Temporary housing for your situation

It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. It covers solo, family, pet, step-free and remote-work stays, plus housing from an employer or university and staying with friends or relatives.

Start with "Temporary housing when you arrive alone". It sets out the basics of short-term stays and what to ask before you book. Then move to the article that matches your situation.

Some situations have their own versions:

• If you are moving with children, read "Temporary housing with children: what changes".
• If someone in your household needs step-free access, read "Step-free temporary housing: what to confirm in writing".
• If you have both children and access needs, read "Temporary housing with children and access needs: what changes".

Key rules

• Door width: Accessible doors and lift doors in Spain need a clear width of at least 80 cm.
• Lift cabin: An accessible lift cabin must be at least 1.00 m wide.
• Registration number: Since 1 July 2025, short-term and seasonal rentals must have a registration number from the national registry displayed in every listing.
• Subletting: You must get the landlord's prior written consent to sublet part of the dwelling or assign the lease, or the landlord may terminate it.
• Seasonal lets: Seasonal leases for non-habitual uses such as work, study, medical treatment or holiday are governed by your agreement and general civil law, not residential tenant protections.

Temporary housing for your situation: the whole process, step by step

• Pick the bridge format that fits your household (Temporary housing when you arrive alone, or Temporary housing for a couple or family with children): Before you travel

• Check what your employer or university provides and when it ends (What to check when your employer or university provides housing): Before you book anything else: relocation housing usually lasts 1–3 months, or 6–12 months for assignments; university housing runs September to June or July

• Book a short stay that matches the minimum stay: one night in a hostel or hotel, about one month in coliving, one to three months in a shared-flat room: Before arrival, ahead of September and January when availability is tightest

• If you need step-free access, confirm measurements and photos in writing before you pay (Step-free temporary housing: what to confirm in writing): Before booking

• For a seasonal flat or tourist flat, check the contract terms and the registration number in the listing (Temporary housing for a couple or family with children): Before you sign or pay; the registration number has been required in every listing since 1 July 2025

• Get a stable address for school applications (Temporary housing with children: what changes): Public school applications run March–May; late arrivals can apply all year, so aim to have an address as early as possible before September

• Plan your move out of the bridge stay: From the first week; coliving usually needs 15–30 days' notice, and job-linked housing ends with the job after a notice period of days to a few weeks

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• Copy of your employer's ID/CIF — What to check when your employer or university provides housing
• Your passport — Staying with friends or relatives while you settle
• The town hall's completed padrón registration form — Staying with friends or relatives while you settle

Income and work

• Written authorization from your employer — What to check when your employer or university provides housing

The home and the lease

• Registration number from the national rental registry — Temporary housing for a couple or family with children
• Proof of address for school applications — Temporary housing for a couple or family with children
• Housing contract or housing agreement — What to check when your employer or university provides housing

Other documents

• A video walk-through from the street to the bathroom — Finding step-free temporary housing in Spain's older buildings, Step-free temporary housing: what to confirm in writing
• The host's written list of measured figures for the route — Finding step-free temporary housing in Spain's older buildings, Step-free temporary housing: what to confirm in writing
• Habitability certificate — Temporary housing for a couple or family with children
• Dated photos from the host — Finding step-free temporary housing in Spain's older buildings
• A signed authorization from the owner or main tenant allowing you to register — Staying with friends or relatives while you settle

Each article lists the other documents it asks for, where you need them.

Temporary housing for your situation: questions that cross several articles

Does a short rental give me the same protections as a normal lease?

Usually not: Seasonal leases for work, study or similar reasons are governed by your agreement and general civil law, not residential tenant protections. Coliving and residences with services are often treated as service contracts. Read Temporary housing when you arrive alone and Temporary housing for a couple or family with children.

What does a bridge stay cost per month?

As a rough guide, a shared-flat room is €450–700 in Madrid and Barcelona, €300–450 in Valencia and about €300–400 in Sevilla. Coliving is about €700–1,300 in Madrid and Barcelona, usually with bills included. Student residences are similar in the big cities. See Temporary housing when you arrive alone.

How many people can sleep in one hotel room or tourist flat?

There is no national limit on how many people can sleep in one room or flat. A hotel family room typically fits 3–4 people, and a tourist flat's capacity is fixed by its registration and cannot lawfully be exceeded. Confirm the licensed capacity before booking. See Temporary housing for a couple or family with children and Temporary housing with children: what changes.

What should I ask for if someone in my group has reduced mobility?

Ask for measured figures in writing, not labels like 'accessible', plus dated photos with a tape measure and a video walk-through from street to bathroom. This matters for any stay type. Read Step-free temporary housing: what to confirm in writing and Temporary housing with children and access needs: what changes.