What documents you need to rent a flat
You will be asked for an ID document and papers that show you can pay: usually your latest payslips and your contract, or your tax return if you are self-employed. If your income falls short, your savings or a guarantor also count.
What they always ask for
- Who you are
- Your DNI or NIE, or your passport if you have just arrived.
- One for each person who will sign the contract.
What shows you can pay, depending on your situation
There is no single list: it depends on how you earn your money. This is what agencies usually ask for in each case.
Employed
- Your last three payslips.
- Your employment contract.
- Sometimes, your Social Security work history.
Self-employed
- Your latest tax return.
- This year's quarterly tax returns.
With more than one job
- The payslips and contract for each job.
On a pension or benefit
- The certificate for your pension or benefit.
With savings
- A recent certificate or statement of your accounts.
With a guarantor
- The same papers, from your guarantor.
- Their written commitment.
Many agencies also ask for the tax return, however you earn your living.
How much you need to earn
The usual rule is that rent should not be more than a third of what you earn each month.
What you pay when you sign
- First month
- The first month's rent, usually in advance.
- Deposit
- One month's rent, compulsory. In Catalonia the landlord lodges it with Incasòl and it is returned to you when the contract ends.LAU, art. 36.1 · Llei 13/1996
- Additional guarantee
- It can be agreed: up to two more months' rent on a housing contract of up to five years, or seven if the landlord is a company. On a seasonal let, up to one.LAU, art. 36.5
Get them ready once. Don't send them to every agency.
Every copy you send by email or WhatsApp stays in an inbox you don't control.
Building your profile and getting verified is free.
- You upload your papers only once.
- Agencies see your verified badge, not your papers.
- Your papers are only seen by the agency you give permission to, and you can withdraw it.
What people ask most about the paperwork.
How many payslips will they ask for?
Usually the last three. If you haven't been in the job that long, the ones you have, along with your contract.
Can they ask for my tax return?
Yes, and it is common: it sums up what you earned last year, whether you are employed or self-employed.
What if I have just started working?
Bring your contract and your first payslip as soon as you have it. In the meantime, your savings or a guarantor help show that you can pay.
Keep reading
Sources
- Law 29/1994 on Urban Leases (LAU), art. 36 (BOE-A-1994-26003, consolidated text).
- Catalan Law 13/1996 on the register and deposit of rental deposits for urban properties.