You’ve just found a great place online in Madrid or Mexico City. Now what? If you’re renting an apartment in Spanish, you need practical words and phrases to ask clear questions and avoid surprises. In this A2 lesson, you’ll learn the essentials: how to talk about rent (alquiler), the deposit (fianza), the contract (contrato), utilities, and more. We’ll practice with short exercises and a mini conversation.

Tip: We’ll mix English with short Spanish phrases and give translations for anything tricky. Ready? ¡Vamos!

Palabras clave del alquiler (Key words)

Here are the core terms you’ll hear when renting:

• alquiler — rent (monthly payment)
• fianza — security deposit
• contrato — lease/contract
• gastos — expenses (often building fees or common charges)
• comunidad — homeowners’ association/building fee
• amueblado — furnished
• sin muebles — unfurnished
• vecinos — neighbors
• inquilino — tenant
• arrendador / propietario — landlord/owner

Use these terms in simple sentences:

• El alquiler es de 800 euros al mes. (The rent is 800 euros per month.)
• La fianza es de un mes. (The deposit is one month’s rent.)
• ¿El piso está amueblado? (Is the apartment furnished?)

Example phrase you’ll use often

• Busco un piso de dos habitaciones. (I’m looking for a two-bedroom apartment.)
• ¿Los gastos están incluidos? (Are the building fees included?)
• ¿Se admiten mascotas? (Are pets allowed?)

El es de 800 euros al mes.

Preguntas útiles al visitar un piso

When you view an apartment, ask clear questions:

• ¿Cuánto cuesta el alquiler? (How much is the rent?)
• ¿La fianza es de cuántos meses? (How many months is the deposit?)
• ¿El contrato es por 6 o 12 meses? (Is the lease for 6 or 12 months?)
• ¿Están incluidos el agua y la luz? (Are water and electricity included?)
• ¿Hay calefacción? (Is there heating?)
• ¿Hay ascensor? (Is there an elevator?)
• ¿El piso está amueblado o sin muebles? (Is the apartment furnished or unfurnished?)
• ¿Cuándo puedo mudarme? (When can I move in?)

Mini conversación (practice ordering a viewing)

Put the lines in the correct order to make a natural conversation between an inquilino (tenant) and arrendador (landlord).

Verb spotlight: alquilar (to rent)

You’ll say this verb a lot when apartment hunting. Present tense is enough for most basic interactions at A2.

Use it in simple sentences:

• Quiero alquilar un piso tranquilo. (I want to rent a quiet apartment.)
• ¿Alquilan por meses? (Do you rent monthly?)

Cultural notes & usage

• Piso vs. apartamento: In Spain, people say "piso" for an apartment. In many Latin American countries, "departamento" or "apartamento" is more common. All are understood.
• Fianza: In Spain, the fianza is often one month (sometimes two). In many places, utilities (agua, luz, gas) are not included. Ask: ¿Los gastos están incluidos?
• Comunidad: This is the building or HOA fee. Sometimes included. Ask: ¿La comunidad está incluida?
• Vosotros: You’ll see "vosotros" in Spain (alquiláis). In Latin America, people usually use "ustedes" instead.

Useful set phrases:

• Estoy interesado/a en el piso. (I’m interested in the apartment.)
• ¿Cuándo puedo firmar el contrato? (When can I sign the lease?)
• Me mudo el día 1. (I move in on the 1st.)

Tengo 30 metros el piso. → El piso tiene 30 metros. Use "tener" with the subject "el piso" to talk about size/features: "El piso tiene..." (The apartment has...).

Recap y práctica

You learned essential apartment vocabulary (alquiler, fianza, contrato), how to ask about utilities and furniture, and how to use hay vs. está/están. Practice by describing a listing in simple Spanish:

• Hay dos habitaciones y un baño. (There are two bedrooms and one bathroom.)
• El alquiler es de 750 euros. (The rent is 750 euros.)
• El piso está amueblado. (The apartment is furnished.)
• La fianza es de un mes. (The deposit is one month.)

Final encouragement: Keep a small checklist in Spanish when you visit. Ask 3–4 key questions, and write down the answers. Poco a poco, you’ll sound more confident and get the apartment you want. ¡Tú puedes!