We have hired a relocation specialist to help you look for housing. They will contact you to assign a Counsellor that will guide you through the whole process. They will assist you with expectations, neighborhoods, price ranges, etc.
MTS and ASM encourage you to find a home virtually. MTS have a lot of experience and more and more people are using this service nowadays. However, if you prefer to do the search in person, you can. Virtual home finding does not include any visits in person or any MTS representative at the time of check in.
Pre-Departure Orientation Call
Understand client needs, requirements and expectations of the clients as well as to work immediately work on point on home search and arrival and settling-in package.
Home Search - Long-term accommodation: (2 different options)
Service A: Without visits (all online/before arrival)
Service B: With visits (upon arrival in person/max. 6 visits within 2 days)
Arrival and Settling-In Package
Empadronamiento or town hall registration - Filling of documentation once housing contract is signed/scheduling of appointment + guidance. (This is necessary to do within the first month from your arrival date for Visa purposes).
Orientation "New Home" - Neighborhood, Transportation, Culture, etc.
Opening of a Spanish bank account - providing options and connecting the client with the bank
Support with important insurance (health, home, automobiles, etc.)
Creation of a Public Transportation Card
Setup support regarding SIM and Internet
Contracting of supplies (water, gas, electricity) for your new home
Contract review and explication/communication support with landlord/agency
The following information will help you be prepared for what it means, financially speaking, to move overseas:
Payments - initial payments when renting a home
1-3 month deposit (fianza): this amount will be refunded at the end of the lease if there are no damages and no outstanding payments.
Real Estate Agency fee (if home listing is through an Agency): 1-month rent + 21% of VAT(tax). This cost should be covered by the tenant. Sometimes this is called an Administrative fee from the Real Estate Agency that lists the home.
Monthly rent
Details on payments to help prepare for payments:
You need to have this money ready when you start visiting properties in person. It is best to have it available before your arrival if it is online, Properties don't last long in the market and the money needs to be transferred ASAP to secure a place.
You need to tell your bank specifically to charge you for all the transaction fees. Otherwise, the recipient will not receive the full amount and it would be considered a breach of the agreement between the parties
If you receive a transition allowance, it will be deposited into your Spanish bank account towards the end of August, contingent upon your arrival in Madrid (taxes will be deducted). You will receive your first paycheck on Sept 25. Keep this in mind to plan your finances and have the money for the deposit and rent of the house when you find what you like.
Contracts
The duration of the lease contract is 1 year, automatically renewable up to 5 or 7 years
The minimum stay without penalty is usually 6 months although some owners request 1 year
The tenant can stay up to 5 years. The landlord can't cancel the contract EXCEPT if after one year he/she needs the property for themselves or a 1st-degree family member (and they need to prove it)
Shipping to Spain can be expensive and complicated. Customs often hold shipments and require additional taxes before releasing your belongings. Due to these challenges, ASM does not assist with shipping, nor can the school receive packages on your behalf. If you choose to ship your belongings, it is necessary that you wait to have your residence in Madrid and your ID card (NIE).
Upon arrival in Madrid, you must find housing, register with the city hall, and attend a police appointment for fingerprinting to obtain your residence card (NIE).
The earliest you will receive your physical NIE card is September or October, depending on your arrival date.
A copy of your NIE card is required by shipping companies before they can proceed with delivery.
If you decide to ship belongings, you must provide a personal delivery address in Madrid. ASM cannot be used as the delivery address for Customs reasons.
We strongly recommend waiting to ship your belongings until you have secured housing and can provide your future home address.
MTS will assist you with your Internet setup. However, this is a process and it is not immediate. It depends on the Internet company's availability and the particular access for the location. You can consult your MTS contact for more information should you need it.
Can I live near the school?
The school is situated between the suburban neighborhoods of Pozuelo and Aravaca, just outside Madrid. Housing in these areas, especially within walking distance of the school, is generally family-oriented—meaning larger homes with more rooms, often unfurnished.
While some parts of Pozuelo and Aravaca can be quite expensive, the central areas of each town tend to have prices comparable to those in Madrid’s city center.
If I want to live with a roommate, when would be a good time to look for one?
The question of finding a roommate before you arrive is a tricky one. As one possibility, we encourage contacting other new staff members before you come. But you may not want to commit before meeting one another in person. You can also look on homefinding websites for a room in a shared home for possibilities.
Can I get a head start on finding an apartment?
We have a contract with MTS, a relocation company. They will be contacting you early spring and will help with all of your housing needs.
In the meantime, you can check Idealista or Fotocasa, online platforms where you can see the type of housing that it's available and the prices for different housing options, neighborhoods, etc.
Is it possible to live with Spaniards?
Living with Spaniards is not a problem and recommended for learning and practicing Spanish. There are always shared apartments listed and available with individual rooms to rent where you could live with Spaniards or people of other nationalities.
Are the apartments furnished?
Most apartments for rent in Madrid are furnished or have basic furnishing. In the listing, if an apartment is furnished, it will show the term "amueblado", and usually it will specify the items that the apartment has as part of the furniture. In most rental apartments furnished or unfurnished, there are the basic machines such as a refrigerator, a washing machine (not a dryer), a heater or heating system. Some apartments include kitchen basics like dishes, pots and pans.
How much do apartments cost?
Prices vary according to neighborhood and fluctuate regularly with the housing market. Checking out online home finding websites helps to get an idea of the prices. Also, the relocation specialist will assist you in finding the best solution for your housing needs.
How much are utilities?
Utilities normally average 100 euros a month, depending on your usage. However, prices have gone up recently and it depends on the companies you have selected. If you include all utility bills (water, electricity, gas, phone, and internet), according to feedback from the expat community, you can expect to pay monthly:
Studio or 1 bedroom apartment: 100€ on average
2 bedroom apartment: 150€ on average
3+ bedroom apartment or house: 200€ on average, leaning towards 300 € for houses
Will my housing stipend cover my rent?
Your housing stipend will not pay all of your rent unless you live with one or two other people. Rental prices have gone up during the last couple of years and so have expenses like electricity or food.
How many days are allocated to visit homes? 2 days
The rental market in Madrid is very dynamic so it is important to be fast and efficient when settling on a place.
Ideally, the visit day is arranged about 20 days before you would like to be living in the property.
No owner will reserve a property without you paying the rent almost immediately. Reservations are only held when the initial down payments have been paid.
Parking space
Private Parking in Madrid city is quite limited. The cost of a parking lot is about 150- 200€ per month depending on the area.
You can park in the street using the “green or blue” zones. In blue zones, you can park for up to four hours, green zones up to two hours. You must pay in the parking meters or using an app.
Once you and your car are registered with the Local Council, you can pay a (very low) annual fee (approximately 25€) and park in your neighborhood (green zones) for "free". The only thing for city residents is that there is typically very little to no street parking available on a daily basis.
Town Hall Registration - Ayuntamiento
For this procedure, you must have a lease contract signed and in force. MTS will set up the appointment and assist you but your presence will be required.