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Spain · Housing & Relocation

Renting in Spain

Verified data Last verified June 15, 2026 Reviewed by Henry van de Vorming

Spain's rental market runs mostly on classified portals (Idealista, Fotocasa) where you contact landlords or agencies directly, plus transactional platforms for furnished mid-term stays. Long-term residential leases are heavily tenant-protected under the Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos (LAU), and every resident must register their address (empadronamiento) at the local town hall.

The rental basics

Typical lease
1 year
Deposit
1 mo rent
Furnished
Furnished common
Mid-term market
Strong mid-term market
Address registration
Required

Agency fee: Under Art. 20 of Law 12/2023 (in force 26 May 2023) the landlord pays real estate management and contract-formalization fees on a primary-residence lease; the cost cannot be passed to the tenant. Does not apply to seasonal/non-habitual rentals.

Address registration

Empadronamiento is mandatory for all residents (Art. 15, Ley 7/1985), done in person at the local Ayuntamiento, free of charge, requiring ID/passport plus proof of address (rental contract or recent utility bill).

Your rights as a tenant

LAU residential leases auto-renew annually up to a minimum of 5 years (private-individual landlord) or 7 years (company landlord) regardless of a shorter written term; fianza capped at 1 month's rent with additional guarantees limited to 2 further months.

Good to know

  • Strong tenant protection: a main-home lease effectively runs up to 5 years (private landlord) or 7 years (company) even if the paper says 12 months
  • Low deposit: the legal fianza is capped at 1 month's rent, with any extra guarantee limited to 2 more months
  • Since the 2023 housing law the landlord pays the agency fee on primary-residence leases, not the tenant
  • Deep furnished and mid-term inventory in cities via Idealista, Fotocasa and transactional platforms like Spotahome and HousingAnywhere, easy to book from abroad

Watch out for

  • Empadronamiento is mandatory and is the gateway to healthcare, NIE/residency and school enrollment, so register at the Ayuntamiento as soon as you have an address (you typically need ID plus a rental contract or recent utility bill)
  • Online rental scams (fake listings, requests to wire a deposit before viewing) are common on portals; never pay before seeing the property and signing a contract
  • Deposits must be lodged with the regional housing authority and refund disputes do occur, so document the property's condition with photos and an inventory at move-in
  • Some smaller landlords and agencies still try to charge tenants an agency fee or demand extra guarantees beyond the legal cap, despite the 2023 law
  • Furnished mid-term and tourist-zone rentals in Madrid, Barcelona and coastal cities can be tight and pricey; book early

Where to look

IdealistaFotocasaSpotahomeHousingAnywhere

Platforms are listed for orientation only — we don't endorse or rank them.

Renting in Spain: FAQ

Renting in Spain: FAQ

How much deposit do I need to rent in Spain?

Landlords typically ask for around 1 month of rent as a security deposit, on top of the first month upfront, plus any agency fee (under art. 20 of law 12/2023 (in force 26 may 2023) the landlord pays real estate management and contract-formalization fees on a primary-residence lease; the cost cannot be passed to the tenant. does not apply to seasonal/non-habitual rentals.). Budget for that as a lump sum before you arrive.

Do I have to register my address in Spain?

Yes — Empadronamiento is mandatory for all residents (Art. 15, Ley 7/1985), done in person at the local Ayuntamiento, free of charge, requiring ID/passport plus proof of address (rental contract or recent utility bill).

Can I find furnished or short-term rentals in Spain?

Furnished common and the mid-term market nomads rely on is strong mid-term market. Start your search on Idealista, Fotocasa, Spotahome.

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