You've found the perfect flat in Barcelona, Lisbon, or Amsterdam. You have a good income, you're a reliable payer, and you've never had a problem with a previous landlord. But the agent looks at your application and asks for a local credit history — which you don't have. Sound familiar?

Moving to a new country as a renter puts you at a structural disadvantage. Local landlords and agencies rely on credit checks, local references, and established financial history — none of which you have as a new arrival. But there are specific strategies that work.

Why Local Credit History Matters to Landlords

A landlord's primary concern is simple: will this person pay their rent on time, every month, for the duration of the tenancy? In their home country, they use credit scores, rental history, and local references to answer that question. When you arrive from abroad, those signals don't exist — and they default to caution.

Strategy 1: Get Verified Before You Apply

A RentProof Скоринг арендатора provides an objective, third-party verification of your income, employment, identity, and (where available) rental history. It produces a certified score and digital certificate that you can share with any landlord — regardless of what country you're applying in.

Landlords who see a Premium Скоринг арендатора of 80+ understand immediately that you've been checked by an independent service. It removes the uncertainty that makes them hesitant to rent to international applicants.

Strategy 2: Prepare a Comprehensive Application Pack

Most foreign applicants submit what they're asked for and nothing more. Stand out by providing a well-organised application pack that includes:

• A personal cover letter explaining your situation and plans
• Last 3 months of payslips (or bank statements if self-employed)
• Employment contract or letter from your employer
• References from previous landlords (translated if needed)
• Your RentProof Скоринг арендатора certificate
• Proof of other financial assets if income alone is borderline

Strategy 3: Use an Employer Guarantee Letter

If you're relocating for work, ask your employer to provide a formal guarantee letter. This letter confirms your employment, your salary, and — ideally — a commitment that the company will cover the rent if you default. For corporate relocations, this is standard practice.

Strategy 4: Apply Through a Specialist

For international movers, working with a relocation specialist like Movely — who understands both the local market and the challenges of international applicants — can significantly increase your chances of approval. They know which landlords are open to international tenants and how to present your application most effectively.

Spain's rental market is governed primarily by the Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos (LAU), last significantly amended in 2019 and updated in subsequent years. Understanding your rights under this law is essential for any tenant renting in Spain — whether you're a Spanish national or an international expat.

Minimum Rental Period

Under the LAU, residential tenancies have a minimum effective term of 5 years for individual landlords (7 years for company landlords). Even if your contract specifies a shorter period, it will automatically extend up to this minimum — unless you choose to leave. This provides significant stability for tenants.

Deposit Rules in Spain

Spanish law permits a landlord to request a maximum of one month's rent as a deposit (fianza) for unfurnished properties, and two months for furnished ones. Additional guarantees — such as bank guarantees or extra months' rent — can be requested beyond this, but must be agreed in the contract.

The landlord must return the deposit within 30 days of the tenancy ending. If they fail to do so without justification, the tenant is entitled to claim the deposit plus interest from that 30-day deadline.

Rent Increases

During the first 5 years of a tenancy, rent can only be increased annually in line with the IPC (Consumer Price Index). From 2023, the Spanish government has introduced additional rent caps in declared zonas de mercado residencial tensionado (stressed residential markets), particularly in Barcelona and Madrid.

Landlord Access to the Property

Your landlord cannot enter the property without your permission. While they have the right to conduct inspections, they must give reasonable advance notice (typically at least 24 hours) and schedule at a mutually agreed time. Emergency situations may allow for immediate access, but this should be exceptional.

Notice Periods

If you wish to leave before the end of the minimum 5-year term, you must give 30 days notice. After the minimum term, you can leave at any time with 30 days notice. The landlord can only terminate the contract early in limited circumstances — primarily non-payment of rent or causing serious damage to the property.

Repairs and Maintenance

The landlord is responsible for all structural repairs and maintenance that are necessary to keep the property in habitable condition. Minor routine maintenance (changing lightbulbs, unblocking drains) is the tenant's responsibility. If the landlord refuses to carry out necessary repairs, you have the right to demand this through the courts or apply for a rent reduction.

A single bad tenancy can cost a landlord thousands of euros in unpaid rent, damage, legal fees, and months of vacancy. The best defence is a rigorous, consistent screening process — applied to every applicant, every time.

The goal of tenant screening is not to find the perfect tenant — it's to identify and avoid the ones who pose unacceptable risk. Here's how to do it systematically.

Step 1: Initial Qualifying Questions

Before arranging a viewing, ask a few basic qualifying questions: When do you want to move in? How many people will be living in the property? Do you have pets? What is your monthly income? These quickly filter out applicants who are a poor fit without requiring a full check.

