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Spain · Vivienda y mudanza

Alquilar en Spain

Verified data Última verificación 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.

Lo básico del alquiler

Contrato habitual
1 año
Fianza
1 mes(es) de renta
Amueblado
Amueblado habitual
Mercado de media estancia
Mercado de media estancia fuerte
Registro de domicilio
Obligatorio

Comisión de agencia: 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.

Registro de domicilio

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).

Tus derechos como inquilino

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.

Conviene saber

  • 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

A tener en cuenta

  • 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

Dónde buscar

IdealistaFotocasaSpotahomeHousingAnywhere

Las plataformas se enumeran solo a título orientativo — no las respaldamos ni las clasificamos.

Alquilar en Spain: preguntas frecuentes

Alquilar en Spain: preguntas frecuentes

¿Cuánta fianza necesito para alquilar en Spain?

Los propietarios suelen pedir alrededor de 1 mes de renta como fianza, además del primer mes por adelantado, más cualquier comisión de agencia (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.). Cuenta con esa suma como un pago único antes de llegar.

¿Tengo que registrar mi domicilio en Spain?

Sí — 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).

¿Puedo encontrar alquileres amueblados o de corta estancia en Spain?

Amueblado habitual y el mercado de media estancia en el que se apoyan los nómadas es mercado de media estancia fuerte. Empieza tu búsqueda en Idealista, Fotocasa, Spotahome.

Fuentes