Where to Look for Housing
There are two main resources for finding housing — the websites Idealista and Fotocasa. But I would also advise looking in local Facebook groups, where you can sometimes find good deals.
Subscribe to new listings. For example, on Idealista create your search filter, then subscribe to new listings in the menu. You’ll receive notifications by email or in the mobile app. Remember, first come, first served.
Viewing the Apartment
When you find a listing you like, it’s best to call the owner right away. They rarely respond to emails. Don’t be afraid if the owner doesn’t speak English. You can communicate through Google Translate on your phone. Or ask friends to call and arrange a meeting with the owner or realtor, that’s what I did.
At the meeting, create a friendly conversation and convince the owner of your reliability. Tell them about your work, family, what a great specialist you are. 90% of successfully renting an apartment is convincing the owner that you’re a good and reliable person. After all, there may be dozens of applicants with Spanish salaries and impeccable reputations for this apartment. But you’re such a good and pleasant person that the owner will choose you.
Bring documents about your income with you right away to further convince the owner.
If the owner is ready to rent you the apartment and you like it, pay the deposit that same day to secure the apartment. This is important!
More often than not, you don’t choose the apartment, the apartment chooses you.
Document Verification
Before signing the main contract, be sure to check the apartment ownership documents. Through the property registry, using the cru/idufir number, you can get an extract (nota simple) for 10 euros and make sure the person is indeed the owner. This will help avoid scammers. We once fell for this.
Provide Guarantees
Spanish Work Contract
The biggest problem is the requirement to have a job in Spain. Most owners won’t even consider you if you don’t have a Spanish contract and stable salary. But again, the personal factor can play a role when communicating with the owner in person. Be convincing.
Large Deposit
If everything is fine with your job, you’ll pay a deposit equal to 1-2 months’ rent, otherwise Spaniards will ask for 6-12 months’ prepayment (fianza). And if you rent through an agency, you’ll have to pay them a commission also equal to one month’s rent.
Bank Guarantee
If even a prepayment can’t convince the owners to rent you the apartment, offer a bank guarantee (aval).
A bank guarantee (aval) is a financial obligation issued by a bank that serves as a guarantee for a client’s debt obligations to a third party. In the realm of rentals, this means the bank guarantees rent payment if the tenant is unable to pay it themselves. Obtaining such a guarantee may require a credit check of the tenant and usually comes with a fee.
Tenant insolvency insurance
If this option doesn’t convince them either, we suggest playing your last card – get tenant insolvency insurance, or in Spanish «seguro de impago de alquiler». In this case, you pay a small amount to an insurance company (€500-1000 per year), and they issue a document that guarantees compensation to the landlord if you stop paying. You can calculate the cost on the Idealista website.
This way, you won’t have to freeze a large deposit sum for a long rental period. And the landlord will be confident they’ll get their money no matter what. The insurance cost is usually less than one month’s rent.
I believe such insurance is an excellent option for tenants. You don’t lose deposit money while guaranteeing payment to the landlord. Everyone’s happy!
These are my brief tips for renting in Spain. Good luck in finding housing in this beautiful country!