Top-10 Tips for Tenants in Spain
Unfortunately, in Spain property rent is not as adaptable and prevalent as it is in other countries such as Germany or the UK. In any case, it is difficult and it will be important to have some essential guidance in the event that you are leasing your property to occupants or on the off chance that you are an inhabitant who needs to lease a room or rent a property in Spain.
Searching for a place to lease in Spain can be a bad dream, yet it doesn’t need to be that way. In this article, we give you the rundown on the most proficient method for staying away from a portion of the more normal pitfalls for tenants, and fill you in on the ramifications of Spain’s fresh out of the plastic new rental laws.
1. Look for a “fair” price
Check that the rental cost promoted really incorporates all the assessments. This includes the new trash charge in Madrid, for instance, and any of the other new duties numerous landowners attempt to charge their tenants.
Duties are normally incorporated into the property bills, yet service bills are most certainly not. Nor any bill connected to your individual use.
In the event that you need a decent gauge of the amount you will pay for the bills, inquire as to whether you can investigate past bills for the property.
Agree on the cost, on the off chance that you have a bigger number of alternatives than the owner, and if the cost of the spot you are taking a look at is over the going rate in the business sector.
2. Find a good property
As with other countries, the most common way to find a house or apartment to rent in Spain is through an estate agent (inmobiliarias), online property portals, newspaper adverts or word of mouth. In addition to the Spanish property portals listed below, you may find Spanish properties listed on real estate websites based in other countries, particularly the UK and Germany. However, these will often be aimed at tourists and may therefore be more expensive.
3. Leave the house as it was
Besides, you must give a 30 days notice before leaving the place. Nevertheless, if you have a certain term contract – ie. 1 year contract, and you want to leave earlier, you have to allege a reason of force. A job reason is the most popular. Otherwise, you will be breaking the contract.
4. The deposit
A law passed in 1995 also enables a landlord to take a security deposit with a rental contract, to guard against any damages. This is one month’s rent for a house and 2 month’s rent for a property for any other use. The deposit is called a fianza and should be lodged with an independent, third party such as an agent. It is often common practice for the landlord to hold the deposit himself but be aware that this gives him full control.
5. Negotiate
Negotiate the minimum mandatory rental period for standard contracts down to six months.
Keep in mind, as well, in the event that you do need to leave before the compulsory period, the law now expresses that the punishment for leaving the place before the obligatory lease time frame is one month rent for every required year of the agreement not completed.
It is not true that you need to pay until the end of the obligatory period, but a number of landowners will say that.
6. Do you have a pet?
Legally, unless it is stated in the contract that pets are not allowed or that you have to ask the landlord if you can bring your pet, nobody can object to it.
7. Know your rights
Spanish law makes the tenant the master. It is troublesome for a landowner to oust an tenant, regardless of the reason even they quit paying rent, as court procedures are moderate and the lease must stay unpaid for an long period of time before the proprietor can organize an expulsion. In 2013, this period was lessened from six months to six weeks, making it less demanding for proprietors to begin the ousting procedure, despite the fact that court cases tend to even now be drawn out more than a while.
8. Read all the contract
Is it in Spanish? Contact Expat Agency / lawyer or hire a translator.
The landowner can’t recover his property inside the initial three years in the wake of consenting to a rental arrangement with you. The main legitimately allowed exemption is the point at which a crisis powers the proprietor to take the property back.
This can happen if landowners get separated, for instance, or if their youngsters get themselves destitute.
After the initial three years, the agreement is restored consequently. Following four years, however, the rental contract is ended naturally.
9. Think in terms of future
Do not be impressed by something in particular, like the views or the modern furniture. You will get bored of somethings. Just picture yourself in that house during the winter and summer. That way, you will find the best one!
