Long Term Rentals in Spain and Long Term Lets Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol Spain

RENTING PROPERTY ON A LONG TERM LET OR LONG TERM RENTAL IN SPAIN

Renting a house, villa or apartment on a long let or long term rental is a great decision if you are moving to Spain. So many people take a quick trip to Spain in order to buy a house and it is only later that they find out many truths about the area and location which causes them to regret making such a hasty decision.

Buying property in Spain is such a huge commitment that renting first on a long term let or long term rental to try before you buy is so obvious, yet not enough people do it. When buying in Spain you have to pay 10% of the purchase price to the government so that is a lot of money down the drain if you want to move later on.

A long term let or long term rental in Spain enables you to really feel what an area is like in different seasons. The Costa Blanca is a good choice because some areas in Spain are too hot in summer (Costa del Sol in the south and Costa de Almeria) and some areas are much wetter than people think (Barcelona area, Costa Brava and Costa Dorada) and some areas are much colder in winter than people realise.

Again - a long term rental enables you to feel it for yourself and decide which part of Spain you prefer to live in. There is even a big difference between the coast and slightly inland.

A long term let or long term rental can even help you decide whether a move to Spain is really for you. One of the most important factors in moving to Spain is making a living and many people struggle and have to go back to their home country to make ends meet. You may find it hard to sell your house or apartment and may sell at a loss because you are desperate to move.

Renting a property on a long term let basis in Spain enables you to really get to know an area by talking to locals. In my area of Javea on the Costa Blanca I have found that some areas I thought were good are in fact crime hot spots and subject to 'land grab'. Other areas don't get the sun until midday and it's these little details that are crucial. Schools are another good example that are very hard to research thoroughly until you are actually here.

Now you are hopefully convinced, let's talk about the details of long term lets and long term rentals of houses, villas, apartments and townhouses in Spain.

Long term lets or long term rental contracts in Spain are often referred to as Vivienda contracts. These should be much cheaper than short term lets because they are typically for a period of a year. You won't be able to move out within incurring a penalty. After the first year you will usually be able to out with only a months notice.

Long term rentals in Spain usually involve putting down a deposit of a month or two in the case of furnished properties.

Finding a long term let or long term rental in Spain is not easy because in many areas people can charge such massive prices for summer holiday rentals so they don't want a long term rental tenant in during these periods.

WHERE TO FIND LONG LETS OR LONG TERM PROPERTY RENTALS IN SPAIN

If you are searching for the best places to find cheap long term rentals in Spain or long lets in Spain is through the local estate agents. You won't generally find them advertised much, so phone or go inside and ask. This is because estate agents make so much money through selling property instead. Most long term rental properties will be apartments not villas (houses).

The most popular places in Spain for long term rentals are the big cities in Spain such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia as well as the tourist resorts of the Costa del Sol i.e. Fuengirola, Marbella, Malaga, Benalmadena, Mijas and Torremolinos.

For the popular Costa Blanca, areas that would have plenty of long term lets and rentals include Benidorm, Calpe, Moraira, Javea, Alicante, Torrevieja and surrounding areas such as Cabo Roig, La Zenia, Playa Flamenca and Punta Prima.

For the Costa Brava look for long term property rentals in Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar. The islands of Spain also have many apartments and villas for long term rentals the most popular places being Ibiza, Lanzarote, Majorca (Mallorca), Canary Islands, Menorca and Tenerife.

PROBLEMS WITH LONG LETS OR LONG TERM RENTALS IN SPAIN

There is one major downside to a long term rental lets in Spain. After the year the tenant has the right to renew for up to five years and the landlord can only increase the rent by the annual rate of inflation. So what's the problem!

Well because the tenants have so many rights, after a year you will find many landlords will want you out and will get different tenants in. It means you have to move over and over again but the upside is you experience living in different types of houses in different areas of Spain.

In any case, after a year's long term property rental or long term let you probably have a better idea of where in Spain you would really like to live now - almost certainly it will be in a different area to the one you would have chosen before you moved to Spain.

Whether you are looking for a long term let on the Costa Blanca or a long term rental elsewhere in Spain we hope this information has been of help.

LONG TERM WINTER LETS IN SPAIN

If you are looking to escape the cold winter weather and temperatures in northern Europe then finding and locating a long-term winter rental in Spain is a great idea as the weather in wintertime is often mild and sunny. Also at this time of year many villas and apartments will be empty so you can find cheap bargain prices for winter lets in Spain. The Costa del Sol is a good choice for a long term winter rental because it has one of the best climates in Spain.