Despite recent efforts by Spanish governments aimed at giving fiscal incentives to people in rented accommodation, the actual market for long-term, good quality rented property remains relatively small compared to many other European countries.

In 2005 the Government announced the creation of a new Agency aimed at encouraging people to rent more. For more details on how the agency will work and how you can use it to find accommodation, click here.

The best way of starting to look for rented accommodation in Spain is by reading the classified sections of local newspapers or by going to a local estate agents. Some travel agents also offer deals on short-term rentals. The disadvantage of going to an estate agent is that you will be expected to pay them the equivalent of one months rent if they offer you a property you like. This means that you will have to pay three months rent on signing the contract (one month for the agency, one month deposit and one month rent).

If you want to rent somewhere before actually arriving, try looking at local city guides or one of the many websites listing accommodation for rent in Spain. More and more people use the internet to advertise property for rent or for sale so use these sites to contact owners and contrast prices. See also the latest news about the Spanish government's new Rental Agency.