If you’re looking to rent long term in Spain, it can be difficult to know where to start. From finding a house to all the paperwork in between, it’s useful to know the ins and outs.
Looking for a home that is available to rent in Spain can be an easy process – if you know where to look! Dotted across the cities and towns of Spain are a whole load of estate agents, especially in the South. These agents will help you find your dream home and will most likely guide you through the legal processes too! Spain’s beautiful landscape is most definitely complimented by the intricately designed architecture seen on homes across the country, ranging from traditional townhouses to flashy modern villas – they really do cater for everyone!
Whether you decide to use an online portal or a personal estate agent, the home that you wish to view will be advertised with the monthly fee and the square-metre living space. You’ll find that most Spanish homes are fully furnished, cutlery and all, however it’s best to double check and ask your agent. Usually, furnished homes will have a storage space available, whether that’s a garage or a key to an external unit. In addition to this, all homes are required to have an energy efficiency certificate which will help you differentiate the expensive houses from the cheaper ones. This is because older houses are typically more expensive to heat and cool down due to outdated supplies. An insider’s tip would be that while you’re addressing all of these issues, that you and your landlord confirm everything in writing – and we mean everything! It’s better to be safe than sorry!
To confirm your rental, you will need to apply to an agency. When you do so, you will most likely need to put down one to two month’s rent as a deposit and present the following documentation, so make sure that you have them all ready!
- Evidence of employment or ability to pay the rent
- Tax identification number (if you are working)
- Passport or ID
- Personal References
Generally, tenants in Spain seem to lack in reliability, making the landlords push a little further to ensure that you’re a trustworthy client. You can expect your landlord to ask you for:
- One or more additional payments of rent
- A bank guarantee – an alternative deposit that the bank pays on behalf of the tenant in the case of non-payment
- A written guarantee from the employer – a certificate in which the payment of rent to the landlord is ensured if the tenant stops paying.
If you happen to fail the rental payment by the seventh day of the month, the landlord is allowed to take legal action. If the total money owed is less than €2,000, then the landlord can go to court and claim it without needing a lawyer. These short trials take 2-3 weeks and after a legal deed is obtained, the landlord is then able to claim for the overdue payments.
Also, it should be made clear in the contract that you will be expected to pay for utilities and minor repairs due to wear and tear. Typically, utilities for a two-bedroom apartment in Spain is circulating at around €50 – €150 per month, varying depending on energy efficiency, utility usage, etc. Luckily, with the hot Spanish summers, most accommodation has access to a pool, so communal maintenance fees may be included in your final fees.
Sunny Spain has thousands of beautiful properties, with bliss countryside surroundings or a striking sea-view. Now you’re all ready with the facts, you can head to the estate agents with confidence!
ExP can provide rental policies specifically to protect landlords and tenants in Spain. Speak to one of our advisors to find out more about the policies that we can provide, we’d be happy to help!