Updated November 2026. Most flat-hunting in Tehran now starts on a phone. This guide covers the websites and apps people use to rent and buy property in Iran as of November 2026, what each is good for, how Iran’s deposit-based rahn and ejare system works, and what renters are paying after a turbulent year. We refresh it every year at this address. For the legal steps, read how to rent or buy a property in Tehran.
The main property websites and apps
| Site | Type | Language | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Divar (divar.ir) | General classifieds with a large property section | Persian | The widest choice of rentals and sales, from agents and private owners |
| Sheypoor (sheypoor.com) | General classifieds | Persian | A second source of listings, useful outside central Tehran |
| Kilid (kilid.com) | Dedicated property portal | Persian | Agency listings and price information |
| Inpin and Deltahome | Agent apps / bilingual rental site | Persian and English | Listed in our earlier editions; check that they are still active |
Divar
Divar, founded in 2012, is Iran’s dominant classifieds platform. By its latest published figures, more than 53 million users open the app each year and more than 139 million new ads are posted annually. Real estate is one of its main categories, alongside cars, electronics and jobs. Listings come from private owners and estate agents. For rentals, they show the deposit (rahn) and monthly rent (ejare) separately, and you can filter by neighbourhood. The volume of listings is large enough that Divar data is often used as a rough gauge of the Tehran market: the Tehran Bazaar newsletter used it to track the rise of small flats.
Things to know: Divar is in Persian only, and an account must be registered with a valid Iranian national ID number. Foreigners usually browse with the help of a Persian speaker and contact owners through an Iranian friend, colleague or agent. Searching by neighbourhood name in Persian (for example Zafaraniyeh زعفرانیه) gives the best results.
Sheypoor
Sheypoor, founded in 2013, is Divar’s main competitor in general classifieds, with thousands of ads added every day. It is also Persian-only. Use it alongside Divar: some owners and agents, particularly outside the north of the city and in other provinces, post on one and not the other.
Kilid
Kilid, founded in 2016, describes itself as a dedicated property portal that combines agency listings with data on prices across Iranian cities. It is more structured than the classifieds sites. We could not independently confirm how active its listings are in late 2026, so cross-check against Divar.
Inpin and Deltahome
Earlier editions of this guide recommended Inpin, an agent-based app with English and Persian versions, and Deltahome, a bilingual rental site with listings mainly in north Tehran aimed at foreigners. Neither site could be reached for this update, so treat them as possibilities to check rather than a first port of call.
Estate agents (moshaver-e amlak)
Online platforms are where you search; an estate agent is still usually where the deal is done. A licensed agency drafts the contract and registers it in the national real estate transactions system. The system issues a 13-digit tracking code (kod-e rahgiri), which you will need for any later dispute, and which schools and police may ask to see (Landager). Agents charge a commission, so ask for the rate up front.
How renting works: rahn and ejare
Iranian rentals are built around a large refundable deposit. The landlord holds it for the term, typically 12 months, and returns it when you leave.
- Rahn-e kamel (full deposit): you pay a very large deposit and no monthly rent. Landlords traditionally kept the interest on the deposit as their return. It has become less attractive to them as inflation has eroded the value of money in the bank.
- Rahn va ejare (deposit plus rent): a smaller deposit plus a monthly rent. This is now the norm, and most landlords prefer it because it gives them a fixed monthly income.
Most listings let you trade one against the other: a higher deposit for a lower rent, or vice versa. The conversion rate is negotiable and moves with interest rates and inflation, so ask the agent what the going rate is.
What tenants are paying in 2026
Rents rose sharply in 2026. Iran’s Statistical Centre recorded a 31% year-on-year rise in rents in Farvardin (to 20 April 2026), when annual inflation was 73%. Tehran prices were reported to be 30–40% higher than a year earlier. In one case Al Jazeera reported in May 2026, a 60 m² flat in western Tehran saw its rent rise from 13 million to 23 million tomans a month (about $47 to $84 at November 2026 rates) on renewal. The deposit stayed at 500 million tomans (about $1,820).
- Rent cap: annual rent increases are capped at 25%, but local media say landlords treat it as a floor rather than a ceiling.
- Wartime extensions: a Supreme National Security Council decree allowed tenancy contracts expiring during the war to be extended automatically for up to two months.
- Deposit loans: the government offers deposit loans of up to 365 million tomans (about $1,330) in Tehran, 280 million (about $1,020) in provincial capitals, 185 million (about $670) in other cities and 75 million (about $270) in villages. In many Tehran districts these cover only a fraction of a family-sized deposit.
Dollar figures are approximate, converted at the free-market rate of about 275,000 tomans to the dollar used on our price trackers as of 3 November 2026.
Buying property
Sale prices vary enormously by district. Our Tehran house prices tracker for 3 November 2026 shows asking prices from about 47 million to 550 million tomans per square metre (roughly $171–$2,000) in District 1, the city’s wealthy far north, and from about 23.5 million to 93 million tomans (roughly $85–$338) in District 22 in the north-west.
Foreigners face significant restrictions on owning property in Iran. Under Article 8 of the Civil Code, a foreign national may be permitted to own property only where Iran has a treaty with their country providing reciprocal treatment, and acquisitions are also governed by regulations dating from 1948. Take independent legal advice before committing money. For the transfer process, including tax clearance, municipal and social security certificates and registration fees, see our guide on how to rent or buy a property in Tehran.
Tips for using property sites in Iran
- Get a Persian speaker on side. None of the big platforms works in English, and accounts are tied to Iranian ID.
- Check the deposit and the rent together. A low monthly rent usually means a very large deposit.
- Visit before paying anything. Never transfer a deposit to secure a viewing.
- Insist on a registered contract with a tracking code. Without it, getting your deposit back through the courts is much harder.
- Check the building: lift, parking, heating and gas, and whether the flat has been retrofitted for earthquakes. In summer, ask how the building copes with power cuts.
- Expect disruption during shutdowns. During the 2026 internet shutdowns, only the domestic network worked, and even many local apps malfunctioned. Keep phone numbers for agents and landlords, not just in-app chats.
- Short stays: for weeks rather than a year, see our guide to Airbnb alternatives in Iran.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best website to rent a flat in Tehran?
Divar has by far the most listings, followed by Sheypoor. Both are in Persian. Kilid is a dedicated property portal worth checking alongside them.
Can foreigners use Divar?
A Divar account must be registered with an Iranian national ID number, so most foreigners rely on an Iranian friend, employer or estate agent to contact owners.
What is rahn and ejare?
Rahn is the refundable deposit paid at the start of a tenancy. Ejare is the monthly rent. Most Tehran rentals combine the two, and a bigger deposit buys a lower rent.
How much is the deposit for a flat in Tehran?
It varies hugely by area and size. As one example from May 2026, a 60 m² flat in western Tehran had a deposit of 500 million tomans (about $1,820) plus 23 million tomans (about $84) a month. North Tehran is far more expensive.
How much can my landlord raise the rent?
The legal cap is 25% a year, but in practice many landlords ask for at least that much.
Can a foreigner buy property in Iran?
Only in limited circumstances, typically depending on reciprocity between Iran and the buyer’s country and on official permission. Take legal advice first.
Do I need an estate agent?
Not legally, but a licensed agency is the usual way to draft and register a lease and obtain the tracking code that protects your deposit.
