Travelling for a long time? Looking to go expat? Eventually you’ll want to find mid or long term rental property and this can be tricky….
Finding digs in a new city can be very difficult, especially if you’re on a budget or trying to find something for a specific date. But, there is a whole world of ways to find long term rental property wherever you’re heading.
Last year I found myself moving to a new city for the first time in a long time, and I’m just now doing the same thing again! Finding apartment rentals anywhere is rarely much fun. So knowing where to start when searching for a place to live abroad can limit the hair tearing and the palpitations of fear that you might end up sleeping on a park bench. Don’t worry, you won’t… There is always a way!
We’ll look at some of the websites and techniques for finding a rental apartment abroad in just a moment. But first, I want to help you get your frame of mind right!
Approaching searching for long term rentals abroad
As modern digital savvy travellers, we have all come to expect a certain ease of booking stuff. Finding a hotel? Yeah, easy… Next. Flights? Pffft… I find cheap flights while waiting for my toast to pop up.
But finding a long term apartment rental in a new city is something else. Especially if you’re searching for your new home abroad, possibly in a city you don’t know well, and which you’re likely not currently in at the moment.
First things first, sweat ye not. You WILL find something. But don’t expect to find it right away. In fact, if we’re making a commandments of finding long or medium term rentals abroad, it will look like this:
1. Accept that you will not find your *dream* apartment
Always had an image of sitting on your balcony overlooking St Mark’s Square in Venice while you sip on your morning espresso? Unless you’re packing $$$, that’s not going to happen.
2. Listen to the wisdom of those who are already there
There are lots of ways to ask the locals about what to expect when moving to a new city. Ask. Listen. Find out average prices before you start looking, ask about common scams, places to avoid etc etc.
3. Keep an open mind about location, cost and features
OK, so you’ve let go of the dream. Now, look at your budget and work with that… Is a swimming pool, balcony and four bedrooms realistic on your budget? What are typical homes even like where you’re heading? And, is it going to be in the middle of town, or in a slightly backwater suburb? Is that even a bad thing?
4. Be prepared to wait….
If you’re used to the immediacy and security of hotel booking sites, finding long term accommodation in a new city can be a little hair raising. You’d be very (very) lucky if you found your long term digs right away.
OK, that’s not ten commandments but it’s a start, right…
Let’s get to the point then. How do you find long term accommodation when moving abroad or travelling?
Airbnb
This is number one because it is probably what most expats and travellers fall back on when searching for long term rentals abroad. Why? There is just so much availability, and you will very likely find something! You also have the added benefit of utilities and internet included (usually, not always) so there is less in the way of organising bills etc.
The problem with Airbnb for long term rentals is that it is likely a lot more expensive than local rent. In some cases, it can be around double or more. But… This could be your lifesaver and as a stop gap, to find your feet in your new city, it’s invaluable.
If you’ve never used Airbnb before then you’re missing out on an accommodation revolution. Yes, you can keep the costs down and live with people. If you’re looking to move to a major city like New York, Barcelona, London or Tokyo, then the way to keep the costs down is go for the suburbs. A city centre Airbnb in a major city will be big bucks.
Planning a move to a new country normally involves choosing your ideal city/region and looking there for your home. But, you can save money (and get a foothold) by choosing a city or region that is less popular.
For example, on our recent move to Valencia I found that a cheap Airbnb is around £1000 a month, but up the coast in Castellon de la Plana, Sagunto or Alicante, prices drop to around £800 a month for something similar. Live in the styx and it’s even cheaper!
Facebook Marketplace
I’m not Facebook’s biggest fan. In fact I go out of my way to avoid it. But… The marketplace on Facebook is as good a place as any to find medium or long term rentals in a new city.
It’s not always got stacks of choice, but what there is there is usually of a decent price and standard. Plus with the link to someones profile, there is accountability if things go wrong (which they can do).
Gumtree, Craigslist and local variations
Not always the best option, but often with lots of choice. I have actually found short term rentals on Gumtree before, which were fine for what they were. But I would probably avoid it these days mostly due to the potential for scams. Still, if you’re in a sticky situation it might be worth a look, especially if you’re only finding somewhere for a month or two.
Bear in mind there are local versions of Gumtree and Craigslist. So, here in Spain it’s Milanuncios, or in France it’s Leboncoin. Also, ask expats for their recommended sites to find your rental home abroad.
Spotahome
There are quite a few medium and long term property rental sites aimed at travellers. The plus side is usually that the price includes everything, including utilities and internet so you’re good to go from day one. And, they’re usually in decent locations and available pretty quickly.
The downside is that it is more expensive than local rent. There isn’t the biggest choice still, but if you’re on the hunt for a rental apartment or home in a major global city it is definitely worth checking out. Bear in mind these sites also tend to have quite hefty fees, but if you just need somewhere for six months, NOW! Then this might be the foreign rental property site you’re looking for.
Other versions of this kind of property abroad style site include:
Expat Groups
Back to Facebook and this was invaluable on our move to Valencia. Although the Expats in Valencia groups are packed full of negativity, they did eventually yield us our current apartment rental in the city. And looking past the negative nellies, there was also some very useful information too.
Join expat groups for wherever you’re heading on Facebook, Reddit and other social media sites. Search for expat groups in wherever, as you’ll probably find forums and blogs for certain areas too. Ask people for their advice and keep an eye out for listings.
Local estate agents
This is how the locals find property right? It might be that you don’t speak the language, or you don’t want to commit to a long term rental. Or perhaps you just don’t have the correct paperwork yet, as a lot of agents need things like work contracts, local bank accounts and social security numbers.
But…. There is no harm in trying local estate agents in the city you’re planning to call home.
Home Swap Sites
Already own property somewhere in the world? There are quite a few sites that will let you do home swap, and they don’t all require direct reciprocity. Some allow you to accumulate points, or just pay your way.
Sign up for Home Exchange if you own your home.
Turn up, look around
This is probably the best way to find long term property rentals abroad, and normally at local rates too. With your ear to the ground, you’ll see signs in shop windows, hear the gossip on the grapevine and maybe find that dream apartment for an absolute steal.
Yes, you might need to have a decent grasp of whatever the local language is. But, there is no substitute for being there!
House & Pet Sitting
Now, I’ve never done this but I have seen it done (mostly on social media) and I’m sure you could do it too. Yes, stay at someones house and look after their pet and water their plants. And, so long as you’re not a psychopath or kleptomaniac, you could stay for free!
Check out Trusted House Sitters for more details.
Got any rental property abroad tips?
Sometimes it just takes a lucky break, but if you’re looking for a rental apartment abroad, don’t be worried. You’ll find something, even if you need to compromise a bit.
Whatever you do, make sure you keep in mind that scams do happen. If it sounds wayyyyy too good to be true, ask lots of questions, check official documents and ask locals what they think.
Our safety tips for finding long term rental property abroad:
- Never sign up for an property that you haven’t viewed personally (unless someone you trust does it for you)
- If possible, check the name of the landlord against the deeds and get a legal contract in your own language
- Don’t hand over any money until you’re sure of the rental terms
- If booking through a platform like Airbnb or Spotahome, don’t accept offers to pay outside of the website. This is a popular scam…
Good luck with your plans and don’t forget to invite us over when you’ve moved in 😉
If you have any of your own tips for finding long term rentals abroad, share them below!
