SPAIN | Accommodation | Finding accommodation

General (student) housing situation

Living in suitable accommodation is important for your linguistic and professional experience.

Before you start looking for an accommodation, you should ask yourself a few questions:

• Would I prefer to live on my own or share accommodation with others?
• What is my budget?
• Do I already have a preferred area where I would like to live?

Types of accommodation

• Renting a flat: There are different possibilities, the easiest is to request the services of an estate agency to help you find what you are looking for. These services will cost you usually equivalent to a months' rent. Other options are consulting specialised magazines, estate agency advertisements in local newspapers, websites with information on flats for rent, or simply “walk” the streets writing down telephone numbers. You can also go to the City Council and/or respective Autonomous Region.
• Renting rooms in a shared flat: By sharing a flat with other people, students or workers, Spanish or foreign, you will be able to make friends and learn many things about other people, cultures and cities around the world. The friendships established will be very important for your life. In Spain, flats are usually fully furnished and come with a well-equipped kitchen and bath. You will have to bring your own sheets and towels. The main characteristics are usually: individual or twin room, a shared kitchen and other common areas of the flat, housemates have to come to an agreement regarding shared housework amongst all, additional expenses for gas, electricity and water which are not usually included, as well as expenses for food and/or eating out.

• Living with a family: Living with a Spanish family is the best way to get to know the country, its culture, and its people. It is also the most natural and fast way to practice Spanish. Daily contact with your host family will help you understand the customs and the local culture. In no time, you will begin to use common phrases and colloquial expressions. Besides, you will be able to enjoy a relaxed and friendly atmosphere that your host family offers you, with the independence of having your own house key.
• University halls of residence: Interns in Spain can book short-term stays at modern private student residences or traditional Colegios Mayores - these are traditional university-affiliated halls of residence. While they prioritize full-time university students, many have open spots during the summer months or offer graduate-specific wings.

 Finding accommodation

Look in estate agency magazines. It is the most suitable way to find accommodation for rent and this way, owners and administrators advertise accommodation for rent.

Choose an area. Many times, walking through a certain area that you like may help you find a flat. Ask in shops, in porter’s lodges and look for signs in windows. Many owners prefer not to be bombarded by telephone calls and choose this way to rent out their accommodation. 

The most informal way works best sometimes: Telling as many people as possible that you are looking to rent a place can help you extend your search to more areas that you, for example, cannot cover alone. Friends, acquaintances, colleagues or classmates can lead you to landlords or flats that will soon be vacant.

Most Spanish universities have notice boards where flats and even shared accommodation are advertised. Apart from the internet, you can find university student service centres that will provide you with information on available flats and even advise you on and who you should speak to about your rights and obligations. 

Programmes for youths: As a result of the problems that thousands of students or workers have when finding accommodation while moving to a different city, the regional and local governments have a list of rental offers for young people. They are located in almost all medium and large university campuses and are registered at Youth Services or Institutes.  

Lastly, search the internet: Although new estate agency sites you may find on the web still don’t have a significant listing of housing, they always have some flats with these characteristics available. Globaliza, Urbaniza or Idealista are some of the best-known sites, although you can also look for flats to rent through the websites of some the most important estate agencies.

Once you have found suitable accommodation that meets your needs and preferences, you should consider the following:

• Is the accommodation secure? (Check the locks on doors and windows)
• Is the accommodation multicultural?
• Is the accommodation located near you place of work?
• What is the public transport like?
• What equipment is available in the accommodation (furniture, appliances), and is everything working?
• What type of heating is it, and is there an extra charge for it?
• Are there extra charges for electricity and water?
• Do I have any allergies, for example to animals?