Renting Information Required.
 

What costs are there for renting in Spain? Does one have to put down a bond/deposit? And how much notice do you have to give to leave? Can you leave before the end of your contracted time?

I have never rented anywhere, in any country, so a complete beginner, so any information gratefully received. We have hopefully sold our house and intend to rent for several months in the winter.

Thanks in advance.

Re: Renting Information Required.
 

Costs for renting: If direct with the landlord then zero. if with an agent then 2-4 weeks rent plus the cost of contract (about 100 euros)

Bond/deposit. In the tourist areas then probably just 1 month. In the Spanish cities then more likely to be 3-6 months although an aval bancario or proof of nomina can help reduce the amount of deposit needed

Notice. You will normally have to give 1 month notive to leave with a minimum term of either 6 or 12 months. You will have automatic right to the property for 5 years. In the touristy areas they may try and fob you off with a 12 month holiday contract. However, these are not legal if you use the house as a primary residence, so you will have the same rights as a full term contract anyway if you want them. In this case Spanish law is more important than contracts that actually break Spanish law ;)

Re: Renting Information Required.
 

Thanks for that extremely useful advice. So contracts (unless holiday types) have to be 6 or 12 months long? We did not want to rent for that long.

Having said that, we have contacts in the area and there are lots of people who are desparate to rent their homes. Could these be legally rented (at long-term rates, not holiday rates) on a shorter contract if we made a deal with the owner? They would rather have some rent than none!

Re: Renting Information Required.
 

I'm not sure where cricketman got his information but I have to disagree with most of it!

Contracts can be of any length - depends upon the landlord. For example, as a landlord, I recently let an apartment for just 1 month whilst I have others which have been rented for nearly 18 months and still going. However, it may be hard to find a landlord willing to do such a short let and you will almost certainly have to pay more for the privilege.

Agents fees vary, in this area most charge about 12% of the annual rental figure. There is no additional charge for the contract.

Deposits again vary, but in this area the norm is one month's rent.

Notice periods will be written into the contract but are typically 1 month.

Whilst the tenant may have the right to remain for 5 years, if the landlord needs the property back as their main residence, then I think this does not apply.

Re: Renting Information Required.
 

Thankyou for that information. It appears like anything else in Spain, the answer is, it varies!:rofl:

Re: Renting Information Required.
 

I have never paid for a contract in 8 years of renting

legally they can only ask a month rent & a month deposit - regardless of whether it's an agent or direct with the owner

usually a month notice is given on either side - some agents will try to insist that you stay til the end of a contract or pay till the end, but they can't make you

you only have automatic right to 5 years after the first 12 months

you are right, in that no matter what the contract says, if it is your only or main residence, then the LAU applies

http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_d.../l29-1994.html

the google translate tool does a pretty good job with it, if anyone wants it in english

Re: Renting Information Required.
 

Thanks so much, the information from you and others on here, coupled with what other renters have told us, makes us feel more confident about the legal aspects of renting.:)

Re: Renting Information Required.
 

If it's only for a short term, for example the winter months, why bother with a contract at all?

Re: Renting Information Required.
 

That would be even better!:)

Re: Renting Information Required.
 

What are you looking for and where? There may be someone on here who could help.:thumbsup:

Re: Renting Information Required.
 

Nowhere until 2012 (we will hopefully be moving this winter) and we do have a few contacts in mind, but I will ask again nearer the time :) thanks.

Re: Renting Information Required.
 

I wasnt talking about short terms contracts, I dont know anything about those, sorry

Re: Renting Information Required.
 

!no pasa nada!

Re: Renting Information Required.
 

I'm afraid thats not true, agents can charge you with up to a 10% of the anual rent for their job, the owner agrees. If you dont' what to pay taht looks for individuals you are renting their flats directely.

The problem then is that you have to negotiate with them directely and many spanish people speak no word of english and use crappy old renting contracts.

Re: Renting Information Required.
 

they might be able to charge - but I have never been charged

and according to the LAU a tenant only has to pay a month rent in advance & a month deposit - & I dare say some agents might charge a separate 'finder's fee' - but as I said - I have never paid one

I do prefer to rent directly from owners -& by far prefer a Spanish owner IME to an English one, on the whole

and since a contract has to be in Spanish to be legal - why indeed should they be able to speak English?

surely the onus is on us foreigners to speak Spanish, or get someone who does to help us?