Renting in Spain?
#1
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 29
Renting in Spain?
Has anyone ever used the website fotocasa.es before? It has a lot of places to rent and I'm trying to request more information on certain properties but it wants my phone number. But I'm assuming it's a Spanish number because my UK and mobile numbers are too long to input on the site and I'm not in Spain yet so I don't have a number.
If not, can anyone recommend me some other sites to rent properties?
Also, what information needs to be given to sign a rental lease, is it different to the UK? & Finally, what bills do you need to pay? Are they the same as the UK or are there less/more bills to pay?
If not, can anyone recommend me some other sites to rent properties?
Also, what information needs to be given to sign a rental lease, is it different to the UK? & Finally, what bills do you need to pay? Are they the same as the UK or are there less/more bills to pay?
#2
Re: Renting in Spain?
What bills you pay depends on your landlord. I have rented out property for years in Spain, and have learned to set a rent which INCLUDES water and electricity, since I've had so many tenants leave, owing large amounts to the utilities, which I then have to pay before I can let the property again. I do find of course that consumption of these is higher than it would be if the tenant was paying his own bills, but it's swings and roundabouts.
You should not have to pay the community charge, if any, (that is legally the responsability of the property owner) as is the IBI - tax to the Town Hall.
Make sure you get the Landlord's full name, address and NIF number on the contract, so that you can claim the allowance for renting your home when you make your annual tax declaration.
#3
Re: Renting in Spain?
The info needed is just your identity, and a copy of your passport will do until you get your NIF and/or residencia.
You should not have to pay the community charge, if any, (that is legally the responsability of the property owner) as is the IBI - tax to the Town Hall.
Make sure you get the Landlord's full name, address and NIF number on the contract, so that you can claim the allowance for renting your home when you make your annual tax declaration.
You should not have to pay the community charge, if any, (that is legally the responsability of the property owner) as is the IBI - tax to the Town Hall.
Make sure you get the Landlord's full name, address and NIF number on the contract, so that you can claim the allowance for renting your home when you make your annual tax declaration.
I use fotocasa all the time and I also use enalquiler.com (which is perhaps the best IMHO).
#4
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Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Was Herts now it is Alhaurin el Grande
Posts: 413
Re: Renting in Spain?
Have a look on kyero.com and also thinkspain.com has a rental property section.
It is a renters market so shop around, never take anything the potential landlord says to you as gospel, he is looking after his interest not yours and to be honest the best rental deals are coming over and walking around looking for rent boards.
Never agree to rent a property while you are in the UK or sign a contract while there either as what you sign maybe different than what you get. When signing a contract take someone with you to go through it as it will be in Spanish and even if it is in English as well get it checked out as only the Spanish one is legally binding and they may not tally anyway. There is a couple on here who rented a property was told one thing ended up with something different and also the Spanish contract made them responsible for things that was omitted when they were in discussions, so when they arrived it was a little bit of a shock.
Decide where you want to live and do lots of research, moving anywhere and especially here research is a must, you may think the place you are getting is nice and quite, which it is during the day, but the bar 2 doors down may make it hell at night, the apartment may be in a quiet block but may be used as weekend homes so at a weekend it is noisy and very busy.
As I said before it is a renters market, so make an offer 50e a month is better off in your pocket than the landlords and look at lots of properties if you fall in love with just one then you have lost any advantage you may have for negotiation as you will be so blinkered you will pay what they ask.
Write yourself a hit list, what a property/area must have, what you would like, what you can live without and what you do not want at any cost and then stick to it, if you use an agent stick to your guns, they want you to rent so many will show you anything hoping you will like it enough to rent it, when I was looking asked for 4 bed property on decent road as I was looking to work from home at least 3 agents showed me 2 bed places on little more than goat tracks, remember what is a dry river bed in the summer could well be going through your home in the winter and it is not the agents or landlords responsibility to tell you, so use common sense and look at what is around the house just as much as what is in the house.
I hope this helps a little, if you have questions it is better to ask them than get stung.
It is a renters market so shop around, never take anything the potential landlord says to you as gospel, he is looking after his interest not yours and to be honest the best rental deals are coming over and walking around looking for rent boards.
Never agree to rent a property while you are in the UK or sign a contract while there either as what you sign maybe different than what you get. When signing a contract take someone with you to go through it as it will be in Spanish and even if it is in English as well get it checked out as only the Spanish one is legally binding and they may not tally anyway. There is a couple on here who rented a property was told one thing ended up with something different and also the Spanish contract made them responsible for things that was omitted when they were in discussions, so when they arrived it was a little bit of a shock.
