These are just a few useful info you should take in account when you are looking for a house in Palma. I mostly refer to renting a room in a shared flat, but some apply to any kind of accommodation you are looking for.
Gastos: it’s the Spanish equivalent of bills. As usual, try to find out if they are included, if so, take your time to ask exactly what facilities they refer to (usually only water and electricity) otherwise you may find some surprises at the end of the month.
Fianza: the beloved deposit for the room, normally a month or even less
Contract: beware that most landlords won’t propose you a contract for the room but a simple verbal agreement. Well, it’s up to you, although I am not a fan of it. The good news is that you find many places that don’t require a minimum stay, but just a month notice (very useful if you’re planning to evaluate the life here and then decide what to do).
Internet: this should not be a problem, as the web is pretty much everywhere in Palma and there are lots of providers offering the service, including some with optical fibre. Nevertheless the speed offer is a bit lower than what you can usually find, on average between 3-6 MB/s. Telefónica offers a 10 MB/s service, but you need a technician to verify if the signal is powerful enough for your home; otherwise they can provide you with the average 3MB/s.
Washing machine/dryer: go for the washing machine straight away, as self-service laundries are pretty rare and the alternative is going to the classic and pretty expensive ones, or hand-washing!The dryer can be a plus as well, if there’s no terrace or balcony where to hang your clothes (something I would avoid in summer anyway, as the sun will probably cook them!)
Noise: it might seem a good idea to find a place in a side street, but don’t forget that Spanish people tend to be a bit noisy, especially at night, so you may find yourself overwhelmed by noises you would have not expected (personal experience, neighbour with tv in the terrace... never goes to sleep before 2.30 am, and bar that looked really quite at the corner of the street... well, it’s not that quiet!)
Parking: lots of people in Majorca have a car, so finding a place where to park it can be tricky. Check if in your street there’s enough space or if you can use nearby streets. Don’t underestimate this aspect as you may end up going around for half an hour in the vain hope to find a spot for your car.
Gastos: it’s the Spanish equivalent of bills. As usual, try to find out if they are included, if so, take your time to ask exactly what facilities they refer to (usually only water and electricity) otherwise you may find some surprises at the end of the month.
Fianza: the beloved deposit for the room, normally a month or even less
Contract: beware that most landlords won’t propose you a contract for the room but a simple verbal agreement. Well, it’s up to you, although I am not a fan of it. The good news is that you find many places that don’t require a minimum stay, but just a month notice (very useful if you’re planning to evaluate the life here and then decide what to do).
Internet: this should not be a problem, as the web is pretty much everywhere in Palma and there are lots of providers offering the service, including some with optical fibre. Nevertheless the speed offer is a bit lower than what you can usually find, on average between 3-6 MB/s. Telefónica offers a 10 MB/s service, but you need a technician to verify if the signal is powerful enough for your home; otherwise they can provide you with the average 3MB/s.
Washing machine/dryer: go for the washing machine straight away, as self-service laundries are pretty rare and the alternative is going to the classic and pretty expensive ones, or hand-washing!The dryer can be a plus as well, if there’s no terrace or balcony where to hang your clothes (something I would avoid in summer anyway, as the sun will probably cook them!)
Noise: it might seem a good idea to find a place in a side street, but don’t forget that Spanish people tend to be a bit noisy, especially at night, so you may find yourself overwhelmed by noises you would have not expected (personal experience, neighbour with tv in the terrace... never goes to sleep before 2.30 am, and bar that looked really quite at the corner of the street... well, it’s not that quiet!)
Parking: lots of people in Majorca have a car, so finding a place where to park it can be tricky. Check if in your street there’s enough space or if you can use nearby streets. Don’t underestimate this aspect as you may end up going around for half an hour in the vain hope to find a spot for your car.
Good luck, then!
