The rental process

Searching for an apartment
Your real estate journey in Barcelona will start with finding the perfect place just for you. If you need any help narrowing down your options, come and visit us in our office to talk through your options and we will help with the rest.
You’ll be able to choose from the hundreds of properties in the heart of Barcelona and visit any apartment that takes your fancy with a rental agent who will work directly with you throughout the process. They will be contactable via phone or email throughout the working day and in the evenings to answer any of your questions and to help wherever they can.
You've found an apartment. What next?
If you have found an apartment that you would like to rent, the first thing is to pay the agency fee* to Casamona International so that we no longer publish the property and stop showing it to other prospective clients.
This also is the point at which we open discussions with the property's owner. An owner will ask to see your documents to assess your profile, and so we recommend that at this point you have these at hand as you will have 2 business days to supply all the necessary information. For those in employment, these documents tend to include a bank statement that shows your financial situation and proves that you could pay rent, and a job contract.
For students, it is advisable that you have a letter of enrollment from your current university, and proof of sufficient financial support from a family member or entity that could take care of the monthly rent. If you need to have a guarantor, then you should also make sure to have their documentation. It is important that you supply all this information as quickly as possible to ensure the best chance of securing the apartment.
* The agency fee is typically equivalent to 1 month's rent (+21% IVA) for contracts up to 11 months or an amount equivalent to 10% of 1 year's rent for contracts from 12 months to 3 years.
1. B. Please note that the agency fee is used as an assurance to both Casamona International and the owner that you are interested in a property. It is therefore non-refundable if you decide that you no longer want the apartment or if you do not like the apartment having rented it without visiting. It is, however, refundable if the owner decides not to rent it to you.
Time for the contract
Great news – the owner has accepted you and we can begin the contract process! At this stage, you will not be required to do much as Casamona International will sort everything out for you. We will contact the owner to make a note of their requirements, and then start writing up a contract.
You will be sent a copy of the contract to check before you are expected to sign it so that we can negotiate any requests or alterations you may have with the owner. You have the option to sign the contract as soon as both parties have agreed to it, or else on the day that you move into the apartment. Casamona International recommends the former option.
The deposit
Upon signing the contract, you will be required to pay the first month's rent and the property deposit (1-2 month's rent depending on the owner) directly to the owner. It is important to pay these as soon as possible, as if the money is not received within 48 hours of the contract being signed, you will be in breach of contract and it will be nullified.
1. B. Please note that the deposit is paid directly to the owner. Casamona International does not handle this money and is no way involved with its return. The owner is responsible for this money and all monthly rent.
Check-in
After the contract has been signed and all payments have been completed, you Casamona International rental agent will help you check into your new apartment. They will assist you in inspecting the property and, if necessary, take notes of any flaws or defects which they will consequently inform the owner about. You will also be given the owner's contact information so that you can contact them directly in the future.
Then you are ready to move into your new home!
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We remind all customers of the following:

The ITP Tax
The ITP is a government tax on all property rentals which must be paid within 30 days of signing the contract. The ITP is 0.5% of the total rent for the full term of your contract.
To pay the tax, you will, first of all, have to fill out the Modelo 600 form which you can download here. You are also able to download some instructions to help you out in the process. You should then take this form to the bank where they will stamp and validate the papers and you can then pay the tax. A list of the banks at which you can pay can be found here. There is no need to present a copy of the rental contract at this stage provided that you submit it to the Catalan Land Institute (INCASÒL) within 2 months of signing the contract. It is necessary to present both an original and a copy of the rental contract either in person or, if you have done the procedure online, as a scanned copy.
For more information you can take a look at the government website, however, this is only available in Catalan and Spanish so have a friend handy who can help you translate if needed.
NIE
You will also need to have your NIE, and the application process for this can take a while. Fortunately for you, we have written a handy guide to getting your NIE in Barcelona to help you out!

FAQ's

Why do I have to pay an agency fee?
The agency fee is primarily so that we take the property off our systems and stop showing it to our other clients. Paying it, and not renting privately elsewhere, also means that you are covered under Casamona International’s insurance which is invaluable if you are exposed to fraud. We ensure a high level of security and only work with owners and properties that meet our high criteria. We will also work with you throughout the process and create a tailored contract to suit your needs.
What if there is something wrong with the apartment?
If you have any issues with your apartment, you have up to 10 days from the day you check-in to report these to Casamona International who will deal directly to the owner. In this period, the owner will be obliged to fix these issues without any cost to the tenant provided the damage was not caused by the latter. After this 10 day period, all issues are communicated by the tenant directly to the owner and Casamona International is not responsible for resolving these issues.
How do I pay my bills?
There are three ways to pay your monthly bills:
- The owner keeps the bills in their name and you transfer them the appropriate amount each month.
- The owner keeps the bills in their name but your bank information will be linked to them so that you charged directly.
- The owner puts your details on the bills so that you pay the bills directly.
It is the owner's decision which of these three systems they wish to use.
How do I get my deposit back?
It is a legal requirement for property owners to return the deposit to the tenant within 30 days of the end of the contract. If there are any issues or problems with the apartment that there were not when the tenant moved in, the costs for resolving them will be deducted from this deposit. Casamona International does not hold the deposit and we are not responsible for its return.
What if the owner does not want to pay me my deposit back?
It is within your legal rights to sue the owner for the money you are owed if you consider it to be unfair that your deposit, or part of it, has not been returned. Casamona International is not responsible for the return of the deposit, however, we can recommend you legal advice for you to take on at your own cost.
For any rental contract, unless stated otherwise in your contract, you must stay in the property for the first 6 months of your tenancy agreement. After this period you are allowed to cancel your contract by giving the owner one month's notice.
What if I want to extend my contract?
If your contract was for 11 months or less, you need to give the owner two month's notice and you must obtain their approval before your contract can be renewed.
If your contract was long-term (over 12 months) you are legally allowed to extend it up to a maximum of 3 years without requiring the owner's prior agreement. If you would like to extend your contract beyond these 3 years, you will need to apply for a new contract with the owner.
Any other questions please feel free to email us at info@casamona.com.

The rental process

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