Hi all,

I have been in Barcelona for two months now staying with friends while I get settled and find a place.  I am a post-graduate student and am looking for a place for my wife and myself.  I am lucky enouogh to have a scholarship that can pay for accomodation and living for a year.  To date, I have not found a place that does not ask for a work contract, etc.  plus many months of up front money that I assume is frozen until we move out.  We have money for one year plus a 2 month deposit, but because we cannot show a work contract, they turn us down.  I show them money in the bank, more than enough for a year and a few months deposit + agency, etc, but the owner always turns us down.  What is the deal?  Am I not looking in the right places (not necessarily loquo, craigslist, idealista)?  I have even been to the collegi de administrators de fincas where you can get a listing of places that are tied to a building administrator that is a member of the college (http://www.coleadministradors.com/).

What gives?  Is 2-3 months deposit not enough?  I do not have a job, I have a student visa, I have money in the bank to pay the full year if they want, but 6-9 months deposit of money that is frozen!?!? This I cannot do!

Any suggestions.  Sorry to vent, I am just quickly running out of time.

Hmm, that sucks. I remember having similar problems but I didn’t have the convenience of a bank account full of money… :(

And you’ve offered the pay the entire year plus a couple months up front and they won’t do it? Do you speak Spanish? There’s gotta be something wrong there…

yes, I am puerto rican, I speak spanish.  I mean, the bank account is full of money for a year of living pretty by the budget, fairly tight.  Thiis is why the deposit thing kills us.

Don’t get the wrong idea about me, but in my experience the Spanish, particularly the Catalans, can be, ahem, exclusionary when they hear a South American accent. Not that telling you this helps, but it may be the case. I don’t know, but life got a lot easier for my girlfriend when she picked up the theta of the Castellano after a year in Barcelona.

Have you considered contacting an agency? That would provide you with a buffer, plus another opportunity to negotiate with your big payment up front.

no, I definitely have had this feeling too.  But my parents would disown me if I spoke with a theta, so this is how it will be, goes both ways I guess.  I have a Dominican friend that has many stories dealing with this connotation. 

Well, I am not done yet, still some more avenues to explore, but the options are getting thin, agencies are not up next, but getting close.

Keep looking—my Colombian boyfriend and his family moved here and hey never had a problem finding an apartment without having proof of income (this was three years ago, so things could have changed).  I know it is possible, and especially since you have money in the bank and have enough for a 2 month deposit, you should be able to find something.  From the owners standpoint, however, I don?t think they would have a foot to stand on legally if anything happens.  But you have to keep looking—put an ad in http://www.segundamano.es (it?s free), and discuss what you?re looking for.  You also might have to room with someone, but I really think you?ll get a break if you just keep looking.  Also, look at the newspapers and see if there is someone willing to take you.  Good luck!

Thanks for your reply, I will look into this page.  As far as the sharing thing, I know beggars cannot be choosers, but my wife and I are done living with other people,  We have lived alone before, then moved to London and lived with friends, which was great, but really need a place of our own.  But I guess as long as we have a roof over our heards, that is what matters!