Finding a villa in Bali may look easy, but choosing the right place for a long-term stay takes more than beautiful photos. There are several things to consider before making a commitment.
With private pools, aesthetic interiors and beautiful views, Bali has no shortage of picture perfect villas. If you’ve been looking to rent a villa in Bali for your holiday, the options are seemingly endless. However, when it comes to renting somewhere longer term, many foreign residents find that it can be more difficult to find decent housing. So whether you’re renting from abroad, deciding between monthly or yearly payments, or already deep in a search and unsure if you’re taking the right next step, here’s what you need to know before committing to a villa rental in Bali.
Where to Find A Villa in Bali
There are a few ways to find a villa in Bali, such as online platforms like Airbnb or Booking, which work well if you’re only planning to stay short-term or booking last minute. Airbnb does allow longer stays, although bookings of 28 nights or more fall under its long-term cancellation policies. So before booking a month or two, check what happens if your plans change.
Having a platform involved gives you somewhere to raise a problem, but it doesn’t guarantee a refund for every complaint. Some platforms offer help with booking problems, but what’s available depends on their policies and the circumstances. If there are issues upon your arrival, take photographs and communicate with your host in writing.
Online platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com make it easier to explore villa options in Bali. However, always review the cancellation policy before confirming a longer stay.
Another option is to rent through a villa rental or management company. This gives you a point of contact, but make sure you understand what their role covers. Ask who handles repairs, what support is included and what happens if the villa isn’t as described. It’s a good idea to check the Google reviews of the company and that the company’s contact details match its official website to avoid scams.
You can also talk to your local contacts and check Facebook housing groups. There may be more room to negotiate directly, but it’s important you know who you’re dealing with before sending any money.
Booking a Villa in Bali From Abroad
If possible, we recommend booking somewhere for your first few weeks, then looking for a longer-term home once you’re here. This gives you time to visit properties and work out which area suits you.
Photos might show a villa when it was newly finished, rather than how it looks today. When you visit, you could find water marks on the ceiling, a damp smell in the cupboards or furniture that has seen better days. Unfortunately, the humid climate means that it’s not always so easy to maintain villas in Bali, so nothing beats visiting in real life to check the real state of the property. If you can’t visit the property yourself, ask someone that you trust to visit. Asking for a video tour might give you a better idea, although it’s not completely reliable and doesn’t replace checking who you’re paying and whether they have permission to rent the villa out.
While a video tour can show you the inside of the house, you will probably miss an important aspect of house hunting: the surrounding area. Things change quickly in Bali, and development can be rapid. The rice-field view you see in photos could have changed, or there may be noisy construction next door. If possible, ask to see the access road and what’s around the property, rather than only the rooms.
Renting Monthly or Yearly
Renting monthly gives you flexibility, especially if you’re new to Bali. You might love an area on holiday, but find the traffic, noise or distance from work frustrating once you’re living there. A yearly rental may work out cheaper per month, but check how the payments work, as you might need to give over a large lump sum initially for the whole term.
If you’re choosing between renting monthly or yearly in Bali, then it’s important to consider what’s actually included. Although a yearly rental might look cheaper on the face of things, if it doesn’t factor in cleaning, internet and pool maintenance, then paying monthly might be closer in cost to a yearly rental than it first appears.
Monthly rentals offer more flexibility when you are still getting to know Bali. A yearly rental may reduce the monthly cost but requires a larger upfront commitment.
Another consideration is who pays for repairs, so make sure repair responsibilities are agreed before paying upfront. Finally, if your plans change and you can’t recover the unused rent, then paying yearly works out considerably more expensive.
On the upside, a longer agreement may give you more room to negotiate, including on price or decorating, but make sure any permissions and the rent for the agreed term are written into the contract.
Understanding the Agreement
Before sending a deposit, make sure you know who you’re dealing with. Someone having the keys and showing you around doesn’t automatically mean they’re allowed to rent the villa to you.
If you’re dealing with a manager or an existing tenant, ask for documents showing their authority to rent it out for the agreed period. Before paying a large amount upfront, get an independent legal professional to check the paperwork.
