Medium and long term rentals in Sitges
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Please read the following so that you know what will be expected of you as a tenant. We have written it with the potential renter in mind, responding to several questions that are frequently asked.
Many owners of apartments will look sympathetically at renting for several weeks or months outside of the Summer high-season.
However, it is important to remember a number of points in considering a longer term apartment for renting. The owner that wishes to do this is principally looking to the apartment as an investment and has several costs to meet – the mortgage payments, wear and tear on the contents of the apartment, upkeep of the apartment especially in readiness for the next peak holiday season, utility bills, community/service charges, insurances and local taxes, to name just the most obvious.
Sitges “enjoys” square metre for square metre some of the highest property prices in Spain – any look around the estate agent windows will convince you of this. It also genuinely enjoys a year-round mild climate with normally over 300 days of sunshine. But it does rain and in Winter, especially at night, it can get cold. Some form of heating in an apartment is essential.
There are also other factors to consider. The agent renting you the apartment will want to charge you a commission for his/her services. Normally this equates to 1 month per each eleven months of rental occupancy and somewhat pro-rata if your intended stay is shorter. This will allow the agent to draw up a contract for the letting, show potential renters several properties and then help them to gauge what the likely running costs might be : actually not so very different to but probably a little less than renting in a major city in the UK. Some agencies charge – or at least try to charge - significantly more and there is no legislation in Spain covering the role of the agent in such lettings.
The agent will also, under instruction and in consultation with the landlord, want to keep a “potential damage” deposit. This will be returned to you at the end of the tenancy period, less any damages and any agreed retention to cover outstanding utility bills.
The less scrupulous agent/landlord may seek to hang on to a significant portion of this. Make sure that there is an inventory and a record of the condition of furniture and equipment in the apartment. Good agents will provide this service, although it may be an extra to the above fee. Generally speaking it is worthwhile and gives a renter greater protection, making it difficult for an owner or agent to argue that something was “brand new” when it is noted as being “slightly worn” or “with small scratches” etc. etc.
Landlords will also want to ensure that they will have security of income for the agreed letting period and may ask for several months rent in advance. This is down to individual negotiation and agreement.
Most of apartment owners will seek to have two months rent paid in advance and then monthly in advance from the start of the contract but some ask for different arrangements.
How much should I expect to pay?
This will largely depend upon location and facilities offered and the length of the tenancy agreement. A typical 2 bedroom apartment, with air-conditioning, heating and well equipped and furnished can cost as little as €800 per month from October through to the end of May. Add on terracing or an extra bathroom and the cost starts to go up. Demand “by the side of the sea” and you can double the price!! If you only want 2 to 3 months during this period and particularly if it encompasses a Public Holiday, e.g. Christmas, New Year, Easter, Carnaval, then the same apartment will cost you around €1200 per month.
If you are seeking a longer rental period, say up to 2 or 3 years, then you will have to bear in mind that the above apartment may rent for €180 per day in high-season and have 80+ per cent occupancy : so the owner will want some compensation for this.
Car-parking also adds to the rental figure. Expect to pay an additional €50 to €100 per month – depending upon your location and whether the parking is communal or private to the apartment. Car parking is often difficult in Sitges with the Council taking more and more parking away from the streets and pushing visitors to use Council facilities. This makes the town easier for pedestrians and holiday-makers but harder for the motorist. There are still perfectly safe areas of town to park your car freely but this may require a 5 minute walk into the centre of town or to and from your apartment.
Listed below are some of the apartments from the www.staysitges.com website which are available for longer term renting, using the period October through to end-May as a typical example, giving the monthly rent in each case:
- Apollo - €1500
- Hans - €1200
- Manolo - €850
- Rom - €800
- Simon - €900
All of the apartments are accurately described on the website, with photographs and maps showing their relative location.
If you think you may be interested in our services, any of the above apartments or indeed any others that feature on our website, please fill out our form and we will be happy to help.
Can We Help?If you think you might be interested in our services or would like more information about any aspect of what we provide, please fill out our form and we will be pleased to help.
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