Tenant unions and free advice for renters

Key rules

• Tenant unions: You can usually join a tenant union whatever your nationality or papers, but each union sets its own rules.
• Cost: Tenant unions charge small member fees, and initial advice is typically free.
• OMIC: An OMIC often will not take disputes with a private landlord, but may help with agencies or professional landlords.
• Court: None of these groups normally represents you in court.

Who can help you

Three kinds of organisation give cheap or free expert help to tenants: tenant unions, town hall offices, and consumer associations. Start with a tenant union or your town hall's housing office. Use a consumer association mainly for problems with agencies or companies. The directory below lists them by city.

Tenant unions

Tenant unions are non-profit, grassroots groups run by tenants. They exist in Barcelona and Catalonia, Madrid, Valencia, Málaga, Sevilla, Zaragoza, Palma, Granada, the Canary Islands and the Basque Country, among other places. Many are linked through a national federation. Names and structures vary, so search for "sindicato de inquilinas" plus your city.

Who can join. You do not normally need Spanish nationality or full residency papers. You usually need to be a tenant, or affected by a housing problem, and to accept the union's principles. Some unions also take supporters who are not tenants. Each union sets its own rules, so ask the local one.

What it costs. Membership is funded by contributions. Expect a small fee, often a few euros a month, or around 5 to 10 euros a month, or an annual amount. Fees vary by union. Initial advice and assemblies are typically free. Some unions give individual advice only to members, or ask you to attend a first meeting.

What you get. Advice, group negotiation with landlords and organised campaigns. Court representation is normally not included, though a union may put you in touch with lawyers.

Town hall offices

Many city councils run housing advice offices. They give free guidance on leases, rent, deposits, aid and evictions, and sometimes mediation. They are generally open to anyone living in the municipality, whatever their nationality. Some services ask you to be registered at the town hall (empadronamiento), so check this before you go.

Your town hall's consumer office (OMIC) handles consumer information and complaints against businesses. A rental between two private individuals is generally not a consumer relationship, so an OMIC often will not take a dispute with a private landlord. It may still advise on agency fees or a professional landlord. Scope varies by council.

Consumer associations

FACUA and OCU are consumer associations. They advise members on deposits, agency fees, contract clauses and utilities, and can help with complaints against agencies or companies. Their help is more limited when your landlord is a private person. Membership is paid, with an annual fee. Court action is limited and usually only for selected cases or members. They are best if your problem is with an agency, a professional landlord or a utility company.

Which to try first

• Problem with a private landlord: your local tenant union, then the town hall housing office.
• Problem with an agency or company: the OMIC, or FACUA or OCU.
• Not sure: the town hall housing office is free and will point you on.

Tenant advice offices and unions by city

• Sindicat de Llogateres: Join or ask for help with a rental problem in Barcelona and Catalonia. Initial advice and assemblies are usually free, and membership is a small fee. Works in Catalan and Spanish, with some help in English and other languages.

• Oficines d'Habitatge (Barcelona city council): Get free guidance on leases, rent, deposits, aid and evictions. Open to anyone in the municipality whatever their nationality, though some services need empadronamiento (registration at the town hall). Interpretation for immigrants is available through the city's SAIER service.

• Sindicato de Inquilinas e Inquilinos de Madrid: Ask for advice and join collective action on rent problems in Madrid. Membership is usually a few euros a month, and each union sets its own fee.

• Madrid city council housing services: Ask for free guidance on your lease and housing questions. Some city immigrant-advice services in Madrid offer English or other languages.

• Sindicato de Inquilinas de Valencia: Contact the union for advice and collective support in València. The city council's housing service and its immigrant-advice service can also help, with some English or other languages.

• Sindicato de Inquilinas de Málaga, Sevilla, Zaragoza, Palma, Granada or Canarias: Search the union name plus your city to find its website or social media.

• Etxebizitza Sindikatua and Bilbao city housing services: Ask for tenant advice in Bilbao, Bizkaia and the Basque Country. The city council also runs a housing advice service for leases, rent and deposits.

• Your town hall's consumer office (OMIC): Go here for agency fees or a professional landlord. A rental between private individuals is generally not a consumer matter, so most landlord disputes are not handled here.

• Cruz Roja, CEAR, ACCEM and Provivienda: Ask these charities for housing help if you are a migrant. Some offer support in languages other than Spanish.

• Your ayuntamiento's housing office: If your city is not listed, search the town hall website for vivienda, oficina de vivienda or servicios sociales, then call or book an appointment.

• Your region's housing department (consejería de vivienda): Ask about rental mediation, the deposit (fianza) registry and advice lines. Search in the local language.

• Local Colegio de Abogados: Ask about free legal aid (justicia gratuita) and its orientation service. Union membership usually does not include a lawyer in court, though unions may connect you with one.

• Local PAH branch or neighbourhood housing group: Look for a Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca branch or a neighbourhood housing group, which often advise tenants too.

Union names, fees and language support change often, so confirm them with the body itself before you rely on them.

Frequently asked questions

Can I join a tenant union if I am a foreigner or don't have full papers?

Usually yes: Tenant unions are grassroots groups that generally do not ask for Spanish nationality or a residency status. You normally need to be a tenant or have a housing problem and accept the union's principles. Some also accept supporters who are not tenants.

How much does a tenant union cost?

A tenant union costs little, and first advice and assemblies are typically free.

Will my town hall's consumer office handle a dispute with my landlord?

Usually not, because renting from a private person is generally not a consumer relationship. The consumer office (OMIC) is more useful for agency fees or a professional landlord. For leases, rent, deposits and evictions, try your council's housing advice office instead.

Is it worth paying for FACUA or OCU membership as a tenant?

Yes, if you deal with an agency or professional landlord, but less so with a private landlord.