What are my rights as a tenant in Spain?
As a long-term tenant in Spain the LAU gives you strong statutory rights: a minimum tenure of five years (or seven if the landlord is a company), a deposit capped at one month plus a two-month guarantee limit, the agency fee paid by the landlord, and — in zonas tensionadas — a capped rent.
These rights apply automatically regardless of what a one-sided contract says, and many are reinforced by the 2023 housing law.
Knowing them is the difference between accepting an unfair clause and pushing back on it.
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Related questions
Sources: Ley 29/1994 de Arrendamientos Urbanos (LAU) — BOE; Ley 12/2023 por el derecho a la vivienda — BOE.
General information for people renting property in Spain — not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm the specifics for your tenancy with a qualified professional.
Last reviewed June 2026.