Moving to the Costa Blanca is one of the best decisions you can make, but the Spanish rental process works differently from what most expats are used to. This guide walks you through the whole journey, from your first enquiry to the day you collect the keys.
Step one: get your NIE
The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is your Spanish foreigner identification number, and you will need it for almost everything: signing a rental contract, opening a bank account, setting up utilities. You can apply at a national police station in Spain or at a Spanish consulate before you travel. Allow two to four weeks and start early, because most landlords will not sign without it.
The documents landlords expect
Spanish landlords want to see that you can comfortably afford the rent. Prepare a small dossier before you start viewing:
- Passport and NIE (or proof that your NIE is in progress)
- Proof of income: recent payslips and an employment contract if you are employed, or your last tax return and quarterly declarations if you are self-employed
- Pension statements if you are retired (a very common and welcome profile on the Costa Blanca)
- A recent bank statement
At Spanish Casa we review your file before presenting it to the landlord, which is why our applications are approved quickly.
The deposit: what the law actually says
Under article 36 of the Spanish Urban Leases Act (LAU 29/1994), the legal deposit (fianza) for a long-term home rental is exactly one month of rent. The landlord must deposit it with the regional housing authority: in our region, the Generalitat Valenciana. On top of the fianza, the law allows an additional guarantee of up to two extra months for long-term contracts. Anything beyond that is not compliant, so treat it as a red flag.
Good news: no agency fees for tenants
Since Spain's Housing Act (Ley 12/2023) came into force, real estate agency fees for rentals are paid by the landlord, not the tenant. If an agency asks you for a month of commission for a long-term rental, they are ignoring the law. With Spanish Casa you will never pay a tenant commission.
Your rights once you sign
Long-term contracts under the LAU give you strong protection: you can stay up to five years (seven if the landlord is a company) through the mandatory extension system, even if the initial contract says twelve months. Rent updates during that period are limited by law.
Ready to start?
Browse our verified listings in Jávea, Dénia, Moraira, Calpe, Altea and Benissa, prepare your documents, and apply online. Our bilingual team handles the rest, in English or Spanish, whichever you prefer.