The following are aspects you will have to take into account for renting a dwelling.

If you've decided on a dwelling and have reached an agreement with the owner or estate agency, the next step is to make a down payment. It’s a first payment, equivalent to one or two month’s rent and will be part of the deposit when you sign the lease.

The minimum period for a lease is six months and is binding. This is optional for tenants but mandatory for owners. Leases can be renewed for a further year. Owners are entitled to recover their flat as their permanent residence after the first year of the lease. If you decide to leave the property and terminate your lease, you will have to notify the owner or estate agency in writing with at least the timeframe indicated on the contract as advance notice. You will also have to state the lease's termination date.

All leases require the following payments:

Rent is usually paid within the first five days of each month. As with electricity, phone, gas and other utility bills, rent is normally paid by direct debit.

It is usual under the lease for an annual increase to be agreed to in the rental price equal to the rise in the consumer price index (IPC, which stands for Índex de preus al consum).

All dwellings, whether for rent or purchase, must have a certificate of habitability, which guarantees that the dwelling is fit to be lived in. In addition, this document is essential for signing up for or applying for utility services such as electricity, water and gas.

All dwellings must likewise have an energy certificate. This specific document states each dwelling’s level of energy efficiency on a scale ranging from A (highest) to G (lowest). You can take this classification into account when you decide on the dwelling.

Whether you have decided to rent or buy a home, you need to sign up for or apply for utility services such as electricity, water, gas and a telephone line.

You will have to have a certificate of habitability for that purpose. This document guarantees that the dwelling is fit to be lived in and is also essential for entering into a contract for any of these services.

Identity number for foreign nationals (NIE, which stands for Número de identificacion de extranjero) or passport, bank details, lease number and start date, last utility bill and a certificate of habitability.

Spain uses the 220-voltage alternating-current system with a 50 Hz frequency. Check your electric appliances before you connect them to the grid to see whether they have a voltage-changing option.

Electric sockets are type C or European, with two female contacts for male pins. If your country of origin is located outside Europe or your devices operate on the 110-voltage system, you will need an adaptor or transformer if your devices do not have their own.

You can sign up for an electricity supply from several companies. The service is paid every month and has a set standing charge that depends on the electrical capacity agreed to, and another variable part, depending on how many kilowatts are consumed.

You can check which is your local water supplier once you decide on a city to reside. Usually, the bills are sent and paid every 2 or 3 months. Note that tap water is usually safe for consumption all over Spain and how good it tastes will depend on the area and building's pipes. Even so, you will also see many families using filters or consuming bottled water.