I can ask about a rental apartment from an ad — the price, the deposit, furniture, and terms — arrange a viewing, and sign the contract.
Renting an apartment in Spain
Calling about an ad: what people ask
Three steps: ask about the price and terms, arrange a viewing, sign the contract.
Price. You ask: ¿Cuánto es el alquiler? The answer is an amount plus al mes: Son setecientos euros al mes. The usual phrase is al mes.
Extra costs. la fianza is the security deposit, usually one month's rent. los gastos (water, electricity, internet) may be included in the price; then you say: Los gastos están incluidos. For one item: El agua no está incluida.
Furniture. un piso amueblado — furnished; un piso sin amueblar — unfurnished.
House rules are impersonal, with se: ¿Se admiten mascotas? — Sí, se admiten perros pequeños. Obligation and prohibition: hay que and no se puede (see the table).
Viewing and contract. Soften the request: Me gustaría ver el piso esta tarde. You sign at the agency or with the landlord: Firmamos el contrato el día uno.
To explain a word you don't know, use que: Es una cosa que sirve para subir a casa (el ascensor). To ask what something is for: ¿Para qué sirve esto? The same que describes what you're looking for, right after the noun.
Common mistakes:
• NOT “El piso tiene amueblado” — correct: El piso está amueblado.
• NOT “Los gastos son incluidos” — correct: Los gastos están incluidos.
• NOT “¿Se admite mascotas?” — correct: ¿Se admiten mascotas?
What to ask the landlord
Five questions you must ask before renting an apartment.
| About | Word | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| price | el alquiler | how much you pay each month |
| deposit | la fianza | money up front, usually one month's rent |
| utilities | los gastos | water, electricity, internet |
| furniture | amueblado · sin amueblar | furnished or not |
| pets | ¿Se admiten mascotas? | whether pets are allowed |
hay que · se puede · no se puede
House rules are stated impersonally: it doesn't matter who.
| Form | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| hay que | necessary, required | Hay que llamar antes. |
| se puede | allowed | Se puede ver el piso hoy. |
| no se puede | not allowed | No se puede pagar más tarde. |
Lesson notes
Calling about an ad: what people ask
Three steps: ask about the price and terms, arrange a viewing, sign the contract.
Price. You ask: ¿Cuánto es el alquiler? The answer is an amount plus al mes: Son setecientos euros al mes. The usual phrase is al mes.
Extra costs. la fianza is the security deposit, usually one month's rent. los gastos (water, electricity, internet) may be included in the price; then you say: Los gastos están incluidos. For one item: El agua no está incluida.
Furniture. un piso amueblado — furnished; un piso sin amueblar — unfurnished.
House rules are impersonal, with se: ¿Se admiten mascotas? — Sí, se admiten perros pequeños. Obligation and prohibition: hay que and no se puede (see the table).
Viewing and contract. Soften the request: Me gustaría ver el piso esta tarde. You sign at the agency or with the landlord: Firmamos el contrato el día uno.
To explain a word you don't know, use que: Es una cosa que sirve para subir a casa (el ascensor). To ask what something is for: ¿Para qué sirve esto? The same que describes what you're looking for, right after the noun.
Common mistakes:
• NOT “El piso tiene amueblado” — correct: El piso está amueblado.
• NOT “Los gastos son incluidos” — correct: Los gastos están incluidos.
• NOT “¿Se admite mascotas?” — correct: ¿Se admiten mascotas?