Renting
If you intend to rent a flat during your stay in Spain, you should look in
the classified adverts for accommodation found in all newspapers.
You can also use estate agents, which charge an extra month's payment in
advance and a commission for the agency itself, which will normally be the
equivalent of one month's rent. Estate agents can be found in the yellow pages.
A lease must be drawn up with the owner. Any form of lease, including an oral
one, is valid, legal and lawful, though the written form is recommended. An
impreso de contrato oficial (standard form) on stamped paper can be bought from
State tobacconists' for this purpose.
The tenant must provide a sum equivalent to one month's rent as a cash deposit.
In almost all apartment blocks the communal costs and services are shared
(caretaker, cleaning, gardening, swimming pool, etc.); you should check whether
these costs are included in your lease.
Tourist Offices may be able to help while you are seeking accommodation by
providing a list of temporary accommodation.
The Instituto de la Juventud (Institute for Young People) signs cooperation
agreements with local councils to provide temporary rented accommodation for
under 30s with low-income or who are away from their habitual residence either
to work, study or participate in cultural and sporting events and activities,
etc.
This accommodation may be newly-built or renovated accommodation located in
the old part of cities.
Purchasing Property
Many estate agents in the EEA currently deal in the purchase of Spanish
properties. Local estate agents can be used in Spain. For information on the
purchase of real estate in Spain, contact the Foundation Institute of Foreign
Property Owners (Fundación Instituto de Propietarios Extranjeros).
If you want to keep up to date on market prices for new housing, the Property
Valuation Society (Sociedad de Tasación) carries out a comprehensive market
survey which analyses new private housing promotions built in all provincial
capitals.
Some Autonomous Communities have a service called the Young People's Housing
Market (Bolsa de Vivienda Joven), which provides general information on renting
and purchasing property, specialist legal information, press information on
rented and shared accommodation and, in particular, a stock of rented flats for
young people at less than market prices by means of an agreement with the
owners. Further information can be obtained from the youth services of the
Autonomous Communities.
Text last edited on: 06/2006
Source: European Union
© European Communities
Reproduction is authorised.
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