How to rent a property in Valencia as a foreigner?

5 things you need to know before you start to search.

Are you struggling to find an apartment for rent in Valencia? You don’t know where to start? Are you scrolling down offers on the internet and contacting agencies but you’re not getting any feedback?

1. Medium term rent in Valencia (rental for a period between 3 and 11 months)

Valencia is known for attracting many digital nomads and people who would like to spend a few months enjoying the weather, we assume you’re one of them.

It is good to know that if you would like to find an apartment for rent in Valencia just for a period of up to 11 months and your income comes from a foreign country, you may be asked to pay a few months’ rent in advance plus more than one month of a deposit.

Some house owners will not be willing to rent their apartment just because of the fact that you don’t have Spanish paychecks. “They don’t want to earn money?” – you will ask yourself, but the reality is that house owners sometimes prefer to rent it to someone with national incomes and permanent labour contracts. At home in Valencia we have experience of working with international clients and we have access to many attractive apartments through our wide network of contacts. If you are thinking of renting an apartment for longer, it will be considered as a long-term rental where different rules can apply.  

2. Prices of apartments in Valencia

The price will all depend on the location in the city. If you’re looking to live in a popular location like Ruzafa or Cabanyal, bear in mind that it will be difficult to find something nice below 700 € excluding expenses (electricity, gas, water, internet). In case of medium-term rental up to 11 months, most house owners will add a fixed fee for expenses to be paid on top of the rent. It makes the whole process easier for you as you don’t have to pay bills by yourself, which requires you to set a direct debit on your Spanish bank account.

3. Documents you will need

Whether you find an apartment for rent in Valencia via an agency or directly from an owner, you will be asked to present your documents NIE, your ID or Passport, your job contract (if you have one) or any other document that proves your income. NIE is a tax identification number in Spain and sooner or later you will be asked to present it so consider applying for this number before even coming to Spain. You can apply for at a Spanish consulate or embassy in the country where you live. If you are already in Valencia, we can assist you with the process.

4. Contract

Unless you rent your apartment for a short term, you’re going to sign a seasonal leasing agreement. Be sure to clarify the most important issues like: bills, maintenance, small repairs, deposit. If possible, we wouldadvise you to get it checked by a lawyer or a person who is familiar with the local law.

5. Deposit and other costs 

You’ll be asked to pay a deposit (la fianza) which by law is one month’s rent, you should refuse to pay more. If you rent via an agency, you’ll also have to pay a commission, it can vary depending on the agency (depending on the duration of the rental contract can be one month’s rent or less), be sure to clarify all costs before you sign an agreement.

To summarize let’s take an example:

You’re two people and you’d like to find a two-bedroom apartment.

You find a place for 700€, the cost of expenses will be approx. 150 € monthly (electricity, water, internet), in total 850€.

If you are asked to pay 3 months in advance, you’ll need to prepare 3×850€+ 850€ for deposit + commission for agency (1045€ – one months’ rent plus 23% VAT)

In total: 4445€

We’re guessing you’re surprised by this big initial cost, but you should be aware of this before you start your search.

Last updated on 21 February 2023