Apartments in BCN--Beware!

[Lente]

Bueno, I don't know how many of you have done it but looking for an apartment in barcelona is bare stress! So many people trying to scam you. I was in bcn last week trying to look for apartment. Looking through the newspaper i found `Centros de información de bienes inmuebles en alquiler' right in the center of barcelona. The woman told me she had the perfect flat for me, right in the center, right in my budget etc etc all i would have to do was to pay 290 euros fill out a form and she would give me a list of apartments and renters whom i can contact and who would only rent to me as they only rent to members of this agency.Of course i told her no thank you. Later that day found out that barcelona is full of agencies like that one. So be careful! The newspapers are filled with this kind of stuff. These were the only places I found reliable info:

Col-legi d'Adminstradors (free list of flats available for rent)
http://www.coleadministradors.com/cast/default.asp
Note all apartments are rented by agencies.

Borsa Jove d'Habitatge- Secretaria General de Joventut ww.prohabitatge.org

Centr d'Informació i Assessorament per a Joves www.bcn.cat/ciaj
(They are the ones who recommended
Col-legi d'Adminstradors )

Hope this info. helps someone!

[Cervecero]

I just rented a vacation rental for 3 days in barcelona. Its through welcomeapartments.com. I hope its not a scam. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. I think they would have charged my credit card by now though. I gave it to them to reserve the room about a month ago. I'll let you know if it works out ok. I'm not too worried, but your post really caught my eye. Thanks for the info.

[gary]

I have used

http://www.barcelona-on-line.es

on several occasions for holiday rooms/apartments and found them to be great

[rkat]

Hi,
I have read about that scam, and believe it operates in most larger cities? Slightly off topic, can anybody recommend good websites for finding rental accomodation (in Seville or nearby towns) for 6/12 month leases? I have struggled to find any, probably because i am using english search words?
Thanks

[omeyas]

Hi,
Slightly off topic, can anybody recommend good websites for finding rental accomodation (in Seville or nearby towns) for 6/12 month leases? I have struggled to find any, probably because i am using english search words?
Thanks

http://www.madridman.com/sevilla/apartamentossevilla.html
http://sevilla.campusanuncios.com/Ofertahabitacion-Sevilla-4-6.html
http://www.yaencontre.com/vivienda/results.php/pisos-alquiler-sevilla-_ESP
http://www.mundoanuncio.com/zona/sevilla_6/categoria/viviendas_locales_1/buscar/piso.html
http://www.habitat24.com/alquiler-piso-sevilla-3-3-41-94323.html
http://www.habitamos.com/list/121/41/

Just put in something like "apartamentos en alquiler+sevilla", "Piso en alquiler+sevilla" etc, you'll get loads of hits.

[brotherbeat]

Hi,
I have read about that scam, and believe it operates in most larger cities? Slightly off topic, can anybody recommend good websites for finding rental accomodation (in Seville or nearby towns) for 6/12 month leases? I have struggled to find any, probably because i am using english search words?
Thanks

loquo.com is a great site for long and short term stays around spain, like craigslist.org in the us

[Mario]

The bigger site to find a flat in spain www.idealista.es (http://www.idealista.es) I think it´s the best too

[María Madrid]

I think segunda Mano is quite good. www.segundamano.es (http://www.segundamano.es). You can hire directly from the owner so you won't have to pay the agency's commission. As for inmadrid, those who advertise there tend to increase the price of their apartments, assuming foreigner are bit lost regarding what a reasonable price is. I've seen the price normally is 20% higher than for similar accommodations.

As for those "agencies", as soon as they say you have to pay to be shown some apartments, walk out the door. They'll probably won't be able to provide any accommodation, you'll just waste your time and money. Saludos, :)