Vacation rentals are at an all time high along the Costa, nonetheless exceptional year round properties are available for long term rental at reasonable prices. The secret is knowing what to look for and where to seek assistance.
Numerous options are available in the rentals market. You can conduct your search with an agent while you're still in the UK , most are happy to e-mail photographs or place properties on their website. This option does limit your possibilities, as many independent agents do not use the Internet and you may miss out on some great properties. Keep in mind while surfing the Web to check that the sites you visit are regularly updated otherwise you could find yourself wasting time on properties that were rented out weeks ago. Visiting properties personally allows you to evaluate the neighbourhoods and get a better understanding of market value.
Whether looking for a property over the Internet or in person, consider the following:
• Would you like to live in a predominantly Spanish area or an international area?
• Would you like a community that is mostly long-term rentals or holiday lets?
• Would there be like-minded neighbours? A sense of community?
• Would you like beachfront or sea views?
• When do you get the sun on your property?
• What type of property would you be comfortable living in? e.g. house, townhouse, apartment etc
• How many bedrooms, 1,2 or 3?
• Are you looking for a private or communal pool?
• What are your parking preferences? On street, underground or private garage?
• Is security a concern for you? Possibilities include alarm-outfitted homes, gated communities and/or 24 hour on site security.
• What outdoor space do you desire? Private or communal gardens, Or perhaps an outside terrace or garden
• Is there a child friendly zone with a secure outdoor play area?
• Are there quality schools nearby with openings for new children?
• Are there shops or a clubhouse on site?
Our research shows that prospective renters have a higher success rate with fewer frustrations when they do their actual search while in Spain . Home hunting from the UK can be distressing as the agents are often occupied with face-to-face clients and may be tardy in returning calls or emails.
A good approach is to rent a short-term property for approximately two weeks and familiarise yourself with the area. Visit agents and check out the rental properties in the SUR in ENGLISH newspaper. This free weekly publication is a wealth of information and is distributed each Friday to bars, restaurants, shops and tourist offices along the coast. The SUR in ENGLISH (www.surinenglish.com) has extensive classified pages and is also available online so viewings can be arranged prior to your arrival.
During the low season in winter, landlords are quite flexible about the length of rental contracts. They are happy to agree to contracts spanning from three to eleven months. All of this changes at Easter, when the high season begins. At the onset of the summer season, landlords rarely agree to contracts of less than eleven months, as they do not want an empty property throughout the winter. The maximum length of a rental contract is usually eleven months as under Spanish law, renters with contracts over one year have substantially greater rights. Landlords are generally flexible and will typically include a renewal clause in the agreement.
In Spain both free lance agents and major real estate company agents can help you with your search. Many property owners market their homes with different agents so on occasion there may be others viewing the property you are interested in. Always ask in advance what each agent's commission policy is. Many Agency's charge only the property owner for their services, however some Agents place their charges upon the tenant. Agency fees tend to be equal to one month's rent, however this can vary depending upon the agent. When you find a property that interests you, negotiate with the agent, and in many cases, you can lower the search fee by as much as fifty percent! There are advantages to using an agent as they are generally bi-lingual and serve as a liaison between the homeowner and yourself. They can assist you when you need routine maintenance or repairs and can put you in contact with local service providers, e.g. maids, gardeners, plumbers, etc. Many agents will assist you in getting your utilities connected and your home up and running. It is common for agents to offer a key holding service, which can be very cost efficient when your house keys just can not be found.
When moving into a just built property many owners insist on changing the door locks because during the build period, door keys pass through many different hands. If the owner does not offer to change the door locks, you really should consider doing it yourself. All locks should be supplied with five keys and you should make sure you receive all five keys once the locks are changed. Search under Locksmiths in the directory classified section or in the online business search, locksmiths will ensure your locks are changed with the minimum of fuss and should always provide you with all 5 keys.
These vary dependent on the owner. In general, when renting a furnished property you may be required to pay two month's rent as a refundable security deposit to cover possible damages and one month's rent in advance. In an unfurnished property the refundable deposit may be reduced to one month's rent. Some owners may require references from your bank or previous landlord and a photocopy of a valid passport. Depending on the season you may be required to pay rent in advance, as long-term rentals are available at a lower monthly rate than that of short-term properties. If you take a tenancy from the first of July for six months, you may be asked to pay the six month's rent in advance as the tenancy will commence in high season. Owners remain cautious of tenants taking properties for July and August and then returning to the UK leaving the owner with an empty property for the less desirable months of the year.
You must sign a copy of your tenancy agreement which is written in the Spanish language. Under Spanish law, a contract written in English or any other language is not valid in Spain . If your contract is in Spanish, do not rely on the agent or owner to translate this for you, use an independent translator