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HOUSING
18
Renting A Home
In smaller towns, rural areas and on less
expensive coastal resorts it will be half the
price. High rise developments (urbanizaciones)
on the outskirts of major cities,
where many Spanish families live, offer
cheaper accommodation, though less aesthetic
and practical than living centrally.
Rents are lowest in small towns and rural
areas, although good rented accommodation
is often difficult to find. Check out
public transport and other facilities before
you are lured by a more remote rental.
EXTRA COSTS
Gas and electricity are unlikely to be
included in your long-term contract,
though community fees, property taxes
(IBI) and water rates are usually paid by
the owner. If you want a telephone, you
will most likely have to install it yourself
as few Spanish properties have a landline.
CONTRACTS
Rental contracts dated from January 1
1995 must adhere to the new Law of
Urban Lettings (Ley de Arrendamientos
Urbanos) of 1994. A short-term contract
(contrato de arrendimiento de temporada)
applies to holiday lettings or anything up
to one year. Long-term contracts are for a
minimum of one year and usually up to
five years. After that time the owner can
terminate the contract, provided he gives
the tenant 30 days' notice. Otherwise the
contract will be automatically renewed for
three years.
DEPOSIT
When you sign a rental contract, you must
pay the landlord a desposit (fianza) equal
to one month’s rent. This will be returned
to you when you move out, providing you
leave the property in the same state as it
was in when you moved in. Make sure
you check the inventory otherwise you
may find chunks of your deposit moved
for items not there in the first place.
Many landlords, especially in big cities,
demand additional guarantees that you
can pay your rent. They may wish to see a
payslip (nomima) or they may require an
aval bancario, a letter of credit from a
Spanish bank which guarantees that if you
default on your payments, the bank will
pay whatever is owed for the remainder of
the contract.
REPAIRS
It is the landlord’s responsibility to keep
the property in a fit and habitable condition
but not to repair any damage the tenant
causes through daily use. If you need
to make any urgent repairs, inform the
landlord first so that s/he can reimburse
you of the costs.
If repairs are required which affect health,
hygiene and comfort in the property, the
landlord must give you three months’
notice, in which time you may decide to
end your rental agreement (by giving one
month’s notice) or negotiate a reduced
rental while the apartment is in a state of
repair.
RESCINDING THE CONTRACT
The landlord can terminate the rental contract
if the tenant does not pay their rent
or deposit, sublets the property without
the landlord’s permission, deliberately
causes damage to the property or undertakes
repairs without the landlord’s consent.
Equally, the tenant may pull out of the
rental contract if the landlord fails to make
the necessary repairs to keep the property
in a fit and habitable condition or disturbs
the tenant while they are living there.
PROBLEMS WITH YOUR LANDLORD
Go to a Spanish lawyer to make a formal
complaint. Then, if necessary, your lawyer
will take the case to court (procedimiento
civil ordinario).
SPAIN EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE WWW.EXPATICA.COM