Jobs with accommodation in Israel are most often offered by hotels, elderly care, agriculture, construction, and businesses in outlying areas. Housing may be free, or it may be paid for through a deduction from your salary, in which case the deduction amount must be stated in the terms of employment and appear as a separate line on the payslip. Before relocating, check three things: how many people share a room, how much is deducted for housing and utilities, and what will happen to your housing if the job ends.
In which fields does work come with housing?
Accommodation is usually provided where the workplace is far from major cities or requires living near the site. The type of housing differs in each field, so the questions to ask the employer differ as well.
Field | Where you live | What to clarify |
|---|---|---|
Hotels | Staff dormitory | Roommates |
Elderly care | The home of the person you care for | Separate room |
Agriculture | Houses in a moshav | Transport, shops |
Construction | Contractor's apartments | Number of residents |
Manufacturing | Rented apartments | Commute to the shift |
In resort hotels and kibbutzim, housing often comes together with meals in the staff dining room. In caregiving jobs, a person usually lives in the home of the person they care for, so it is important to know in advance whether you will have your own room and free time.
Who pays for housing and how much can be deducted?
The employer of a foreign worker is required to provide suitable housing. The employer may deduct part of the salary for accommodation, but the deduction is capped at a ceiling set by the state and revised periodically. For current amounts for different regions of the country, see the Kol Zchut website in the section on housing for foreign workers.
For Israeli citizens and new immigrants there is no single rule: housing may be a bonus or may be paid. Housing costs can be deducted from salary only under a written agreement that states the amount and what it includes. A verbal arrangement of "housing in exchange for a deduction" is a reason to ask for everything to be put in writing.
In any case, the housing deduction must appear on the payslip as a separate line with a clear name. If there is no such line, but less arrives in your account than was calculated, this is a deduction without basis.
What should be written in the terms before relocating?
The living conditions must be stated in the written notice of employment terms or in the contract. The lines that most often cause disputes are especially important.
Expense | What to record |
|---|---|
Rent | Deduction amount |
Utilities | Fixed amount or limit |
Meals | Price or free |
Commute to work | Who provides transport |
Furniture and appliances | What is included |
Separately, ask what will happen to your housing if you quit or the job ends: how many days you are given to move out and whether the deposit is returned, if one was taken. It is also best to get these answers in writing.
What housing conditions should be provided?
Mandatory requirements apply to housing for foreign workers in Israel: sufficient floor space per person, a personal bed, a place for personal belongings, a working shower and toilet, a kitchen, hot water, and safe electricity. Housing may not be located on a construction site or in premises not intended for living.
There are no such detailed rules for citizens, but the sensible minimum is the same. Ask for photos or a video of the room, bathroom, and kitchen before you move, and find out how many people currently live in the apartment.
What red flags should you watch for?
Most employers who provide housing act honestly, but abuses are more common in this area, because the worker depends on the employer in two matters at once. Be alert to the following:
a request to hand over your passport for "safekeeping" - an employer has no right to hold a worker's passport, and doing so is a criminal offense,
payment for housing in cash with no line on the payslip,
a refusal to show the housing or say how many roommates there are before you arrive,
a threat to evict you right after dismissal or a conflict,
housing deductions that grow without explanation.
If any of this has already happened, keep your correspondence and payslips and contact the Ministry of Labor, the Histadrut, or worker support organizations. A foreign worker can also turn to the Population and Immigration Authority.
How to find a job with accommodation?
Look for vacancies where accommodation is stated directly in the terms, not just promised verbally. In the vacancies section on the Personal City website, each listing shows whether housing and meals are provided, and in the filters you can leave only vacancies with accommodation: Personal City vacancies.
Before you start work, the agency manager agrees the housing conditions, deductions, and commute to work with the employer, and a coordinator stays in touch after the move. This is free for job seekers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I decline employer housing and rent an apartment myself?
A citizen or a new immigrant can agree with the employer to live separately, in which case no housing deduction is made. It is more complicated with foreign workers: the employer is responsible for their accommodation, and separate housing usually requires approval. In any case, it is worth putting the decision in writing so that a deduction for unused housing does not appear on the payslip by mistake or because of an accounting oversight.
What should I do if more people live in the apartment than promised?
Photograph the room and sleeping places, write down how many people live there, and write to the employer or coordinator asking them to fix the situation. For foreign workers, housing requirements are mandatory, and an overcrowded apartment is a violation. If there is no response, contact the Ministry of Labor or worker support organizations and attach the photos and correspondence.
Must the employer pay for electricity and water?
It depends on the agreement. Utility costs may be included in the housing deduction, paid separately as a fixed amount, or split among residents according to the bill. For foreign workers, deductions for related expenses are also limited. The main thing is that the arrangement is written in the terms before the move and each amount appears on the payslip as a separate line.
Can I be evicted immediately after dismissal?
Employer housing is usually tied to the job, so you will have to vacate it after the job ends, but not within the same hour. The move-out period should be written into the terms in advance. If you are evicted without warning or your belongings and documents are withheld, this is a violation. Keep your correspondence and contact the Ministry of Labor or worker support organizations.
Are meals included in a job with accommodation?
Sometimes they are, especially in hotels, kibbutzim, and workplaces with a canteen. But this is not a rule: meals may be free, discounted, or subject to a separate deduction. Find out how many times a day food is provided, on which days, whether there is a kitchen for cooking yourself, and how much is deducted for food, if anything is deducted, and ask for this to be written in the terms.
