The cash crunch in your first 30 days after getting the keys

Key rules

• Fianza: The legal deposit is one month's rent, paid on top of your first month's rent.
• Agency fees: The landlord pays agency and formalisation fees, so a clause charging them to you is not valid.
• Up-front budget: Plan for roughly two to four months of rent in cash before you move in.
• Internet: Internet contracts often tie you in for 12 months, with penalties for leaving early.

The bottom line

Most of your costs arrive in the same few weeks, and you may not have a Spanish income yet. Plan for roughly two to four months of rent in cash before you move in. The exact amount depends on the flat, the landlord and whether it is furnished.

What hits you at once

Deposit and first rent. You pay the fianza, which is one month's rent, plus the first month's rent. Some landlords also ask for an additional guarantee. By law this can be up to two months. Ask about it before you sign so it is in your budget.

Agency fees. The landlord pays agency and formalisation fees in a housing rental. A clause charging them to you is not valid, so do not pay them. The one grey area is a search agent you hired yourself to work only for you. That fee can be yours, so agree it in writing first.

Utilities. Electricity, gas, water and internet usually need no deposit, but they have upfront charges:

• Electricity and gas: a change of name is often cheap. A new connection or a change of power capacity carries regulated fees, often 50 to 150 euros in total.
• Water: some municipal suppliers ask for a small deposit, typically tens of euros, plus a contract fee.
• Internet: an installation or activation fee of 0 to 100 euros, often waived in promotions. Expect a minimum term, often 12 months, with penalties if you leave early.

Landlords commonly want the contracts in your name. You will need your NIE and a Spanish bank account for direct debit.

Furnishing. Many unfurnished flats have a kitchen but no white goods or lighting. A basic fit-out can run from a few thousand euros for a studio to considerably more for a family flat. Second-hand marketplaces can cut this a lot. Check current prices before you set your budget.

How to keep it manageable

• Add up the deposit, first rent and any extra guarantee before you sign.
• Buy only what you need on day one: a bed, basic kitchen items and lighting. Add the rest as cash allows.
• Ask each supplier for the full upfront cost before you agree.
• Compare internet contracts for the minimum term, not just the monthly price.

The timeline, documents, checklist and FAQ below cover the order of payments and what to bring. The week-by-week planner helps you spread the spending over your first 90 days.

Timeline and deadlines

• Pay the fianza (the legal deposit of one month's rent) and the first month's rent: when you sign the lease, before you get the keys

• Pay any additional guarantee the landlord asks for: when you sign the lease

• Set up electricity, gas and water in your name and pay connection fees: in your first days in the home

• Order internet and check the minimum term, often 12 months: in your first week, as installation can take time

• Have the full move-in budget ready, commonly two to four months of rent: before the keys change hands

Week-by-week cash plan for your first 90 days

The lowest point in your cash is usually weeks 5 and 6. By then the move-in payments are spent, the second month's rent is due, and your first salary has not yet landed. The plan below assumes you start work in week 1. If you start later, shift the income rows by the same number of weeks.

The plan

How to read it

• Your first salary usually arrives about four to six weeks after you start work. Most employers pay monthly, so you may wait until the end of your first month, or the first days of the next.
• Budget for two to four months of rent up front. That covers the fianza, the first month's rent, any extra guarantee, set-up costs and furniture. It does not cover living costs until pay arrives, so add at least six weeks of those on top.
• The extra guarantee is the cost to push back on. The law allows up to two months, and many landlords ask for less or none.
• Summer and December extras are separate. Some employers pay these as two bonus payments, and others spread them across the monthly pay. Check which applies in your contract, because it changes how big each payslip is.

If your cash runs short

• If the shortfall is small, ask the landlord whether the second month's rent can wait a few days until pay lands. Get that agreed in writing.
• Delay furniture and appliances before anything else. They are the easiest cost to move.
• Ask your employer whether an advance on your first pay is possible.

Documents you need

• Your NIE, the Spanish foreigner identification number, which utility suppliers need to open a contract in your name.

• A Spanish bank account number (IBAN), needed to set up direct debit for your utility and internet bills.

• Your signed rental contract, since landlords commonly ask for utility contracts to be in the tenant's name.

Checklist

• Add up the fianza, first month's rent and any additional guarantee before you sign.

• Check that the lease does not charge you agency or formalisation fees.

• Ask each utility supplier about connection fees and any water deposit.

• Check the minimum term and penalties before you sign an internet contract.

• List the furniture, white goods and lighting your flat lacks and price them.

• Compare second-hand options for furniture and appliances before buying new.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay a deposit to switch on electricity, water or internet?

Usually not for electricity, gas or internet, but water is the exception.

Can I cancel an internet contract if I move out early?

Not always for free, because internet contracts often include a minimum term of 12 months with penalties. Ask about the commitment before you sign. Look for promotions that waive the installation fee, which is usually 0 to 100 euros.

What if the agency asks me to pay its fee?

A clause making you pay the agency fee in a housing rental is not valid, because the landlord pays it. You can still pay for a search agent you hire only for yourself. If you are charged anyway, take it to your town hall's consumer office.

How much should I budget to furnish an empty flat?

Budget a few thousand euros for a studio and several thousand more for a family flat. Many unfurnished rentals have a kitchen but lack a fridge, washing machine and lighting.