Having access to a property does not automatically mean someone has the authority to rent it out. Always verify who you are dealing with.
Your agreement should identify the property, who you’re renting from, the dates, payments and deposit conditions. Promises about repairs should be written down too, rather than left as something to sort out once you’ve moved in. For a longer rental, ask an independent legal professional whether the agreement should be signed before a notary.
Things to Check at the Viewing
Check the internet where you plan to work
Run the taps and test the hot water and air conditioning
Look inside cupboards and around windows for signs of mould or leaks
Understand what happens for repairs
Visit the neighbourhood at different times if possible
Check your regular journeys, whether that’s to work, school or the gym
Check the condition of the furniture
Ask about what’s included in terms of electricity, bills, internet and pool maintenance
Open Living vs Enclosed Living
While open villas are very common in Bali, especially in holiday rentals, whether you really can handle living in one long-term depends on your preferences. In the long-term, it’s important to think about where you’ll go if it gets hot or rainy, and what you’ll do if there are lots of mosquitoes or farmers burning rice fields near your house. For some foreigners, living in an open villa is a new and exciting experience, while others find it itchy, hot and bothersome.
Extra Costs
Before signing any agreement, get clear on the extra costs. Electricity, internet, cleaning, gardening, pool maintenance, rubbish collection and drinking water all add up, so any inclusions can really offset your monthly costs.
If electricity is separate, ask to see recent bills or top-up records. The amount you use will probably differ, but this gives you something more useful than being told it’s “not expensive.”
Rent is only one part of the cost of living in a villa. Electricity, cleaning, gardening, pool maintenance and drinking water can all add to your monthly expenses.
Check who pays for routine servicing and appliance replacements, along with any taxes, administration or contract fees. For the deposit, agree on when it will be returned and what can be deducted. Take dated photos and check the inventory together when you move in.
Renting Out Spare Rooms
If you rent a three-bedroom villa and only need one room, renting the others to guests might seem like a sensible way to generate extra income. However, renting a property for your own residential use is very different from operating an accommodation business.
Following the government clarifications issued in May 2026 regarding property businesses operating short-term rentals, foreigners are prohibited from conducting short-term room rentals in Indonesia, even if they have established a local company. This restriction still applies even if the property owner has explicitly given you permission to rent out the rooms. The landlord's consent does not replace the required business licensing or make an otherwise prohibited activity lawful.
Before advertising or accepting payment from guests, make sure you understand the applicable restrictions and requirements. You can read more about this in our article here.
Need Help?
Whether you’re planning a move to Bali or looking into a property-related business, our team at Bali Solve would be happy to help with the visa, business and tax questions involved. We are a visa and business consulting agency based in Pererenan, near Canggu. Simply reach out via WhatsApp or drop by our office to schedule a consultation today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I rent a villa in Bali before arriving?
A: If possible, book somewhere for your first few weeks and view longer-term options once you’re here. Photos don’t always show the current condition of a villa or what’s happening next door. If you can’t visit, ask someone you trust to check it for you.
Q: Is it better to rent monthly or yearly in Bali?
A: Monthly gives you flexibility, while yearly may work out cheaper per month but can mean paying a large amount upfront. Compare what’s included and check what happens if you need to leave early.
Q: What extra costs should I ask about?
A: Electricity, internet, cleaning, gardening, pool maintenance, rubbish collection and drinking water are all worth checking. Also ask who pays for repairs and whether there are any additional taxes or fees.
Q: How can I avoid villa rental scams?
A: Make sure you know who you’re paying and that they have permission to rent the property to you. Someone having the keys doesn’t prove this, so before paying a large amount upfront, get the paperwork checked by an independent legal professional.
Q: Who pays if something breaks in the villa?
A: This should be agreed in writing before you move in. Ask who handles routine servicing, repairs and appliance replacements, and who you should contact if something goes wrong.
Q: Can I rent out the spare rooms in my villa?
A: Don’t assume that renting a villa gives you permission to accept paying guests. You’ll need to check the agreement, the landlord’s permission, the property’s business permissions and your own visa position before posting a room for rent online.
Written by Bali Solve Team
01 November 2026