Decide where you want to live and do lots of research, moving anywhere and especially here research is a must, you may think the place you are getting is nice and quite, which it is during the day, but the bar 2 doors down may make it hell at night, the apartment may be in a quiet block but may be used as weekend homes so at a weekend it is noisy and very busy.
As I said before it is a renters market, so make an offer 50e a month is better off in your pocket than the landlords and look at lots of properties if you fall in love with just one then you have lost any advantage you may have for negotiation as you will be so blinkered you will pay what they ask.
Write yourself a hit list, what a property/area must have, what you would like, what you can live without and what you do not want at any cost and then stick to it, if you use an agent stick to your guns, they want you to rent so many will show you anything hoping you will like it enough to rent it, when I was looking asked for 4 bed property on decent road as I was looking to work from home at least 3 agents showed me 2 bed places on little more than goat tracks, remember what is a dry river bed in the summer could well be going through your home in the winter and it is not the agents or landlords responsibility to tell you, so use common sense and look at what is around the house just as much as what is in the house.
I hope this helps a little, if you have questions it is better to ask them than get stung.
#5
Re: Renting in Spain?
I moved to Playa del Inglis 2 years ago.. I booked a 2 week holiday and went round apartments till i found the 1 I live in now.. water and electric and all year heated pool 450 euros a month..and its a 1 bedroom apartment..Goodluck to you..Thats about £400.. todays rate..
Last edited by tommy.irene; Jul 18th 2011 at 9:34 am.
#6
Just moved to Valencia
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Valencia, Godella
Posts: 9
Re: Renting in Spain?
Much easier to look once there, or go over and take a look a places. I don't think the Spanish are so into internet than we are in the UK. Plus there are some private landlords, "particulares" who just put a board up on the outside of the property and don't advertise on the net. Suggest a walk round/drive round of the area you are interested in.
Another factor is security, perhaps more important in Spain than the UK so one thing to keep in mind when looking at possible places.
Another factor is security, perhaps more important in Spain than the UK so one thing to keep in mind when looking at possible places.
#7
Re: Renting in Spain?
Has anyone ever used the website fotocasa.es before? It has a lot of places to rent and I'm trying to request more information on certain properties but it wants my phone number. But I'm assuming it's a Spanish number because my UK and mobile numbers are too long to input on the site and I'm not in Spain yet so I don't have a number.
If not, can anyone recommend me some other sites to rent properties?
Also, what information needs to be given to sign a rental lease, is it different to the UK? & Finally, what bills do you need to pay? Are they the same as the UK or are there less/more bills to pay?
If not, can anyone recommend me some other sites to rent properties?
Also, what information needs to be given to sign a rental lease, is it different to the UK? & Finally, what bills do you need to pay? Are they the same as the UK or are there less/more bills to pay?
One thing to watch out for, is that some properties are only up for rent because the owners can't sell!!!
#8
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Aracena area Huelva Spain
Posts: 1,631
Re: Renting in Spain?
I don't mean to get your back up snikpoh but whatever your abogado says, how can Biennes Inmuebles (property wealth) belong to the tenant? It is certainly possible to charge the tenant extra to cover these taxes but it is neither moral, nor legally enforceable to call this 'their' tax. If you leave the little slip with them to pay, it'll be on your own head if they don't pay it and leave you owing years of IBI. Your property...Your wealth.... Your tax! The other local drainage taxes etc certainly can be payable by the tenant as they have benefit of the services.
#9
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: In the middle of 10million Olive Trees
Posts: 12,053
Re: Renting in Spain?
Much easier to look once there, or go over and take a look a places. I don't think the Spanish are so into internet than we are in the UK. Plus there are some private landlords, "particulares" who just put a board up on the outside of the property and don't advertise on the net. Suggest a walk round/drive round of the area you are interested in.
Another factor is security, perhaps more important in Spain than the UK so one thing to keep in mind when looking at possible places.
Another factor is security, perhaps more important in Spain than the UK so one thing to keep in mind when looking at possible places.
The Spanish seem to be heavily into the mobile phone, which goes very well with their tendency to do things by word of mouth, so getting to know a few Spaniards can open up many avenues when in country.
As you say, they put a sign up on a property and wait for someone to contact them, without any thought of "multi-channel" advertising such as thru an agent - many I have seen say "sin commission"