Where Are All The Rental Properties ?

We are just about to fly back to the UK after being in Benalmadena for the past 3 weeks, here for a break and also to try and find a rental property for at least 3 months over the winter.  We know there are hundreds of empty properties and we thought it would be an easy task to find one to rent but we have been proved wrong!

There are not many rentals in the estate agents here and almost all of them advertised are apartments .  We are looking for a 2-bed townhouse with a bit of outside space in a quiet area not too far from the coastline, since we won't be bringing our car (The new legislation re registering it has put paid to this idea). We have looked on the two main holiday letting websites, sent a couple of enquiries that haven't been answered, but there is very little on either site that fit the bill, anyway.

We have asked around as to why we are finding it so hard to find anywhere and have been told that many of the empty properties belong to people that have 'given up, gone back to the UK (or wherever) and have lost interest in trying to keep their properties'. I'm sure this is true for some of the empty properties.

However, after reading the thread about whether a place in Spain is seen as a good investment, we have come to another conclusion.  We think there must be property owners that want to rent them out but they don't advertise them so that they can avoid any complicated legalities.  Are we right in thinking this? It would certainly explain the lack of advertised rental properties. BUT, how do we find a property to rent?  We really, really don't want to take another apartment with a Holiday Company.  We are fed up of the noise from other people coming and going (and shouting and moving furniture late at night) in badly-built properties with no insulation between each apartment to cut out noise.  We definitely want a house where there is no-one else above us or below us, but neighbours are a must.  We're not hermits, we just need our sleep!

Try all of the local papers, there are normally loads to rent in the freebie papers. Also try the advertisment boards in supermarkets or cafs and bars. Or for that matter just go into a bar where the Brits are and ask, I,m sure somebody will know somebody who is looking to rent out their property

From time to time a rumour does the rounds that the Hacienda  are looking for boards advertising lets and then they chase the owners.  I think the rumours are started by hotels and the like to put off private lets.    

 That said, almost all private property lets are illegal, albeit that many owners don't know that.

If you look at the above menu you will see RENTALS and then select REGION , AREA and then property type.

Hundreds of places for rental on this EOS site direct with the owners and with email and phone contacts ..

have you looked at it yet ?