The battle to find good rentals – week 10

The battle to find good rentals – week 10

After 9 weeks in Moraira and a quick stop in London, we’ve now moved to Mascarat, just north of Altea. Finding rentals was a real struggle—not because there were none available, but because of the complete lack of response from agencies, websites, and homeowners.

France has rentals figured out

In France, there’s a website that offers rentals for over a month. Homeowners register for a fee and create a listing with the house or apartment they want to rent out. It works very well, and we had our own house listed on there for years.

In Spain, there’s nothing quite like that. There are a few large agencies that handle holiday and medium-term rentals. One of them is a sluggish, frustrating machine—half the time the listings are outdated, and the other half you just don’t get a reply. The site doesn’t charge, so it seems nobody really cares.

We did come across a few other websites that claim to help with rentals, but they just redirect you to other listing sites.

Finally, a breakthrough

After a few frustrating weeks, we finally had a few responses. In the end, we found this apartment in Mascarat. We paid a deposit to secure the place, and the owner wanted a contract. She had clearly taken a standard Spanish contract and run it through a translation app. It offered lots of protection for her, and very little for us. My husband suggested some changes, which he submitted in a Word document with comments on the side.

The homeowner—originally from Lithuania and not exactly fluent in English, especially when it comes to legal jargon—nearly gave up on us. Luckily, our daughter (who is almost a lawyer!) gave us some legal advice and frowned at the contract. But we didn’t want to lose the apartment over a ‘legal dispute’.

We figured the risks were low and decided to sign it. We even dropped the contract off at the apartment, as the owners were still there. At least we could confirm it actually existed!

A decent first impression

The apartment was okay, with a lovely mountain view and literally a minute away from stunning sea views. The owners’ daughter gave us a tour and kept telling us how lucky we were to rent the apartment at such a great monthly price.

rentals, , sea views, lifestyle change
This is what is called sea glimpses……!
Rentals, lifestyle change, Mascarat
Mountain view from our balcony in Mascarat

Strangely enough, the price was exactly the same as all the other apartments we’d looked at.

We moved in during the last weekend of March and will be here for five weeks. Our first impression was that it was neat and clean. But when I went to slide a suitcase under the bed, I quickly discovered that vacuuming is not their strong suit. Corners had clearly been skipped.

The cleaning surprise (not the good kind)

If that had been the only issue, we might’ve forgiven it. But when I went to make a cup of tea, I noticed the mugs weren’t clean. In fact, none of the crockery was clean. Every single item in the kitchen needed a good wipe-down. The tiles, the cooker, the top of the fridge, the oven, the oven dishes, the pans, even the underside of the wall cupboards—everything was greasy, stained, or sticky. We had our work cut out for us!

The most annoying part? We were charged a cleaning fee. Yet the owners clearly didn’t bother to clean the place themselves. They also have a security bond from us—which I’d very much like to see returned when we leave.

Since moving in, we’ve discovered more issues. The kettle keeps boiling non-stop. The water tank leaks. The shower is about to fall off the wall. The desk was broken. The oven seal is worn out—potentially a fire hazard, as it gets very hot. Plates and cups are chipped and cracked. Honestly, the list just goes on.

Remind me—weren’t we told how lucky we were to have found this place?

Sunrise Mascarat, Mediterranean
A 5 minute walk offers stunning sunrises!

To speak up or not to speak up?

We’ve cleaned it up and can live with it for now. But the question is: how do we tell the owner her apartment isn’t up to standard? My Dutch instincts would be to just tell her directly. But my ever-polite British husband prefers a more reserved approach. I’m leaving it to him… though I’d really like my cleaning fee back.

Any tips—or horror stories—about dealing with bad rentals?

See you next week!

Marijke

lifestyle change, worst weather, searching for the ideal lifestyle, rentals
How to find a rental in Spain and avoid scams – week 6

How to find a rental in Spain and avoid scams – week 6

After two months in Moraira, Marina Alta, we set our sights further south, hoping to find a rental in or near Villajoyosa. We even had our eye on a charming old-town apartment in the heart of the city—but we missed out. And so, the search continued.

To find a rental through Facebook groups

Our first rental in Moraira came from a Facebook group, and thankfully, it turned out to be a genuine listing. So when another opportunity popped up on a different Facebook page, we were hopeful.

A guy reached out via Messenger, offering an apartment in Villajoyosa. He asked for my email to send more details and photos—not an unusual request, but in today’s world, a little caution goes a long way.

After some prompting, he sent over 10 photos and a detailed description. It all looked great. I asked for pricing, deposit details, and any additional fees. That’s when the red flag popped up—he wanted a 40% deposit upfront, nearly €600.

Colourful houses in Villa Joiosa

Something felt off. I asked for proof of a tourist license, reviews, or any official listing. Silence. No response. Suspicious, I did a reverse search for the apartment and found it listed on Airbnb—for over €100 per night—under a Dutch female owner. Classic scam.

Can you trust anyone these days? It’s hard to say.

Avoiding Rental Scams: The Banana Trick

When negotiating our Moraira rental, the owner had never rented it out before and had no tourist license. But they offered a video call to explain the situation and even lowered the deposit to ease our concerns. That gave us confidence, and thankfully, it all worked out.

A fellow renter once told me a brilliant trick: Ask the owner to take a picture standing inside the rental holding a banana. If they refuse or make excuses, run! It might sound silly, but it’s a simple way to confirm the listing is real.

find a rental, Villa Joiosa, Costa Blanca
No colour restrictions here…..

The Hidden World of Rental Agents

Many Facebook rental groups claim to be for homeowners and renters only, but the reality is quite different. The majority of “owners” are actually agents, cleverly disguising themselves until you decline the first property—at which point, they suddenly have plenty of options.

Meanwhile, well-known Spanish rental sites are notorious for not responding to inquiries. They live up to that reputation flawlessly. And when you do get a response, it’s often from an agent, not a direct owner. The site itself has no real control over customer service, so you’re left waiting, often indefinitely.

Key Takeaways

To find a rental in Spain is proving much harder than we hoped and we learned a few things:

  • Trust but verify – Always ask for proof like a tourist license, reviews, or an official listing. High deposits can be a red flag.
  • Use the “banana trick” – Ask the owner for a photo inside the rental holding a random object. A quick way to spot scammers!
  • Many “owners” are actually agents – Many Facebook listings come from agents, not direct homeowners. Be prepared for upselling.
  • Be flexible – The ideal house may not exist, so adjusting expectations can make the search easier.
Always different than the neighbours….

Rethinking the ‘Dream Rental’

Our vision of the ideal house in Villajoyosa is slipping away, and we’ve had to adjust our criteria. Now, we’re open to places that are less than perfect—as long as they’re available and legitimate!

With one month left to secure our next home, we remain hopeful. The ideal house might not exist exactly as we imagined, but we’ll find something that works.

Stay tuned!

See you next week

Marijke

lifestyle change, searching for the ideal lifestyle, to find a rental