Your guide to renting in Spain
Renting in Spain is unfortunately becoming increasingly difficult, not only due to skyrocketing prices, but also due to a rise in demand and lack of availability, but the good news is that we have lots of useful articles to help you navigate it all and successfully find somewhere good to rent.
It's worth keeping in mind that all regions in Spain have seen big price rises over the past decade, but four of them stand out for rental increases of over 100 percent since 2014, according to Fotocasa data. These are the Balearic Islands, where costs rose by 158 percent, Valencia with 139 percent, the Canary Islands (137 percent) and Madrid (103 percent).
There are certain things you need to keep in mind when renting a property in Spain, as it can be very different from other countries.
Generally speaking, the breaching of any clause of the rental contract is justifiable grounds for evicting a tenant in Spain. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP)
Finding a place to rent
Actually finding a place to rent can be the most tricky part of the process.
One question to find the answer to is whether you need to pay the estate agent a commission when you rent an apartment or house in Spain.
And the question of when you start your contract is also important because there may be an advantage or disadvantage to begin your rental contract in Spain at certain times of the year.
When it comes to financials, you may find it difficult to rent somewhere if you don’t have a regular salary from a Spanish company, but there are several ways you can get around this including getting a bank guarantee to rent a property in Spain and using a guarantor to convince a landlord in Spain to rent to you.
When looking to rent in Spain, property owners and estate agents often ask for a 'nómina' and work contract - something that can prove tricky if you're self-employed or not working. But there are ways to prove your solvency and secure the rental.
Renting a room in a shared property
Many people simply can’t afford to rent their own place in Spain, so they’re forced to rent a room in shared property instead. Or perhaps you're a student and what to share to get to know people?
Renting a room in Spain can often be easier than trying to rent a whole apartment or house for yourself, but there are still several things you need to look out for in your rental contract and small print clauses you need to be aware of.
Temporary Accommodation
If you’ve newly arrived in Spain or you’re only here for a short, fixed amount of time, you may want to rent temporary accommodation. This could be in case you’re trying out a few different cities before you decide where you want to be or even different neighbourhoods within a city.
There are pros and cons of signing a temporary rental contract which you'll need to consider for example temporary contracts can be more expensive and they are often used to bypass government laws.
Tenant Rights
When you’re renting it’s always important to know your rights. You need to know what to do when there's a problem with the property and what you can do about it. But it's important to know which costs should be covered by your landlord in Spain and which ones you have to pay yourself.
Mould is a common problem in some cities in Spain, but there are things you can do about it if you know your rights.
Every property suffers wear and tear over time, but you'll need to know what kind of damage should be covered by your landlord.
Noise is part of daily life in Spain, but what can you do if you're constantly being bothered or woken up by a neighbour’s banging or a dog barking? There are laws to protect you and steps to take when it comes to noisy neighbours.
What is the law on getting my deposit back from my landlord in Spain? Kari Shea / Unsplash
Leaving a rental property
When it comes to ending a rental contract for a property in Spain, it may not be as straight forward as you think.
Rental contracts in Spain are typically for a minimum of five years, but if you want to leave your property before the end of the contract, you'll need to know your rights and how much notice you have to give.
There are also legitimate reasons for a landlord to end your rental contact in Spain for example if you've broken the rules around subletting or having animals.
Experiencing difficulties when trying to get your rental deposit back in Spain is a common problem, so what does the law say about the rules of deposits and what can you do when your Spanish landlord refuses?
If you rent in Spain, a common question that many tenants ask when they leave or come to the end of their contract is if they can use their deposits to pay their last month’s rent instead.
By Esme Fox
Originally from the UK, Esme grew up in various countries around the world. She decided to settle in Spain in 2014 and has lived in both Granada and Barcelona. She is a regular contributor to The Local Spain.