Spanish for arranging and attending a flat viewing

Terms used

• Derramas — Derramas are extra one-off charges the building's owners are asked to pay, for example for repairs.
• IBI — The IBI is the yearly local property tax. Check whether the owner or you pay it.
• Climalit — Climalit means double-glazed windows, which keep out noise and cold.
• Comunidad — The comunidad is the building's community fee, paid for shared costs such as stairs, lift and cleaning.

Key rules

• First message: Keep it short and in Spanish, with the flat's reference or street and your availability.
• Community fee: Ask whether it is included in the rent and get the answer written in the contract.
• Utilities: Water, electricity, gas and internet are usually separate from the rent.
• Speed: Reply quickly, because good rentals go within days.

Send a short first message in Spanish

Keep it brief and polite. Name the flat, say you want to see it, and give your availability.

Hola, buenos días. Me interesa el piso con referencia [número] en [calle]. ¿Podría visitarlo? Estoy disponible [días y horas]. Seríamos [número] personas y queremos entrar el [fecha]. Trabajo en [empresa] con contrato [indefinido/temporal]. Gracias.

Useful phrases for the conversation:

• "¿Cuándo se puede visitar?" means "When can it be viewed?"
• "Tengo que cambiar la hora, lo siento." means "I need to change the time, sorry."

Then confirm the day, time and address in writing. Reply fast. Good flats go within days.

Which channel to use

Use the contact form on the listing, a phone call or WhatsApp. Agencies often answer by phone or WhatsApp and book a slot. Private owners usually prefer phone or WhatsApp. With owners and agents, use the formal "usted".

Read the listing abbreviations

• hab. or dorm.: bedrooms. baños: bathrooms. m²: square metres.
• ref.: listing reference. ppal.: main. pta. or planta: floor.
• bajo: ground floor. ático: top-floor flat.
• amueblado: furnished. sin amueblar: unfurnished. reformado: renovated.
• exterior: faces the street. interior: faces a courtyard.
• calef.: heating. A/A: air conditioning.
• ascensor: lift. trastero: storage room. plaza de garaje: parking space.

Questions to ask at the viewing

Heating and comfort

• "¿Qué tipo de calefacción tiene? ¿Es central, de gas natural, eléctrica, de butano o aerotermia?"
• "¿Los radiadores funcionan y cuándo se revisó la caldera?"
• "¿Qué calificación energética tiene?"
• "¿Las ventanas son de doble cristal (climalit)?"

Noise and light

• "¿Hay mucho ruido de la calle, de bares o de los vecinos?"
• "¿A qué orientación da?"

Bills

• "¿Cuánto se paga de luz, gas y agua al mes de media?"
• "¿Los suministros están a nombre del propietario o hay que hacer el cambio de titular?"

Fees and extras

• "¿Cuánto es la comunidad y está incluida en el alquiler?"
• "¿Hay derramas previstas o pendientes?"
• "¿Se paga el IBI o la basura aparte?"
• "¿Hay ascensor, portero o internet de fibra?"

The community fee is normally the owner's cost unless the contract says the tenant pays. Whether it is in the rent varies by listing. Ask for the answer to be written in the contract. Water, electricity, gas and internet are usually paid separately.

After the viewing

Agents may ask for your documents afterwards. The list is below.

Documents you need

• Recent payslips (nóminas) to show your income; agents may ask for them after the viewing.

• Your employment contract; agents may ask for it after the viewing.

• Your ID; agents may ask for it after the viewing.

Checklist

• Write a short first message in Spanish with the listing reference or street, your availability, number of occupants and move-in date.

• Send it through the portal, by phone or on WhatsApp, and reply quickly to any answer.

• Ask what heating the flat has: central, natural gas, electric, butane or aerotermia.

• Ask for the energy certificate rating and check whether the windows are double glazed (climalit).

• Ask about noise from the street, bars and neighbours, and whether the flat faces the street or a courtyard.

• Ask how much electricity, gas and water cost per month on average, and whether the supplies are in the owner's name.

• Ask how much the community fee is and whether it is included in the rent.

• Ask whether any extra charges (derramas) are planned or pending, and whether you pay the IBI property tax or rubbish charge separately.

• Ask for the answers on community fees and utilities to be written in the contract.

Frequently asked questions

Are community fees included in the rent?

Community fees (gastos de comunidad) are included in the rent only if the listing or contract says so.

Which channel should I use to ask for a viewing?

Use the portal's message form, a phone call or WhatsApp, depending on who advertises the flat. Agencies often answer by phone or WhatsApp and book a slot, and private owners prefer phone or WhatsApp. Reply quickly, since good rentals go within days.

What should my first message to an agency include?

Your first message should be short, in Spanish, and give the property reference or street, your availability and your move-in date. Add the number of occupants and a brief profile with your job, income and contract type.