The rental market
How hard is it to find accommodation?
More and more Spaniards have been buying instead of renting their housing in recent years. Spain now has the lowest EU rental rate at 13%, compared to an average of 40%. Low salaries and expensive housing mean that most Spaniards are living at home longer (late 20s/early 30s) and then buying a home.
Property prices have risen dramatically over the past several years due to a boom, so there has been upward pressure on rentals. Monthly rentals for a 1-2 bedroom furnished flat start at €600/month in Madrid and Barcelona. A cheaper option is a shared apartment (piso compartido), which may start around €300/month in the major cities.
Other options include staying with a family or in a pension, residencia or colegio mayor (student hall). These often provide more flexibility in terms of rental terms, can be economical and, in the case of staying with a family, will help improve your Spanish.
May to July is the best time for flat hunting; August can be difficult as people are on holiday. September tends to be the worst month as people return from vacation and students start a new year. The housing market can also be slow over the Christmas period.
Finding a good apartment at the right price before you arrive in Spain is difficult. Landlords prefer to meet tenants before signing a contract and the wide range in quality means it is not advisable to commit to rent a flat "unseen". If you require your living arrangements to be organized before you arrive, you can use an apartment rental service. However, these do tend to be expensive.
Also in this section
- The rental market: How hard is it to find accommodation?
- Getting started: How to prepare your housing search
- Where to look: The best places to search for accommodation
- Paid services: Estate agents and room finding services
- Apointments: Visiting an apartment
- Contracts: What to bear in mind when signing a rental contract
- Glossary: Language help for your housing search
