I want to rent my flat in Barcelona, what should I know?

If you have a property and you say "I want to rent my flat in Barcelona", you are in the right place, because we offer you all the information you need if you want to become a landlord.

You should know that the housing rent has grown in Spain in recent years, as more and more people are buying flats to rent as a way of making their wealth more profitable.

So, if you want to rent my flat in Barcelona, there may be several questions, especially those related to the procedures you have to do.

What formalities do I have to fulfil if I want to rent my flat in Barcelona

Barcelona is a thriving city, full of people who want to establish their businesses and their homes; in this sense, there are numerous expats in Barcelona who want to move and analyze the economic possibilities that the county offers them.

In fact, around 40% of those who buy a property in Barcelona do so to rent it. In view of such a situation, there are certain legal procedures that you should be aware of and comply with.

Energy certificate and certificate of occupancy

First of all, the law requires your apartment to have occupancy certificate y energy certificate.

The first one is a guarantee that your flat meets the minimum conditions for it to be inhabitable and intended for residential use. It is a certification that the house has water, energy, etc., basic elements for living, and that in addition its useful surface is of minimum 36^m2.

This is your responsibility.

The energy certificate, on the other hand, is valid for 10 years and has a classification ranging from A to G: the first is maximum efficiency, and the last is minimum.

When you want to rent your flat, it is convenient that you include this information in the notice, but in any case it is obligatory, and if you rent the flat without the certificate you can get a fine ranging from 300 to 6,000 euros.

In certain Autonomous Communities they also require a first occupation licence, issued by the local council to the housing developer, and they only give it out if the flat meets all the requirements set out in the building licence.

Documents I should ask the tenant for

According to the Urban Rentals Law (LAU), it is your obligation as a landlord to ask for a deposit equivalent to one month's rent. This is so that at the end of the contract you can undertake repair costs.

These repairs are those generated by the misuse of the floor by the tenant.

When you collect the deposit, you must deposit it with the corresponding regional body in Catalonia (INCASOL) and at the end of the contract, if you do not make use of it, you have to ask for a refund.

If you do not do so within the agreed period, you may face fines and sanctions, both administrative and civil.

The LAU states that you can also require additional guarantees, which can be a bank guarantee. When you ask for this guarantee, it usually covers between 6 and 12 months of rent.

Another additional guarantee is that the tenant will pay you several months in advance, usually 6. Bear in mind that both the guarantee and this advance payment can make it more difficult for you to rent your home.

It is certainly advisable to ask the tenant for his employment contract and last payslips, and if he is self-employed, his certificate of withholding.

Tenant's obligations

When you enter into a rental agreement, you should know the obligations of the tenant and his or her responsibilities for the expenses he or she must assume.

One of these expenses is the Property Transfer Tax (ITP ), which arises when a property is rented. This tax must be paid to the tax authorities within 30 working days from the date of the contract.

The amount varies according to the Autonomous Community, and is around 6 to 10% of the total rent to be paid during the rental contract.

The monthly payment of rent is another of the tenant's absolute obligations, and must be made within the period stipulated in the contract or, if it is not stated in the contract, on the first 5 days of each month.

Failure to pay rent will cause the tenant to default on payment, which will entitle you to file a lawsuit, so we recommend that you obtain an insurance policy to cover this eventuality.

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