It’s that time of year when auxiliaries heading to Spain are contemplating:
“Where in the devils hell am I going to live?”
Unlike programs such as EPIK or TALK in South Korea, language assistants in Spain must find their own piso (flat/apartment).
Here are 5 helpful tips for finding an apartment in Spain.
1. Don’t agree to, book, confirm, pay for, or offer your
first born child for any apartment you have seen online!
Yes you will be anxious to find a place to live before school/work starts but realize there are tons of apartments in Spain. You WILL find something….when you get in the country! When you arrive in Spain stay in a hostels, hotel or use Airbnb for a few days. This will give you some time to take a look at apartments in person and meet roommates (if you want them).
You can peruse online resources like: (best if you read the “.es” listings in Spanish)
- Craigslist.com
- Idealista.com
- Enalquiler.com
- milanuncios.com
- fotocasa.com.
Just don’t drive yourself crazy looking online. Make notes about the neighborhoods and cost of the apartments. Also makes notes that compare the prices of living with roommates versus renting a 1-bedroom. Apartments photographed for these websites can be hit or miss. So it’s imperative that you see them in person! Don’t get “cat fished”!
2. Ask a friend for help!
If you aren’t fluent in Spanish please ask a friend (or the program liason at your school) for help. They can help you read the listings online, speak with the realtor/apartment owner, and sign the lease. They can also help you negotiate any terms of conditions in the contract that you’d like to change.
3. Schedule appointments to view the apartment!
Don’t just show up because you found the address and the number online. Make an appointment and go with a friend (see #2)! The weekends are a great time to go because you can try to speak with the outgoing tenant and pick their brain about the place!
4. Use a Realty Agency
Most of the apartment listings showcased online (see #1) are advertised by a realty company. If one specific company has numerous listings in a neighborhood you desire, make an appointment with them. Here are some questions you should know the answer to for your realty appointment:
What neighborhood? (ex. Madrid’s Lavapies or Salamanca)
How much do you want to spend monthly?
How many bedrooms?
Utilities & Water included?
Communidad included? (Community fee for maintenance of the common areas of the building)
5. Trust your instincts
Does talking to your apartment owner give you bad vibes? Did walking around the apartment put your stomach in knots? Listen to your instincts! If you think something just isn’t quite right, that’s because it isn’t!
Run away from that shady situation and don’t look back.
Helpful Words:
piso- apartment/flat
en Aquiler -to rent
dueños (del piso) -owners of the apartment/landlord
el contracto- the contract
precio-price
sin amueblar- without furniture
amueblado – furnished
calefacción central – Central air/heating
jardin- garden/backyard
My apartment tours:
1st apartment in Madridejos, Toledo Spain (250 euros per month)
2nd apartment in Puertollano, Ciudad Real Spain (300 euros per month)
Still have questions? Leave a comment down below!