If you want to move to Spain, you may be wondering what is the process of finding an apartment. I will be upfront with you and say that it will not be so straight forward, but definetly not impossible! I will share the main websites where you can find an apartment and some tips that helped me secure my first apartment in Spain.
The main websites to find an apartment in Spain
The most popular websites are Idealista and Fotocasa. From these two, the first is the most used, but this also means that it has the highest competition. I actually found my apartment on Fotocasa and it was not published on Idealista.
Both sites have an app you can download. I suggest monitoring both and setting alarms with the desired filters like budget, neighborhoods and so on. But don’t set too many filters also, as not all the listings are completed correctly or with all the details, such as floor, square footage, etc, so if you set up too many filters, you may not even see some listings that fit your needs. I would suggest setting the budget as a filter, as it’s esential and reliable usually and one more if you have some important requirements, such as it having a lift or if you need it to be in a specific neighborhood.
Other resources you can check out are Telegram channels and Facebook groups. You can search “Pisos en X” or “Apartments/ housing in X”. Those can also be useful, especially if you wish to share an apartment. But please, be hyper aware and really careful as it’s full of scams. Never pay anything before seing a place! Don’t click on any links and don’t submit payments via what seems to be a booking.com reservations or any other type of thing that seems sketchy. Take everything with a grain of salt. Also, if you make a post that you are looking for an apartment, don’t mention your budget, it may be hurting the local market and this is detrimental to everyone.
The listing of the apartment looks good, now what?
So you set your alerts and one pops out, you analyze it and you like it. What comes next? Messaging the poster will not be enough sadly. I would say very few people actually take the time and respond to the in-app messages. You will have more results if you message the person that posted the ad on Whatsapp or even better, if you call them. That of course requires some basic Spanish. You should present yourself and arrange a viewing.
Needed documents for renting an apartment in Spain
Every situation is different and every landlord and agency may have different requirements, but the most common requirements are NIE, work contract and the last 3 payslips, from a Spanish company. There is a prefrence for employed people in Spain, for insurance purposes, but not always. Sometimes they accept savings or payments in advance for several months.
What do you need to pay to rent an apartment in Spain?
You may be wondering also what would be the costs for renting an apartment. The fees that apply to most cases are the first month of rent (meaning you pay it upfront) and a fianza (or a deposit). This will cover the landlord in case of damages to the apartment. If everything is in order, you should be able to receive it back once you leave the apartment. The amount is usually equal to a month’s rent.
Important! If you are looking for a long term rent (12 months and/or more), you shouldn’t pay the agency fee, in case you are dealing with a inmobiliaria (real estate agency). This is the owner’s obligation according to the Housing Law of 2023. Some agencies will disguise this fee under other names such as administration fee. Don’t fall into this trap! Question everything. They will for sure try to take advantages of foreigners that may not knwo the laws.
Another trick they might use to take this fee is to make contracts only for 11 months, to categorize the rent as short-term. In this case, they are entitled to ask for the fee. But I would not suggest going for this route, as you will not be able to get empadronamiento this way. This is a procedure where you are registering yourself at City Hall. You will need it for CUE, or TIE, the official documents proving your residency status in Spain.
Final thoughts
In big cities, such as Madrid, Barcelon and Valencia, the housing market is very competive, as the demand is high and there are not enough apartments. Lots of apartments have been turned into airbnbs or tourist apartments, making the search for a long term apartment even more difficult. I would suggest not using these if you can, to not encourage the practice and to make your life easiear also if you decide to move permanently to Spain. You can stay at a hotel while you search or to rent a room in a shared apartment, as this does not require a lot of paperwork or effort necesarily. It may take some time to find an apartment, but don’t give up. It’s definitely not impossible.
You may also be interested in these article I wrote about living in Spain:
10 exciting reasons to move to Valencia, Spain
Moving to Spain: 8 Things you should know before
If you have any questions, kindly let me know. Good luck!