In episode four of When in Spain I look at how to rent a room or apartment in Spain. The focus is on Spain’s four biggest cities, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville. Click on the player above to listen to the episode and hear all about my ups and downs of finding somewhere to rent in Madrid. In the podcast episode I look at when, and where to start your search. Price ranges and advice on things to watch out for.
FOLLOW WHEN IN SPAIN
?Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/2SOrKrL
?‍?‍?‍?Join the When in Spain Facebook Group. https://bit.ly/2CdDgWt
?Follow on Instagram to see photography from across Spain. https://bit.ly/2D5p6IJ

WANT TO SUPPORT WHEN IN SPAIN? ? Make a small donation $1-$5 via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wheninspain

I’ve seen apartments/rooms like the one in the photo below described as ’boutique living’. Don’t fall for any shit. It’s dog eat dog out there.
When should you start your search for a room or apartment?
Well, if at all possible avoid looking in September/October. This is the time of year when everybody and their dog is looking. There are a few reasons for this. University students, Erasmus students and teachers starting the Auxiliares program along with many other English teachers all arrive ahead of the start of the academic year and frantically begin their house hunt. January can also be a busier time of year to find rental accommodation. Also, people who have secured a new job just before or during the summer tend to start their contracts in September. If they’re relocating from a different city they’ll also be lining up to view properties.
How long will it take to get a roof over your head?
Longer than you might think. My advice would be to allow yourself at least two or three weeks. It took me a few months to find somewhere I was happy with. It’s very unlikely that you’re going to find somewhere in just a few days.
When should you look?
June or July is a good bet. August, possibly. Although many landlords and people looking for housemates tend to go away on holiday during August. November is another good time to look, once things have quietened down a bit, although there may well be less availability. The spring is also a good bet, March – May.
Where to conduct your online search…
Here are a list of the most common property search websites in Spain.

Idealista – The most popular site, many agencies tend to advertise here.

Pisos.com

Mil Anuncios – A classifieds website for just about anything but also includes rooms and                                     apartments

Fotocasa

Badi  – A bit like Airbnb and relatively new. Homeowners looking to rent out their spare                        room advertise on here. They tend to be quite fussy.
Other options for conducting your search
Locutorios

Locutorios are small neighbourhood internet cafes/international calling points. They often sell mobile phone accessories and carry out repairs. Many of them have noticeboards that carry adverts for rooms and apartments in the local area. Locutorios are becoming less common, especially in city centres but you might get lucky.

Flyers

Walls and signposts are often plastered in flyers advertising properties, they’ll have a little tear-off phone number. Also, as you wander the street look up at balconies which often carry signs “Se Alquila’ For rent, and carry a phone number. Worth a try, especially as these are often posted by somebody from the ‘older’ generation let’s say, and who may not be internet savvy and therefore may be offering a bargain!

Agencies

Agencies can take the legwork out of the search, especially if you’re short on time. However they are usually very expensive. Most people use agencies if they’re looking for an entire apartment and not sharing. One option is to find other like-minded sharers and go in on an apartment together.  You’ll usually end up paying at least one month’s rent in agency fees, money which you can kiss goodbye to.