Renting in Spain: what awaits renters in 2025

Rent is getting more expensive: what the numbers say

In 2025, the cost of renting in Spain increased by more than 10% compared to the previous year. This is one of the sharpest jumps in the last 5 years. The situation is particularly acute in such regions as Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Palma de Mallorca.

The average rental price in major cities already exceeds €1,200 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, while in some parts of Barcelona, apartments cost up to €1,800. By comparison, in 2022 such apartments were rented for €1,000-1,200.

🔍 Why renting in Spain is getting more expensive

1. limited supply

Many landlords simply refuse to rent out apartments for long-term rent. The reasons vary from a desire to sell at a high price to fears of “problem tenants”. Also, many properties remain empty because the owners live abroad or do not want to rent them out.

2. High demand

Spain remains a popular destination for:

immigrants and digital nomads,
international students,
young professionals working remotely.
Renting is the only affordable way to live in Spain at a start up, so demand is consistently high.

3. severe restrictions on short-term rentals

From 2024, the authorities began actively restricting rentals through platforms like Airbnb, which took some apartments off the market. It would seem that this should have improved the situation, but many owners have removed housing from circulation altogether, not wanting to mess with bureaucracy and licenses.

4. inflation and rising utility costs

Rising prices for electricity, building maintenance, taxes and insurance fees are causing owners to simply pass these costs on to tenants.

🏙️ Where’s the worst?

Barcelona and Madrid are the leaders in terms of prices and scarcity. Here, even if you have a budget, finding adequate accommodation is a real puzzle.
Valencia, Seville and Palma are popular with foreigners and students, fueling the market.
Bilbao and Málaga – catching up fast on prices due to the growth of the IT sector and remote workers from Europe.

⚖️ What are the authorities doing?

The government is introducing measures, but they have not yet had a tangible effect:

Strict regulation of short-term rentals
Incentives for owners renting on contracts of 5 years or more
Plans for social housing (but the timescales are 2026-2028)

💡 What should tenants do?

If you’re planning a move to Spain in 2025, it’s important to understand:

Stock up on time and patience
Contact an agent to access closed options
Prepare to pay a commission that averages 1 month’s rent
Be prepared for competition: good apartments leave in 1-2 days

📌 Conclusion

The rental market in Spain in 2025 is going through a difficult period. Rising prices, a shortage of supply and new legal restrictions make finding accommodation a real challenge. However, with the right strategy, specialist support and flexibility, finding a home is possible.

If you want a stress-free search process, Polenova&Partners can help you rent an apartment in Barcelona or any other city in Spain safely and with every nuance taken into account.

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