Problems with Spanish landlord

[Gen]

I have rented via an agent in Barcelona since 1997. During this time the landlord has refused to carry out any renovation or repairs, apart from i) replacing the boiler when I reported it as dangerous and ii) ‘fixing’ a leak in the roof – the ‘fix’ means that water now runs down the walls when it rains.

Does anybody know what rights I have? the agent claims that the roof problem is my fault – leaves etc. – but not only is this not true but the most recent ‘fix’ has left such a small opening that I cannot even put my hand in it to check for imaginary leaves.

[Mark Stücklin]

Hi Gen, read the article on Spanish rental laws by Raymundo. I think it answers your questions.

Urban Rental Law in Spain – Tenancy Act (Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos, LAU)

[Gen]

Thank you very much for this.

[mh]

I always struggle to believe reports about bad landlords. I have hired properties for 2 to 5 years in London, Aberdeen, The Hague, Gouda, Cairo, Tijuana (Mexico) and Tripoli (Libya), and I have never had a bad landlord. They all ranged from average (Tijuana) to excellent (Gouda).

Admittedly, the landlord is top of my list for selection criteria when choosing a rental property but the sort of problem described above is entirely avoidable.

Nineteen years with one bad landlord? Never!

[mh]

I always struggle to believe reports about bad landlords. I have hired properties for 2 to 5 years in London, Aberdeen, The Hague, Gouda, Cairo, Segovia (Spain), Tijuana (Mexico) and Tripoli (Libya), and I have never had a bad landlord. They all ranged from average (Tijuana) to excellent (Gouda).

Admittedly, the landlord is top of my list for selection criteria when choosing a rental property but the sort of problem described above is entirely avoidable.

Nineteen years with one bad landlord? Never!

[Gen]

I should perhaps have clarified that I do not live in Barcelona fulltime and, like you, I have rented all over the world. I am a good tenant and have never asked a landlord to fix something that I have broken myself. This is why the Spanish situation has left me stumped.

Perhaps we just have different expectations.

[Author]

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