How to Call a Landlord in Spain as a Foreigner (Step-by-Step)

You found a great flat on Idealista. The price is right, the photos look good, and it's in the neighborhood you want.

Now you need to call the landlord. In Spanish.

If that sentence made your stomach drop, you're not alone. For most expats, calling a Spanish landlord is the single most stressful part of finding a flat. But it's also the most important.

Here's exactly how to do it — or how to get around it.

Why You Need to Call (Not Message)

In Spain, landlords don't check their inbox. They answer the phone.

A well-priced flat in Madrid or Barcelona gets 30 to 60 inquiries in the first 24 hours. Messages pile up unread. But a phone call? That gets answered immediately.

Landlords use the call to:

Gauge whether you're serious
Ask a few quick questions
Decide if they want to schedule a viewing

If you're not calling, you're not competing. It's that simple.

Before You Call: What to Prepare

Don't wing it. A little preparation goes a long way.

1. Know the listing details

Have the listing open in front of you. Note the address, price, and any questions you have (move-in date, utilities included, contract length).

2. Prepare your introduction

The landlord wants to know four things:

Your name
What you do (employed, remote worker, student)
When you want to move in
That you can pay (deposit ready, stable income)

3. Have your documents ready to send

If the call goes well, the landlord may ask for documents on the spot. Have digital copies of your NIE (or passport), payslips, bank statements, and work contract ready to email or WhatsApp immediately.

4. Write a script (if your Spanish is limited)

There's no shame in reading from a script. Write out your introduction and key questions in Spanish. Practice it a few times before dialing.

What to Say: A Simple Script

Here's a basic template you can adapt:

"Hola, buenos días. Le llamo por el piso que tiene publicado en Idealista en calle/barrio. ¿Sigue disponible?"
(Hello, good morning. I'm calling about the flat you have listed on Idealista on street/neighborhood. Is it still available?)

If they say yes, continue:

"Me llamo nombre. Soy profesión y trabajo en empresa / de forma remota. Estoy buscando piso para mudarme en fecha. Tengo todos los documentos preparados y la fianza disponible."
(My name is name. I'm a profession and I work at company / remotely. I'm looking for a flat to move in on date. I have all documents ready and the deposit available.)

Then ask your questions:

"¿Cuándo podría hacer una visita?" — When could I schedule a viewing?
"¿Los gastos de comunidad están incluidos?" — Are community fees included?
"¿Cuál es la duración mínima del contrato?" — What's the minimum contract length?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Starting with "Sorry, I don't speak Spanish well"

This immediately signals that communicating with you will be difficult. The landlord has 30 other applicants who don't come with that caveat.

If your Spanish is basic, either practice until you sound confident for those 2 minutes, or get someone else to make the call.

Calling too late

The best time to call is within 2 hours of the listing going live. Set up Idealista alerts and call immediately. By the afternoon, the landlord may have already scheduled all their viewings.

Asking too many questions

Keep the first call short. Your goal is to get a viewing, not negotiate the entire lease. Two minutes is ideal. Save detailed questions for the viewing itself.

Not following up

If the landlord says "call me back tomorrow" or "I'll let you know," follow up. A second call shows you're serious and keeps you top of mind.

What If You Don't Speak Spanish?

This is the reality for most expats: you know you need to call, but you can't.

Your options:

Ask a Spanish-speaking friend. Works once or twice, but it's not sustainable when you need to call 10-20 landlords.
Hire a relocation agent. Expensive (often €500–€2,000+), and they usually handle the whole process — not just the call.
Use LlamoYo. You find the flat, send us the Idealista link on WhatsApp, and we call the landlord in fluent Spanish. We present your profile, ask your questions, and report back. No middleman taking over your search — just the call you can't make.

The Call Is Everything

In the Spanish rental market, the phone call is not optional — it's the entry ticket.

Landlords don't read messages. They don't reply to emails. They answer the phone, talk for 2 minutes, and decide who gets the viewing.

If you can make that call confidently in Spanish, do it. If you can't, make sure someone does it for you.

Get started with LlamoYo →