Renting Property
Long term rental
Vacation rentals are popular along the Costa and exceptional properties are available year round for long-term rental at reasonable prices. The secret is to know what to look for and where to seek assistance.
Numerous options are available in the rentals market. You can conduct your search with an agent if you reside abroad; most agencies are happy to email you photos or have properties listed on their website. Keep in mind that many independent agents do not use the Internet and you may miss out on some great properties.
While surfing the Web, make sure that the sites you visit are regularly updated - otherwise you could find yourself wasting time on properties that were rented out weeks ago. Visiting properties personally allows you to evaluate the neighbourhoods and get a better understanding of market value.
Whether looking for a property over the Internet or in person, consider the following:
Location
Would you like to live in a predominantly Spanish area or an international area?
Would you like a community that is mostly long-term rentals or holiday lets?
Would there be like-minded neighbours? A sense of community?
Would you like beachfront or sea views?
When do you get the sun on your property?
Noise level: is there any building going on nearby? What about barking dogs?
Characteristics
What type of property would you be comfortable living in? E.g. house, townhouse, apartment etc.
How many bedrooms, 1, 2 or 3? Are you planning on having visitors?
Are you looking for a private or communal pool?
What are your parking preferences? On the street, underground or private garage?
Is security a concern for you? Possibilities include homes installed with an alarm, gated communities and/or 24 hour on site security.
What outdoor space do you desire? Private or communal gardens, or perhaps an outside terrace or garden?
If buying in the countryside are the roads passable in a car or will you need a 4 x 4?
Local Resources
Is there a child friendly zone with a secure outdoor play area?
Are there quality schools nearby with openings for new children?
Are there shops or a clubhouse on site?
Search from UK vs. Spain
Our research shows that prospective renters have a higher success rate with fewer frustrations when they do their actual search while in Spain. House hunting from the UK can be distressing as the agents are often occupied with face-to-face clients and may be tardy in returning calls or emails.
A good approach is to rent a short-term property for approximately two weeks and familiarise yourself with the area. Short term rentals are listed in the local newspapers and on the Internet. Take your time and don't feel rushed.
Rental Periods
During the low season in winter, landlords may be quite flexible about the length of rental contracts and may agree to contracts spanning from three to eleven months. Starting at Easter and through til the end of summer, landlords rarely agree to contracts of less than eleven months, as they do not want an empty property throughout the winter.
The maximum length of a rental contract is usually eleven months as under Spanish law; renters with contracts over one year have substantially greater rights. Landlords are generally flexible and will typically include a renewal clause in the agreement.
Agents
In Spain both freelance agents and major real estate company agents can help you with your search. Many property owners list their homes with multiple agents, so on occasion, there may be others viewing the property you are interested in.
Always ask in advance what each agent's commission policy is. Many agencies charge only the property owner for their services; however, some agents place their charges upon the tenant. Agency fees tend to be equal to one month's rent.
There are advantages to using an agent; they are generally bilingual and serve as a liaison between the homeowner and yourself. They can assist you when you need routine maintenance or repairs and can put you in contact with local service providers, e.g. maids, gardeners, plumbers, etc.
Many agents will assist you in getting your utilities connected and your home up and running. It is common for agents to offer a key holding service, which can be very cost efficient when your house keys cannot be found.
Security
When moving into a just-built property many owners insist on changing the door locks because during the build period, door keys pass through many different hands. If the owner does not offer to change the door locks, you really should consider doing it yourself. Locksmiths will ensure your locks are changed with the minimum of fuss. They should always provide you with all five keys. See the "Locksmiths" section of the Yellow Classified Pages for a comprehensive list.
Fees & Deposits
These vary dependent on the owner. In general, when renting a furnished property you may be required to pay two month's rent as a refundable security deposit to cover possible damages and one month's rent in advance.
In an unfurnished property, the refundable deposit may be reduced to one month's rent. Some owners may require references from your bank or previous landlord and a photocopy of a valid passport.
Depending on the season you may be required to pay rent in advance as long-term rentals are available at a lower monthly rate than that of short-term properties. If you take a tenancy from the first of July for six months, you may be asked to pay the six months' rent in advance, as the tenancy will commence in high season.
Contracts
You must sign a copy of your tenancy agreement, which is typically written in Spanish. Do not rely on the agent or owner to translate this for you, use an independent translator.
Here is a selection of property sales and rental agents who will assist you every step of the way.
ANDALUCIAN DREAM HOMES
Tel: 952 813 303
www.adhspain.com
B & W PROPERTY SERVICES
Tel: 952 929 952 / 636 742 482
www.bandwpropertyservices.es
CLUTTONS
Tel: 952 907 200
www.cluttons-spain.com
COSTALETS / PARKER SOL PROPERTIES
Tel: 952 563 939
www.costalet.com / www.parkersolproperties.com
CROWN ESTATES
Tel: 952 880 936
www.crownmarbella.com
DUCHY ESTATES
Tel: 952 906 944
www.duchyspain.com
EMMA CHISSETT HOMES
Tel: 952 669 720
www.emmachissett.com
H2O HOMES OVERSEAS COUNTRYWIDE
Tel: 952 880 666
www.h2ocountrywide.com
HOMECAREONTHEWEB
Tel: 952 839 595
www.homecareontheweb.com
HOUSE2BUYER
Tel: 952 501 128
www.house2buyer.com
LA CONCHA LIVING
Tel: 952 766 011
www.laconchaliving.com
MPC ESTATES
Tel: 952 933 943
www.marbellapropertycorner.com
ONE SEVEN CONSULTANTS
Tel: 649 549 539
ORANGE REAL ESTATE
Tel: 952 426 862
www.orange-realestate.net
THE PROPERTY EMPORIUM S.L.
Tel: 952 939 436
www.propertyemporiumsl.com
WORLD WIDE PROPERTIES
Tel: 627 072 656
www.wwp.es