Finding an apartment in Madrid can be a chaotic, desperate, deceptive challenge: monumental. Demand is high, supply is often limited, and the process can be overwhelming for both those looking for their first home and those looking to move. But all is not lost: there are many strategies, from the most traditional to the most innovative, that can help you find the home you want without losing your patience or your wallet in the process.
In this article, we offer you several ways to look for an apartment in Madrid, from paying attention to the posters on the portals and using social networks, to taking advantage of specialized applications and being aware of the available aids. If you are looking for a new home in the Spanish capital, read on and discover the keys to make your search easier.
Look for signs on the portals
If you are at least clear about the neighborhood you want to live in, there is an analog trick that surprises as advice, but it’s a bit like when you look for glasses when you have them on. The typical little orange signs that hang from balconies, in windows or on the front door of buildings can be your friends.
Usually those who put them up are landlords, so if you are lucky enough to find a house through this method you will probably save a month of paying the agency.
Post on networks and ask your friends to share.
The age-old method of getting information to a large number of people is undoubtedly word of mouth. And now, with social media, this system is much faster and more effective.
Create a story on Instagram or write a post on Facebook saying what you are looking for, when you would like to enter, preferred area and even maximum price you could pay; upload it to your networks and ask your friends to share it. I’m sure an acquaintance of a friend of a cousin of yours has what you find. It’s a relatively passive way to find an apartment and, believe us, it usually works.
Use specialized apps and websites
Google “Alquilar piso/habitación en Madrid” and start browsing the many websites you find. Warning: you will see a lot and very little that interests you but it is important not to despair. Use the filters that these websites offer to limit your search according to your needs, price, area and tastes. It is always easier to order from a restaurant with a short menu than from one of those multi-page menus.
As for mobile applications, from experience, we recommend Badi. It is a free app that connects people who rent their room with those who need one. It is simple, intuitive and allows you to customize your search.
However, we advise you not to limit yourself to websites dedicated to the search of apartments and/or rooms, try it whenever you have the opportunity. As Noemí Argüelles said in Paquita Salas: “If you are smart, Tinder makes money”. And, if you know how, it can find you a room in Madrid. Start a conversation saying that you are looking for an apartment, who knows, maybe your last match knows someone who is leaving his or has friends looking for a roommate. You may not find love, but you will find a roof to sleep under.
An Instagram account to find an apartment
Yes, there is an Instagram account that helps us find both cheap rentals and possible spending partners if we have recently run out of roomie. It is busco.madrid, a profile as a bulletin board. On it, the needs of tenants and landlords are disseminated in an informal way.
The project works organically to accelerate the incorporation of the tenant to the house: it is enough to upload a story to our personal account explaining the type of house we are looking for (size, maximum price, ideal area, if we are pet friendly or not…) and tag busco.madrid so that our ad is published on the “social board”. In the case of those who are looking for a roommate, we must give details about the room that has been vacated.
Avoid the months with the highest demand
It is no secret that between September and October it is not easy to find an apartment in Madrid. Students from the prestigious universities of Madrid return to the capital like crazy before the start of the course, and the offers of rooms to share disappear. That is why it is important to choose the right search period. The best months for this are usually June and July. Many university students return home and leave rooms free, which is a guarantee that there are more options to choose from.
Beware of false offers
Unfortunately, in Madrid there are hiding groups of scammers who publish fake rental offers on digital portals. That is why it is very important to be alert: before paying a deposit, we must visit the apartment in person and talk to the owner of the house. If there is no way to contact the landlord, the ad is too good to be true or we are asked to pay money in advance, it is better to be suspicious.
Post signs in the area of your interest
The analog equivalent of social media postings. In the same way that renters post signs on their portals to announce that they have an apartment or room available, as a future tenant you can put up your own, informing them of what you are looking for.
If you pay a little attention the next time you go for a walk in Madrid, you will see that you can find this type of ads on traffic lights, lampposts, boards and even -always asking permission in advance- in some neighborhood establishments.
Be well informed
Although at first it may seem overwhelming, in the long run it will not only save you displeasure but perhaps also give you some joy. For example, it is important that you find out about the rental subsidies available in the Community of Madrid and initiatives such as housing plans, where prices can be up to 20% or 30% below the market price.
On the other hand, the Sindicato de Inquilinas e Inquilinos de Madrid (Madrid Tenants Union) has a FAQ section on its website where you can find some fundamental aspects that you should take into account if you are looking for an apartment to rent, or if you are already renting or if your landlord or landlady wants to terminate the contract.
Take a look at the Meta pages
You probably have the feeling that if it could get dusty, your Facebook account would be covered by a very thin layer of dirt molecules. You may have forgotten your password, yes, but it’s been a while since you’ve been to a bar, but that doesn’t mean the bar has closed.
There are some groups on Meta, such as Pisos y habitaciones de alquiler en Madrid, that have a collaborative spirit. Got a spare room? Post it. Looking for an apartment? Post it. You won’t be the first or the last person to find an apartment thanks to this tool.