Rent a Flat in Barcelona

If you want to rent a room in Barcelona the best advice is to visit a few, meet the flat mates, and then weigh up the pros and cons of each. It’s easy enough to find a room in a cheap apartment in Barcelona as many people live in shared accommodation; what’s more difficult is getting the right place for you! Most people want to live in the centre, which means there are often scores of people looking at the same room, and of course only one person gets it. Since public transport is good and taxi prices are reasonable you might find a better flat rental away from the centre.

Some good places to look include the notice boards of the international language schools, and the notice board in Barcelona University, in Plaza Universitat. In the busy season these notice boards are cleared every couple of days, so the ads are usually current. Many people find their first room in Barcelona through online classified portals which have a section dedicated to rooms and flats for rent. The largest is www.loquo.es. The Barcelona Connect classifieds portal is very popular with people looking for an international flatshare. Some Spanish speakers specify that they are looking for an English roommate to practice their language, and this arrangement can also work in your favour.

It’s normal to give one month’s deposit when you rent a room in Barcelona, this can increase to two or three months when renting a flat. If using an agency they’ll give you a contract, but even if you sublet from the person who has the contract on the flat then it’s good to have your agreement in writing. Always check whether bills are included, and if not how they are divided and what they are estimated to be. Once you’ve found your flat, go through the inventory to make sure all the items are there, and notify the agency or landlord of anything that’s in less than perfect condition to avoid being charged for damages at the end of your stay.