Renting apartments for foreigners: the process and necessary documents.

Renting a property for a foreigner generally involves the same process as renting for a Spanish citizen. However, there are some specific points and documents that need to be considered to ensure the rental agreement is valid. What is needed? What documents are required? In this article, we will explain how a foreigner can rent an apartment.

Before signing the lease agreement

It is advisable to ensure that the foreigner has the necessary documentation for legal residence in Spain. Citizens of the European Union do not need a work or residence permit to live in the country, but citizens of other countries may need a visa or residence permit. Ask the tenant to provide you with copies of their passport, NIE or visa, and any other documents that confirm their legal status in Spain.

NIE or passport

The process of renting housing to a foreigner involves obtaining certain documents necessary to ensure a safe transaction.

Analysis of solvency

To protect themselves in rental situations, many landlords want to ensure that potential tenants are financially stable, regardless of whether they are foreigners or not. Therefore, it is common to request documents that reflect their financial situation, such as an employment contract (a permanent contract is always valued more than a temporary one), recent pay stubs, the latest tax return (or its equivalent in their country), quarterly VAT and income tax reports, etc.

Pledge

By law, it is mandatory to request a security deposit equal to one month's rent. This is stipulated in Article 36 of the Residential Tenancy Act (LAU) and is mandatory for both foreign and local tenants.

Bank account in Spain

It is very important for a foreign tenant to have a Spanish bank account to pay for utility bills and rent.

Is it possible to rent an apartment to an illegal immigrant?

Yes, it is possible to rent an apartment to a person without documents and without a residence permit in Spain. Currently, the legislation does not prohibit this practice, so it is possible to rent housing to someone who does not have legal permission to reside in the country. In fact, being included in the rental agreement can be beneficial for a foreigner, as it simplifies the completion of certain administrative procedures, such as registering for residency.

What should the salary be to rent an apartment?

One of the common principles used by insurance companies and landlords is that the rent should not exceed 30-40% of the candidate's monthly income, whether it comes from their salary or other sources of income. Therefore, for a salary of 1,000 euros per month, the rent should be between 300 and 400 euros, which is uncommon in Spain. However, if two people are going to live in the apartment, their two salaries should be combined.