Finding accommodation

Once you leave your summer residence by the end of September you will have to find an accommodation for your stay. It may sound difficult because you do not know the city, but all your mates have done it before, also Spaniards coming from other provinces and Erasmus students from other European countries. It will reinforce your experience living abroad. Finding a place is all about patience and persistence, but you have a whole month to look while you are in the summer residence, that fortunately is located really close to the city center, in a nice neighbourhood (barrio) to live: Chamberí. Furthermore, you will have available a student living in the summer residence to help you with all this matters and to give you tips and advices to look for the best option for you to live. He or she will be your assigned monitor during your stay in the residence in this month.

The cheapest option is a shared apartment (piso compartido), which may start around €300/month. Usually, when looking for a room in a shared apartment, you may not meet the landlord but your potential roommates that show you around and explain all issues related to living there.

A room in a shared apartment is the option EAP program recommends because it is a great opportunity to meet Spaniards, integrate in their living and learn and practice much deeper the language.

Other options include staying with a family or in a pension or residencia.

To find your perfect room you may need a lot of calls and walk, not only because you will want to see it but also because landlords like to meet tenants before signing a contract. Take some time to write down the questions you want to ask in advance when you call. Some preparation might save you some trips to see apartments that are very different from what you want.

If you require your living arrangements to be organized with no effort, you can use an apartment rental service. There are many agencias inmobiliarias (real state agencies) in every neighbourhood. This is an expensive alternative that we do not recommend. A real estate agency advertised in newspapers or magazines could be unreliable, so do not pay anything until they find you an apartment.

Anyway, the Complutense University has launched a new service that acts as an intermediate between students and owners that it is very helpful. See the information below. 

THREE WAYS WE RECOMEND TO FIND AN APPARTMENT

Casa del estudiante UCM (Student House): 
New this year the Complutense University has launched a student’s accommodation office that offers free service for students of Complutense University. You can get all information you want related to find an accommodation or even receive personal advice directly in the office and also through the email: alojamientoenlaucm@rect.ucm.es.

The office is located in the Vicechancellor of Students building, next to the metro station of Ciudad Universitaria, in Moncloa Campus.

There is a service carried out by this office that helps finding accommodation to students from abroad Madrid. Fill up the application form available in the web page, if there is space available, the office will send an email with a concrete offer and all information on it (address, zone map, map of the house, booking procedure...). Incomplete applications will not be accepted. The dates of entry and exit must indicate day, month and year. With the filling, the applicant agrees with the above established and is committed to communicate any changes to the data written down in the application. The Complutense office is not responsible of your behaviour in the apartment or any misunderstood between owner and tenant.

You can also use the discussion forum of this web page to get in contact with other students that are looking for an apartment or that have a room available in theirs.


Walking: 
If you have already chose your desired neighbourhood to live (there is a neighbourhood guide in another entry in this blog), walk around its streets to look on the main building entrance or windows for an orange or simply a sheet of paper se aquila (for rent) sign. If a sign says "razón portería/portero", then you should enquire with the concierge/caretaker about it. For large buildings, it might be worth talking to the concierge (portero or conserje); if you ask nicely, they might know if people are moving out and put you in contact with the owners. Check out the bulletin boards at the local language schools, universities, different kind of stores (tobacco shops, supermarkets…) and also posters in the street and lampposts.


Internet: 
Check on the Internet for a room to share. It is probably one of the best and easiest ways. The best web pages are:
www.idealista.com
www.segundamano.es

Some thing you need to know before signing the contract

Contract: A typical contract runs for one year. Be sure to read the contract carefully and ensure everything is clear. If the contract specifies inventory (dishes, linen, etc.), make sure the items are there. In addition, check that all electrical appliances and utilities are in working order. Don't take a verbal guarantee that defective items will be fixed later, get it written down in the contract or done now.

Utilities/gastos de comunidad: Depending on the landlord, utility expenses and community fees ( gastos de la comunidad) may or may not be included in the rent. Usually they are included in the price. Just be sure to ask which items you will have to pay for individually (in particular, heating can be a rather large expense if it is not central heating included in the community fees)

Expenses not included in the price: electricity, natural gas or any other kind, Internet, telephone (normally student apartments do not have telephone). Electric heating is very expensive. In this case it will be included in the electricity bill.  Same case if gas heating.

Deposit: It is common when you rent a room that the owner asks for a deposit ( fianza)  corresponding to a monthly payment. Make clear with the owner how it is going to be the refund of this deposit. Naturally, it is preferable to get any additional agreement in writing. Always ask for the bill of everything you pay (deposit, monthly payment, etc.)

If you decide to change apartment, you have to notify one month in advance or you will have to pay those days.

GLOSSARY and other useful tips