Step 2: Affordability Check

The standard rule of thumb is that a tenant's monthly income should be at least 3× the monthly rent. For a €1,500/month flat, you're looking for a tenant earning at least €4,500/month. Ask for 3 months of payslips and bank statements.

Step 3: Identity Verification

Verify that the person is who they say they are. Ask for a government-issued photo ID and cross-reference it with the other documents they've submitted. A formal ID check through a service like RentProof provides legally compliant verification you can document.

Step 4: Employment Verification

A payslip can be faked. An employment verification check — contacting the employer directly or using a third-party verification service — confirms that the employment and income are genuine. For self-employed applicants, request 2 years of tax returns.

Step 5: Reference Checks

Ask for contact details of at least one previous landlord. When you call, ask specific questions: Did they pay on time? Did they maintain the property? Would you rent to them again? A "yes, fine" answer is very different from an enthusiastic recommendation.

Step 6: Use a Professional Screening Report

For thoroughness and legal robustness, use a professional tenant screening service. A RentProof Полный отчёт об арендаторе covers identity, income, employment, credit history, and references — and provides a clear green/amber/red recommendation. It takes the subjectivity out of the decision.

The photos you take on your first day in a rental flat could be worth thousands of euros when you leave. Most tenants take a few casual photos and think that's enough. It isn't. Here's exactly what to document — room by room — to create a bulletproof move-in record.

Before You Start

Make sure your photos are timestamped (most smartphones do this automatically). Take photos in good lighting — open all the curtains and turn on all lights. If possible, record a continuous video walkthrough first, then go back and take detailed photos of specific areas.

Every Room: The Essentials

• All four walls — especially corners, where damage often occurs
• Ceiling — note any water stains, cracks, or marks
• Floor — every corner, under furniture if possible
• Windows and window frames — condition, any cracks or damage
• Doors and door frames — front and back, hinges, locks
• Light switches and plug sockets — any discolouration or damage

Kitchen Specifics

Open every cupboard and photograph the interior. Document the condition of the hob, oven, extractor, dishwasher, fridge, and any other appliances. Test each appliance and note if anything doesn't work.

Bathroom Specifics

Document the condition of tiles (especially grout lines), the toilet, bath or shower, basin, taps, and any mirrors or cabinets. Note any existing limescale, chips, or cracks.

Get It Signed

Where possible, walk through the flat with your landlord or their agent and ask them to sign the inspection record. A professional RentProof inspection includes all-party e-signatures — creating a legally robust document neither party can dispute.

Rental deposit rules vary significantly across Europe. What's standard in one country may be illegal in another. If you're renting across borders, understanding the local deposit regime is essential — both to know how much you'll need upfront, and to know your rights when you leave.

Spain

Maximum deposit: 1 month's rent (unfurnished) or 2 months (furnished). Must be returned within 30 days of the tenancy ending. Landlords must register the deposit with the regional housing authority.

France

Maximum deposit (dépôt de garantie): 1 month's rent for unfurnished properties, 2 months for furnished. Must be returned within 1 month if no damage is claimed, or 2 months if deductions are made.

Germany

Maximum deposit (Kaution): 3 months' net rent. Landlord must hold it in a separate account and pay interest. Must be returned within 3–6 months after the tenancy ends (courts typically allow up to 6 months for final accounts to be settled).

Portugal

No legal maximum on the deposit amount, though 2 months is standard. Must be returned within the period specified in the contract; if not specified, reasonable time applies.

Netherlands

No legal maximum, but 2 months is standard in practice. No requirement to hold it in a separate account.

The Common Thread

Across all European jurisdictions, normal wear and tear cannot be deducted from the deposit. Only actual damage beyond ordinary use is chargeable — and the landlord must be able to prove it. Professional inspection documentation is your strongest defence regardless of which country you're in.

For decades, tenant screening meant a landlord manually reviewing a stack of documents — payslips, ID, a reference letter — and making a judgment call. That process was slow, inconsistent, and surprisingly easy to fool. AI-powered verification is changing all of that.

What AI Does Better Than Humans

Modern verification systems use AI to cross-reference multiple data sources simultaneously. An AI system can verify that a payslip's formatting, font, and data are consistent with authentic documents from a specific employer — in seconds. It can flag discrepancies between stated income and bank statement patterns. It can detect document tampering that would pass unnoticed by the human eye.

Document Authenticity Checks

AI-powered OCR (optical character recognition) extracts data from submitted documents and compares it against expected patterns. Anomalies — a payslip that uses the wrong tax code for the stated employer, bank statements where the running balance doesn't add up — are flagged automatically.

