Want To Rent In Spain? This Is The Best Time Of Year To Start

Thinking of moving to Spain? Or already living in Spain but ready to find a new rental property for yourself or for your family? You may be interested to know that there are some times of year in Spain that are better to find a rental property than other.

But it not quite as simple as just listing a couple of months and telling you that’s when you should start house hunting! What is considered the 'best' time depends on whether you're a prospective tenant or landlord and whether you're looking for affordability or whether you’d rather have a wider range of options.

Here’s what you need to know about renting in Spain, and when you should start your property hunt:

Finding Rental Properties In Spain

Finding a rental property in Spain is harder than you might thing. Rents have soared in Spain in recent years, and any affordable properties are snapped up fast because demand for them is so high. This can make finding a place to live tricky. And this problem is only exacerbated if you live in one of Spain’s most popular cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.

But it’s not all gloom and doom. There are times when rentals are a little more affordable, and there are also times of year when there are more properties on the market too.

Where Do You Want To Live?

Because we can tell you when best to start the house hunt, you need to know where you want to live.

In big cities like Madrid and Barcelona where tourist numbers are higher in the summer months, you’ll find there’s a surge of availability when the peak of the summer season ends.

By contrast if you’re looking to live in a more rural area, you’ll find that there are almost always some properties available, but your options will be much more limited.

So best can mean different things to different people: are you looking for best in terms or price? Or best in terms of having a large number of property options to choose from?

Either way, there’s only one month on everyone’s lips...

September Season

There is nothing unique about the fact that September is considered the best month to rent a new property in Spain. This is also considered the best month to rent a property in many other countries around the world.

It's the end of summer, and the beginning of a new academic and work year. You’ll find students leaving lets so new students can move in, and seasonal holiday lets may become long term lets for the winter season. For this reason, mid-August is generally considered the best time of year to start your property search.

Experts say this demand grows even more during the second fortnight of the month as people begin to panic a bit and step up their search.

What Happens To Rental Prices In September?

We’ve established that September is the most popular (and some might say the best) month to rent a property in Spain, but if this is common knowledge in the country then what does it do to the price?

Generally speaking, rental price data shows that the demand for rental accommodation grows annually during the fourth quarter of the year - that is, in October, November and December. So actually in price terms, September is a great time of year to sign a rental contract too.

What Are The Drawbacks Of Property Hunting In September?

If September is considered the best time of the year to hunt for a property in Spain then what are the drawbacks of trying to find a rental property at that time of year? The main and most significant is that it means you’ll face more competition. Everyone is looking for somewhere to live at the same time!

But even that could be an opportunity. With so many year-long lets expiring in September, you’ll find many more properties available, even if there are also more people property hunting at the same time. If you’re a student, language teacher, or other renter whose schedule is dictated by term times then there’s no better time for you to be property hunting.

What If You’re Driven By Price?

If you’re on a tight budget and you just want to get the best possible deal then September might not be the best time for you to property hunt. Instead January has been found to be the cheapest month to rent in Spain.

Many landlords who didn't manage to rent their properties during the year tend to adjust prices downwards in January. Some also take advantage of this period to renovate their properties, making them more attractive. January – Spring is the time for bargain hunters to find their dream rental property!

What About If You’re A Landlord?

Want to generate more income as a landlord? You need to get your house in order (pun intended) so that you can put it on the rental market by mid-August. This is when you’re likely to get the best financial return, and you’ll have plenty of competition for your property (meaning you can choose the tenants that are best for you).

If you’re a landlord, capitalising on this period, or perhaps even waiting a little longer until demand is even higher and supply significantly lower, could be the way to go. It’s a win-win situation for landlords and tenants at the same time.