Buying property in Marrakech: what foreign buyers need to know

By the ULTIMATE Marrakech Editorial Team

Who can buy, and what to avoid

A British citizen can purchase any immovable property registered for non-agricultural use and located within an urban agglomeration. Avoid property under seizure, mortgaged, on a long-term lease, subject to expropriation, or undivided, and never buy in someone else’s name (GOV.UK).

Title deeds and the law

Property in Morocco is registered, in the process of registration, or unregistered. Registered property falls under the registration law of 1913 and the 1915 legislation on registered buildings; unregistered property under Muslim law and the Moroccan civil code. Without the title deeds you do not officially own the property (GOV.UK).

How buying works

Choose a notary first, ideally one fluent in your language, and engage an independent lawyer to check the documents. Make a verbal offer; you may then sign a legally binding preliminary contract and pay a deposit, which should be done with your notary (GOV.UK).

Paying, renting and selling

Pay by bank transfer from a convertible account. Rental income is taxed and declared electronically; a sale at a profit is subject to capital gains tax (GOV.UK).

Where people live

See our property guide for the medina’s riads, Gueliz and Hivernage, the Palmeraie and the golf roads. We don’t publish prices or yields.

Questions and answers