60% rents in Catalonia illegal

A recent report on rentals in Spain found that Catalonia is above average in terms of illegal rentals. A massive 60% of rentals in Catalonia are not declared for taxes, costing the treasury an estimated 740 million Euros in tax losses. The figure - over half of all rentals in the northern peninsula - relates to a figure of 288,166 individual rentals.



The report implies that in Spain overall, there are almost half a million residential leases that are not declared in the annual tax returns, or "declaraciones de la renta", although amazingly, this figure has been reduced by 4.5% compared to last year.

Although various sources have come out to flatten the statistics, the figure is still alarmingly high, and many home owners may not know exactly what they are getting themselves in for. Illegal squatting in Spain as a whole is a huge problem, and in Barcelona recently there have been many cases of people returning from a short break to find their property "occupied" by people unknown to them, with locks changed, and bills still being paid under the owner's name. The current judicial system seems not to favour the home owner at all in these instances, and by all accounts it is a lengthy process to rid your home from unwanted intruders.

Insisting on a legally binding contract for any rental - on both the landlord and person letting a property is always the safest way to guard against anything unsavory happening. Dealing with an established estate agency can also help with any legalities.

Barcelona Real Estate Agents Modus Vivendi have a fantastic portfolio of apartments and Loft Rentals in Barcelona. Don't hesitate to contact them for your rental needs.

Average Rental Prices in Barcelona 2009

This week, the Institut Catala del Sol released figures regarding the average rental prices in Barcelona's various neighbourhoods. The good news is that the rental prices have fallen again, compared to the first quarter of 2009.



Average rental prices in the city are now at 1034 Euros per calendar month. Each neighbourhood represents a different price bracket, and it may come as no surprise that the high-end neighbourhood of Sarria leads the way, with an average rental setting you back 1259 Euros. There is little difference between the rest of the neighbourhoods close to Sarria, with Les Corts following with an average rental of 1270 Euros.

If you want to save yourself a hundred Euros a month, then skip down to Eixample, where the average price is 1170 Euros. The small-town feel of Gracia has no small town price tag, with average monthly rentals here 1018 Euros.

Moving to either side of the city will save you a little amount, with Horta, Sants-Montjüic and Nou Barris being the cheapest rentals - 917 Euros, 935 Euros and 855 Euros respectively. It's worth noting that these average prices are purely for rentals, and anyone moving to Barcelona also needs to consider any utility bills, or communal charges that a building may have. Such buildings with a porter/caretaker can add a hefty sum onto any rental, too, so it's always worth checking the extras that might influence your decision in looking.

In addition, it's also a great idea to contact a Barcelona Real Estate agent for ideas and suggestions. Modus Vivendi Real Estate has a selection of Long Term rentals in Barcelona, and will be happy to personally run through any requirements and questions you might have. You can contact them for a chat anytime.

Rental Prices Down Again in Barcelona

It's a great time to be looking for a rental at the moment in Spain, and whilst the bigger cities such as Barcelona and Madrid are always going to have competitive rates for monthly rentals, a recent report from facilisimo.com relates the news that the prices of rentals has again gone down.



In August, rentals in Catalunya as a whole dropped 0,06% which although it doesn't sound like a lot, makes up a total of 11.32% compared to the same time last year. That's a hefty amount on any rental, and I can predict that this will likely stay around the same for the rest of the year. The survey had sources from over 120,000 individual properties and is great news for anyone looking for a long term rental in Barcelona with a 4.4% decrease in rental prices for the Catalan Capital.

Each new renter looking to relocate to Barcelona, for whatever, reason, has a great new world awaiting them, with Barcelona being voted as one of the top ten cities in the world to live in by Time Out Guides this month. If you're wondering where to move to, try our information in choosing the right neighbourhood in the city, which will be an ongoing project here at Barcelona Real Estate Blog.

Barcelona Neighbourhoods - The Old Town

Barcelona Neighbourhoods - Eixample

We welcome any comments as always, and would love to hear your suggestions or topics for us to open up for discussion.

Looking for Luxury Real Estate in Barcelona ? Contact Modus Vivendi for their excellent portfolio of properties in and around Barcelona.