my hometown leave the keys in their cars parked in the streets at night.  Why?  Well... nobody has asked that question before but I suppose if they thought about it they'd say they aleady have enough stuff in their pockets and don't need the keys to be there, too.  If you used to be my neighbor then keep in mind that although Tunis is pretty safe, *many* people here have installed bars on doors and windows for some reason. 

• Proximity to work, stores, markets, friends, etc.
• Appropriateness for who you are

On multiple occasions where I’ve helped expatriate friends hunt for houses alongside of Tunisian friends I’ve been surprised by which neighborhoods my Tunisian friends said were “good” or “bad.”  In the States there are stronger zoning laws and I think land development probably occurred more systematically so in that scenario it’s easy for me to say, “Yep.  Nice neighborhood.”  The only time this issue will matter is if you go with *your* impression of a neighborhood when it’s contradicting that of your Tunisian friends’.  In that case just get ready to constantly have to justify to everyone you deal with *why you live there!”

House features

• Villa, apartment, studio
• independent
• garage
• gas lines
• central heat
• ACs
• # of bedrooms
• # of bathrooms
• bars on windows
• built in closets
• ground level
• water heater
• phone line
• other

Hope this list helps!