Renting an Apartment in Spain
It is quite obvious “Why” there is such a mass influx of foreigners moving to Spain. People are drawn to the rich culture, the fantastic climate, the laidback lifestyle, the friendly locals, but also by the rich variety of natural beauty to be found in the mountains and on the coast, as well as the plethora of activities to choose from. Spain offers a rich history and culture blended perfectly with modern day living to suit all needs.
These are the top reasons why so many people are choosing to make Spain their new home. At this moment in time, there are also many economic incentives as well, especially for those coming from places like the UK where the currency is still going further than all others.
The expanding base of new businesses and opportunities make the move to Spain even more inviting. Yet, “How” and “Where” one makes the move are not quite as obvious.
Relocating to Spain in itself is a monumental leap. The transition into living that international lifestyle is so much easier when you have information and resources in hand to avoid common pitfalls, giving you more time to properly settle in. Once you have decided what area you want to live in, there are many avenues to follow in finding your new home which may either be temporary until you purchase a home, or permanent. The best way to start looking for rentals is to read the classified sections of local newspapers, check the on-line listings, or go to the local estate agents (immobilarias).
Word of mouth is always great too, asking around at local pubs and cafes you are likely to run into some possibilities, maybe even at a cheaper price than public listings on web sites or immobilarias….but always check out the place in person, what “sounds” great may, in fact, be a renters nightmare. The rental properties available vary in price and style from luxury villas to charming country houses and city apartments.
Seeking the assistance of an immobilaria may be useful if you don’t speak Spanish since many agents speak English. Attempting to figure out rental agreements and what the rent consists of (with or without utilities, etc) can be more than frustrating, often ending in an unhappy rental situation. Also, short term rentals (under 11 months) will always be more expensive than long term through the agencies. And, like most agencies they will require a commission (usually one months rent) in addition to the standard one month rent plus one month’s rent as deposit….that’s three months rent up front, yikes!
Rent in Spain is affordable, generally speaking, however location (coast vs. inland and rural vs. city center) will definitely have an impact on the rental cost. The general rule is, the more remote, the less expensive. House rentals or apartments can often be equivalent in terms of cost, again, this depends on “where” you are looking. You may be looking look for a modern or centrally located apartment with all the amenities (parking, swimming pool, etc) that is close to shopping, lively bars and cafes or even the beach. Alternatively, many foreigners moving to Spain seek a country farmhouse retreat in the “campo” (country) and a Spanish rural lifestyle, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the cities and popular beach towns. The area where you decide to live will have a big impact upon your lifestyle, so there are a few things you should think about while you look for a new home.
Whether you are in the campo or city center your dream place may be that of the charming white house with overflowing bougainvillea, a lovely tiled Moorish fountain in the entry way and terra cotta tiled roof and patio but keep in mind that these places are OLD and very rarely offer the amenities we are used to. Water pressure may be quite pitiful (not helped by the lime build up), very dark and not many electrical outlets to aid the light situation, no insulation or heating system (thus freezing in the winter). This is not to say that the older places should be discounted, just that you should be practical and really look for what you need and what you can live with. Make sure the place is also wired for your online needs, many are not. Some may not even have telephone lines, these are very expensive to put in. Also, does your cel phone get reception there? If not, you may forced to converse with the local goats and chickens for entertainment!
One oddity to rentals in Spain, is that the majority of rentals come fully furnished, some with nicer accessories than others, but all your basic needs are generally taken care of (for long term or short term rentals), furniture (sofas, beds, etc), television, kitchen appliances and accessories (plates, glasses, utensils, etc), sheets, towels, etc…… even decorations! Remember that this is Spain so you will only be provided with a washer, they line dry all laundry. Don’t expect top of line products, it is usually pretty standard stuff (and sometimes less than adequate). It is actually less expensive to rent a fully furnished place than one than is un-furnished, those are few and far between. It just requires a little more investigation.
However, Spain is no different than most countries, apart from rent there are utilities to be paid. Setting up utilities and bill paying are a whole other learning curve. In some cases utilities (one or all) may be covered in the cost of rent, in some cases it will be your responsibility, this you will have to find out as you check each place out. But the basics are electricity, gas, water and telephone. With all utilities, when you move into a property, make sure all previous bills are paid off by the previous tenant before you move in. The landlord should hand over the last bill for each utility so that you can transfer everything into your name.
Sevillana-Endesa is the electricity supplier for Spain and Aqualia provides the water service. You must contact each office to transfer the billing name to yours and set up your account information. Electricity is rather expensive in Spain, but you will just pay every 2 months and water every 3 months. The telephone (Telefonica) will also be your responsibility to set up…..get on your boxing gloves! Telefonica has a monopoly on the market and there is no escape to their poor service and outrageous fees and taxes which border on the criminal. They do, however, provide a wide range of internet services to almost all areas of Spain.
Repsol or Cespa will set up a contract with you for the gas – butane bottles. This form of energy is used in many traditional apartments and houses for gas stoves, water heaters and portable room heaters. It is a fairly cheap form of energy, but one which is becoming less popular as lifestyle expectations are changing; newer properties have cleaner, more modern forms of energy. Just a heads up…….if you run out during the weekend or on a bank holiday you could be left without hot water, heating or cooking facilities until another bottle can be delivered on a weekday, so make sure you always have one in reserve.
Spain actually does make things quite easy in respect to payment, as a general rule, you will pay rent and utilities through automatic withdrawal through your Spanish bank account (which is a must for anything you do in Spain…..residency, business, etc) or you can pay directly to their bank or office. Since you are now living in a foreign country it is best to keep a close eye on the bills coming in. If you are concerned that a bill has been missed phone the company because these companies do make mistakes which can be annoying and take time to resolve if they go unnoticed for any length of time.
Once the move is done and you settle in to your new home, you can now enjoy everything that Spain has to offer…its hospitality, great food and fantastic lifestyle. |
