How to equip an unfurnished Spanish flat: what is usually missing

Terms used

• Amueblado — Amueblado means furnished: furniture and usually a fitted kitchen with appliances, ready to move in.
• Semiamueblado — Semiamueblado means partly furnished, usually with kitchen units and some appliances but little other furniture.
• Sin amueblar — Sin amueblar means unfurnished: an empty flat, sometimes without a kitchen.
• Armarios empotrados — Armarios empotrados are wardrobes built into the walls of the flat.
• Persianas — Persianas are the roller blinds built into the window frames of most Spanish flats.

Key rules

• Listing labels: The words amueblado, semiamueblado and sin amueblar have no legal definition, so trust the photos and inventory, not the label.
• Appliances: Do not assume a fridge, washing machine or oven is included; many unfurnished flats leave them out.
• Lighting: Many flats have only bare bulb holders, so buy bulbs and lamps in week one.
• Negotiation: What the landlord includes is negotiable, so agree it in writing before you sign.

What an unfurnished flat usually has

Expect an almost empty flat. You will usually get walls, floors, bathroom fittings and built-in wardrobes (armarios empotrados). Blinds (persianas) are normally built in. The water heater or boiler is part of the property, and so are radiators or air-conditioning units in many flats.

Kitchens are often fitted with units, a worktop, a sink and a hob with extractor. Appliances such as a fridge, washing machine, oven and dishwasher are often left out, though some landlords include a few. A flat listed as unfurnished can even come with no kitchen at all.

Curtains, lamps and furniture are normally not included. Many flats have only bare bulb holders, or none.

Everything is negotiable. Ask the landlord before signing whether they will leave any appliances or lamps.

How listings describe furnishing

The labels are not legally defined, so the same word can mean different things. Check the photos and the contract inventory for each flat.

• Amueblado: furnished. Usually furniture, a fitted kitchen with appliances, and often beds, a sofa and a table.
• Semiamueblado: partly furnished. Usually kitchen units and some appliances, perhaps wardrobes, but little or no other furniture.
• Sin amueblar: unfurnished. Empty, and sometimes without a kitchen.

Get in writing exactly what is included. The inventory attached to your contract is the place for that.

Differences between places

Differences are commonly reported, but there is no official data on them. In big cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, an unfurnished flat more often has a fitted kitchen, sometimes without appliances. In hot regions such as Andalusia, Murcia, Valencia and the Balearics, air-conditioning units are common. In colder inland areas, radiators or central heating are more usual. Missing lighting is common everywhere.

What to buy in week one

Buy in this order, so you can sleep and wash from the first night:

1. A bed or mattress, pillows and bed linen.
2. Towels, toiletries and toilet paper.
3. Light bulbs and lamps.
4. Basic kitchen items (kettle, pans, plates, cutlery, glasses, a knife) and cleaning supplies.
5. A fridge and a washing machine, if the flat has none.
6. An extension strip and plug adaptors.
7. Curtains or blinds for privacy, if needed.

A table, chairs and a sofa can wait.

Also check that electricity, gas and water are in your name. Order internet straight away, because installation can take days or weeks.

The timeline below shows what to buy after week one. The checklist below goes room by room.

Before you move in

Take dated photos of the kitchen, fittings and appliances on the day you arrive. They show what was there and in what state.

Furnishing timeline: week-one essentials to month three

Furnishing plan, week one to month three

• Buy bedding, towels, kitchen basics and cleaning items, and check electricity, water, gas and internet work: in week 1

• Order fibre internet and any missing utility contracts in your name: in week 1, as fibre installation often takes 1 to 3 weeks

• Buy a fridge, washing machine and cooker if the flat lacks them: in weeks 2 to 3; stocked appliances usually arrive within 24 to 72 hours in cities

• Buy a mattress and basic beds, plus a desk if you work from home: in weeks 2 to 3

• Confirm your floor and whether there is a lift when you order bulky items, and ask if delivery upstairs and installation cost extra: when you place each order

• Order sofas, wardrobes and other main furniture, and book assembly: in weeks 3 to 6, as they can take 2 to 6 weeks to arrive

• Order made-to-order sofas, kitchens or custom pieces: as early as possible, as they can take several weeks to a few months

• Buy decor, rugs, curtains, secondary furniture and air conditioning or heating: in weeks 6 to 12

• Book heating or air-conditioning installation: before the summer heat and winter cold, when installers are busiest

• Allow extra time for deliveries and trades: in August, which is slow

Documents you need

• The inventory attached to your rental contract, listing every fitting and appliance the landlord includes, such as kitchen units, fridge, washing machine, oven, lamps and curtains. The landlord normally provides it, and you should ask for it before you sign.

• Dated photos of the flat's kitchen, fittings and appliances, taken at move-in, to show what was there. You take them yourself.

Check the inventory and photos for each flat, since what is included varies by landlord.

Room-by-room checklist for equipping a Spanish home

What to buy, room by room

• Check the contract inventory and photos to see which appliances, lamps and curtains the landlord includes before you buy anything

• Buy a bed or mattress, pillows and bed linen for the bedroom

• Buy curtains or blinds for privacy in bedrooms and living areas, if the flat has none

• Buy towels, toiletries and toilet paper for the bathroom

• Buy light bulbs and lamps for every room, since many flats have only bare bulb holders or none

• Buy a fridge and a washing machine if the kitchen does not include them

• Buy an oven if the kitchen has only a hob and extractor

• Buy pans, a larger pot, a pressure cooker (olla a presión), a baking tray, plates, bowls, glasses, cups and cutlery

• Buy a chopping board, knives, a peeler, spatulas, a colander and food containers

• Buy small appliances: a kettle, toaster, microwave, hand blender and a coffee maker such as a moka pot

• Buy tea towels, cleaning supplies and a rubbish bin

• Buy an extension strip and plug adaptors for the living area

• Buy a table, chairs and a sofa once you have settled in

Frequently asked questions

What does semiamueblado mean in a listing?

Semiamueblado means partly furnished, usually with kitchen units, some appliances and perhaps wardrobes, but little other furniture. The term has no legal definition, so the extent varies. Ask for the inventory and photos in writing before you sign.

Can an unfurnished flat come without a kitchen?

Yes, a flat listed as sin amueblar can sometimes have no kitchen at all, though many have units, a worktop, a sink and a hob. Where there is a kitchen, the fridge, washing machine, oven and dishwasher are often missing. Check the listing photos and ask the landlord which appliances stay.

Do unfurnished flats differ by region in what they include?

Yes, a little: air-conditioning units are common in hot regions such as Andalusia, Murcia, Valencia and the Balearics, while radiators or central heating are more usual in colder inland areas. In big cities like Madrid and Barcelona, a fitted kitchen without appliances is more common. These are general patterns, so confirm each flat.

Does the landlord usually provide lamps and curtains in an unfurnished flat?

No, lamps and curtains are normally not provided, and many flats have only bare bulb holders or none. Built-in blinds (persianas) and built-in wardrobes are usually part of the flat. Buy bulbs and lamps in week one, and add curtains if you want more privacy.