Scoring and Recommendation

Rather than leaving the landlord to weigh up a collection of documents, AI-powered systems like RentProof produce a single score and a clear recommendation: proceed with confidence, proceed with caution, or decline. This removes subjectivity and provides a documented basis for the decision.

What AI Cannot Replace

Automated checks are powerful, but a landlord's judgment still matters. An AI check can tell you someone has a stable income — it can't tell you that a reference landlord seemed reluctant, or that the applicant was evasive about why they're leaving their current flat. Use AI verification as a foundation, not a substitute for due diligence.

You've moved out, left the flat in good condition, and waited. The legal deadline has passed — and your landlord still hasn't returned your deposit. What do you do?

The good news: in most European countries, you have clear legal rights, and there are structured processes for recovering your deposit. Here's how to proceed.

Step 1: Document Your Position

Before you do anything else, make sure you have your documentation in order. Gather your move-in inspection report, your move-out inspection report, any correspondence about the flat's condition, and a copy of your tenancy agreement. This is the foundation of your claim.

Step 2: Send a Formal Written Request

Send your landlord a written request (email with read receipt, or registered letter) asking for the return of your deposit within a specific timeframe — typically 7–14 days. State the legal basis for your request. Keep a copy.

Step 3: Formal Dispute Resolution

If the landlord does not respond or refuses to return the deposit, you can file a formal complaint with the local housing authority or initiate formal dispute resolution. In Spain, this can be done through the Juzgado de Primera Instancia for amounts up to €6,000 — and you don't need a lawyer for smaller claims.

Step 4: Small Claims Court

For amounts that can't be resolved through mediation, small claims court (juicio verbal) is your next option. If you have a professional inspection report and your landlord has no counter-documentation, the outcome is usually straightforward.

Barcelona has one of the most competitive rental markets in Europe. Supply is limited, demand from both locals and international arrivals is high, and the best flats — those that are well-located, professionally managed, and priced fairly — typically rent within days of listing. For an expat arriving without local connections, navigating this market can be genuinely challenging.

Where to Search

The main platforms for rental listings in Barcelona are Idealista, Fotocasa, and Habitaclia. Idealista has the widest selection. All three list in Spanish and Catalan, though many landlords and agencies also speak English.

For furnished, short-to-medium-term rentals (30 days+), platforms like Movely specifically target international renters and offer no-agency-fee listings with verified landlords across the city.

Understanding Barcelona's Rental Market

Barcelona is a zona de mercado residencial tensionado (stressed rental market) under Spanish law, which means rent increase caps apply. Average 1-bedroom flat in desirable neighbourhoods (Eixample, Gràcia, Poblenou) typically ranges from €1,200 to €2,000/month. Studio flats start from €900.

What Landlords in Barcelona Expect

Standard requirements for a long-term rental in Barcelona: 3 months' payslips, employment contract, passport or NIE, and often a month's deposit plus one month's rent in advance. Some landlords require an aval bancario (bank guarantee).

As an international applicant, a RentProof Скоринг арендатора significantly strengthens your application — providing verified proof of income and identity that doesn't rely on the local credit infrastructure.

The Application Process

When you find a flat you like, act fast. Contact the listing agent or landlord immediately, express clear interest, and ask when you can visit. After a viewing, submit your complete application pack the same day if possible. A professional, well-organised application signals reliability.

A rental contract is the foundation of every tenancy. A well-drafted lease protects both parties, prevents misunderstandings, and provides a clear framework for resolving disputes. A poorly drafted one leaves grey areas that lead to conflict.

Here are the 12 clauses that every residential rental contract should include — and what to watch out for in each.

1. Parties to the contract — Full legal names, ID numbers, and contact details for both landlord and tenant.
2. Property description — Full address, cadastral reference, and a description of what's included (furniture, appliances, parking, storage).
3. Term of the tenancy — Start date, end date, and the minimum term as required by local law.
4. Rent amount and payment terms — Monthly amount, due date, accepted payment method, and any early payment discounts.
5. Rent review clause — How and when rent can be increased, and the index or mechanism used.
6. Deposit — Amount, how it will be held, conditions for deduction, and timeline for return.
7. Permitted use — Residential only, or any permitted commercial use. Number of occupants.
8. Pets and smoking — Whether these are permitted, and under what conditions.
9. Maintenance responsibilities — What the landlord is responsible for, and what falls to the tenant.
10. Access and inspections — Notice period required for landlord access, and conditions under which emergency access is permitted.
11. Inventory — A reference to the signed move-in inspection report as an annex to the contract.
12. Dispute resolution — Applicable law, jurisdiction, and any mediation or arbitration provisions.