Fulbright Grants for U.S. Citizens / Presentation prepared by the Commission for Cultural, Educational and Scientific Exchange between the United States of America and Spain Housing Orientation sessions at the Instituto Internacional en España Madrid, September 7-10, 2015

2 Housing – FIRST TIP! DON’T PANIC!! EVERYONE FINDS A PLACE TO HIS/HER TASTE

3 Housing Best websites Idealista.com Easypiso.com Loquo.es Fotocasa.es Segundamano.es Enalquiler.com Aluni.net Networking (colleagues, doormen, bar tenders, shop owners…) Fulbright Predeparture & City Guides Weebly website for Madrid

4 Housing To consider before renting: Location Commuting time to work / Metro / Cost Neighborhood characteristics Shopping facilities Single vs. shared apartments Cost vs. privacy Easiness of lease paperwork Roommates: Spaniards, Erasmus… Renting in a family’s house Inmersion in the Spanish culture More rules and restrictions Residence halls (colegios mayores) Good way to be in contact with Spanish university students The cultural shock may be strong

5 Housing To consider before renting (Cont.): Characteristics of the apartment Furnished / unfurnished Exterior / interior (light/noise/ventilation) Condition of appliances – Check them all! Phone and Internet connections – ADSL speed Elevator / Heating / Air-con / Water pressure Is smoking allowed? (Still popular in Spain!) Cost Budget properly (generally speaking, not over 400 €/month) Wide price range (neighborhood, house condition, facilities…) Usually, rental price does not include water, electricity, gas, phone & Internet service. Find our beforehand how much these services may add up to.

6 Differences US vs. Spain Renting conditions are much more informal, especially if sharing with roommates Most apartments come furnished Leasing offices less common Online or word-of-mouth Expectations Old apartments Small apartments Not uncommon to lack dishwasher and/or oven Very rare to find clothes dryer

7 Housing IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS If you are going to sign a LEASE (Contrato), make sure it specifies: Complete name of the arrendador or landlord, and the arrendatario or tenant, DNI / NIE or passport number (Identidad de los contratantes) Complete address of the flat (Identificación de la finca o vivienda arrendada) Duration of the lease (Duración pactada del contrato) Monthly rent (Renta mensual) Any agreements reached (Cláusulas que hubieran acordado las partes), such as who is paying for the utilities, the amount of the deposit and what it is intended for.

8 Housing - Contrato Try to sign the lease in the official form if you’re renting an entire apartment (Modelo timbrado de contrato de arrendamiento) It can be bought at any Estanco (Tobacconist) for around 15€ When you buy it, you are already paying the Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales (ITP), a tax that must be paid by the tenant.

9 Housing - Contrato Modelo timbrado de contrato de arrendamiento

10 Housing - Depósito Ley Arrendamientos Urbanos or LAU: the deposit should not exceed two month’s rent in the case of furnished apartments The above applies to much longer rentals, so try to negotiate a one month’s rent deposit Get in writing that the deposit is ONLY to cover damages caused by an incorrect use of the apartment. Say “No” to avales bancarios: bank guarantee, very expensive to obtain Commission: letter of endorsement

11 Housing - Reminders Even if you don’t sign a lease (contrato), make sure to get all the renting conditions in writing Request receipts for every payment The deposit is reimbursable at the end of the lease For a list of common housing terms in Spanish, please refer to the Predeparture Guide. Oficinas de la vivienda: in case of doubts or problems.

12 Housing Oficinas de la vivienda Madrid: /PVIV_home /PVIV_home Barcelona: Andalucía: web/web/texto/ d267-11e1-bdec-1f45e8468b25 web/web/texto/ d267-11e1-bdec-1f45e8468b25