How to Find an Apartment in Spain

Ah, the dreaded apartment search.

Finding an apartment in Spain comes with its own unique challenges. I’ve been there several times over and I promise you, the apartment you’re looking for is out there.

So where to look? And how exactly do you find an apartment in Spain?

Using the following resources and tips, I’ve found an apartment in a matter of days.

Keep in mind your timeline will depend on where you’re moving. Apartment hunting in larger cities, think Madrid or Barcelona, can take weeks as the market gets saturated with language assistants and teachers in August and September. While the piso hunt in a small town can take a day or two.

How to find an apartment in Spain — I’ve dealt with the dreaded piso search several times over in various cities and towns in Spain.

Where can I look online?

The best sites for finding an apartment in Spain are Idealista and Fotocasa.

Check daily and set up notifications for new listings. The faster you respond to a listing, the better chance you have of getting it.

These sites work best for apartment hunting in larger cities, but you will find some apartments in smaller towns listed as well. Keep in mind that you’ll be sorting through ads placed both by agencies (inmobiliarias) and directly through landlords.

Make sure to read the details of the listing. Don’t waste your time or the lister’s time when an ad specifies x, y, or z and you know you don’t want those amenities.

Additionally, listers may clearly state how they want you to get in contact. (Only by WhatsApp, for example.) You may not get a call back if you blatantly ignore the lister’s instructions.

That being said, if you are looking for an amenity that isn’t stated, like if an apartment is pet friendly, feel free to ask. Sometimes listers omit certain amenities, but don’t clearly state that they aren’t available either.

Who can I ask?

If you’re coming as a language assistant or auxiliar de conversación, ask your school if they know of anything. They might have something nearby and reasonably priced.

If you know someone who has already done the program, ask them! They might know a friend of a friend whose apartment is up for grabs.

Lastly, use Facebook groups for expats or auxiliares in Spain to your advantage. If there’s a listing that looks fishy or if you’re looking for roommate, these groups can be immensely helpful.

What if I don’t get any leads?

That’s ok, too!

You’ll want to look at an apartment in person anyway, so you have to be in Spain for all the heavy lifting no matter how much research you do.

Your next option, and this might work best in smaller towns, is to walk around your town keeping your eyes peeled for ‘For Rent’ signs (se alquila). If the sign says se vende that means it’s for sale and, unless you’re rolling in money, avoid those.

I found my very first apartment in Spain this way; it was a small town and it took a whopping four days.

When should I start looking?

It’s a great idea to start looking online as soon as you can. You’ll want to get an idea on rental prices, whether places are furnished or not, and just how many options you’ve got in the area you will be moving to.

Use that initial research to more accurately create a budget for yourself. This will help you decide if living with roommates is financially necessary or if living outside a city would be more up your alley.

But don’t commit to anything until you are in Spain and able to see your potential new place in person.

How do I contact the landlords?

Unless the ad states otherwise, call or WhatsApp the landlord. I suggest calling as it gives you the fastest means to set up a time to view the apartment.

Don’t rely on the messaging system on Fotocasa or Idealista if you’re searching in a major city like Madrid. The apartment will be gone before the landlord gets a chance to read the message.

What options are there?

As a language assistant you’ll want to look for furnished apartments (which are very common). In Spanish the word is amueblado.

Keep an eye on whether the listing says piso (apartment) or habitación (room).

If it’s important to you, double-check that the apartment comes with a lavavajillas (dishwasher), horno (oven), microondas (microwave), lavadora (washing machine), and some sort of outdoor space where you can hang your laundry to dry (patio, balcón, terraza, or a simple tendedero).

For the record, dishwashers are uncommon and dryers are virtually non-existent.

Can I get an apartment before I arrive in Spain?

No!

Always look at the apartment in person before signing a lease and forking over a deposit (fianza) and rent money (alquiler or renta).

How much of a deposit can I expect to pay?

I’ve paid between 1-2 months deposit in addition to my first month’s rent. I’ve always had a lease directly with the landlord, so I would expect an additional month’s deposit if you go through an agency.

Make sure you keep this startup cash in mind as you make your budget before arriving in Spain.

Do I need a contract?

Yes! It’s always best to have a contract. This means the person leasing you the apartment is in a legal position to do so.

Also, there are various reasons why you may need to register where you live with your local city hall. This is called an empadronamiento and if you don’t have a contract, you can’t do so. Make sure to ask your landlord if you will be able to empadronar. If they say no, somethings up.