Learn how the market works in Barcelona and what you should be careful with
There is x10 times more demand than offer. Landlords rule the game
Good apartments are scarce. Lets for less than 12 months, too.
Flats show up and fly VERY fast. Hard to find them months in advance
In summer, finding a place is extremely tough. No flats in August
Only 15% flats are furnished. Most require you to install Internet
Utilities are hardly never included in the rent, but paid separately
95% of flats go through agents. Fee = 10% of year rent + 21% VAT
Real estate agents must be registered. Ask for their AICAT and API numbers
80% online adds are useless: rented, wrong info, don’t reply, etc
There are scams online. Beware! Bargains don’t exist
Many landlords and agents speak little or no English
Agents performance is very variable, from great to sometimes bad
Lease contracts must be in Spanish per law. Abusive clauses are common
Bad agent care at first may harm you severely afterwards during stay
Most agents don’t support during lease period. Landlords must. Some do
Choosing a good landlord matters as much as choosing a good flat