Before agreeing to a rental, ask for an itemised list of every payment due before key collection. A single figure labelled “move-in costs” makes it difficult to see what you are actually paying for.
For a tenancy covered by the LAU housing provisions, agency management and contract formalisation costs cannot be passed to the tenant. The current Article 20 also addresses indirect charges and optional services. Calling a charge “administration” does not settle whether it is lawful.
Ask the agent to separate
- Rent and the period it covers.
- The statutory fianza and any additional guarantee.
- Any reservation amount, including how it is credited later.
- Each service charge, who provides it and why you are being charged.
If an extra service is described as optional, ask whether you can rent the property without buying it. Keep the written answer. For housing tenancies, the current law requires an express written request for a genuinely optional, non-essential service charged to the tenant, with advance information about its optional nature and cost.
The tenancy category and applicable rules matter, so do not assume every holiday booking or temporary arrangement has identical terms. Equally, a label on a contract is not a substitute for understanding the actual arrangement.
Can tenants be charged agency fees when renting a home in Spain?
For tenancies governed by the LAU housing provisions, management and contract formalisation costs cannot be passed to tenants, directly or indirectly. Ask for an itemised payment schedule and an explanation of any optional service. Check the applicable tenancy rules rather than relying only on the contract’s label.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked 8 October 2026. Article 20; current text checked 8 October 2026.
General information for renters. The rules and documents that apply depend on the tenancy, location and contract date. Seek independent advice about a specific agreement or dispute.