HOUSING GUIDE
Once you arrive in Ourense, you should try to secure a permanent (not hotel or hostal) housing situation as soon as possible, so that you may obtain your Spanish residence permit (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjeros or TIE).
Although you should get started on finding a place as soon as you arrive, don't rush into securing anything until you've seen it in person, asked all the important questions, and are confident about living there. Finding a piso, or apartment, takes time, but with a bit of patience and luck you will be fully settled in in no time!
Although you should get started on finding a place as soon as you arrive, don't rush into securing anything until you've seen it in person, asked all the important questions, and are confident about living there. Finding a piso, or apartment, takes time, but with a bit of patience and luck you will be fully settled in in no time!
COST OF LIVING
Galicia is quite inexpensive in comparison to other Spanish regions. You will first want to decide what kind of place you’re looking for, but even if you choose a studio or one-bedroom apartment, it is not likely that you'll exceed 400€ per month. However, most auxiliares in Ourense choose to live in shared apartments.
Depending on location, amenities, and amount of time since last renovation, studios and one-bedroom apartments can range between €200-400 per month. Past Fulbrighters find that in their experience €300 is really the average going rate for this kind of housing. The general rule is to tack on an extra hundred euros per month per bedroom. More specifically, grantees sharing a three-bedroom, two-bath, recently-renovated apartment in the city center paid 210-230€ per month, all utilities included. Lower prices can be found further out from the city center and in older buildings. When necessary, press for details on the full price of the apartment. Many prices advertised online represent the price of rent alone. Often bills such as water, electricity, wifi and comunidad (a building maintenance fee) will be added on top of the price you see. Some buildings include hot water and/or heating in the comunidad fee.
Utilities may vary depending on how energy efficient your building is. Some apartments have individual heating that you turn off and on as you please, while others have heating for the entire building with restricted hours of heat usage, and you pay for what you use, though this is rare. Be sure to ask about how heat works and in the apartments you visit and who pays for it (is it included in the rent or will you have to pay for it on a bi-monthly basis in addition to rent) as heat can become very expensive in the winter months. It is a good idea to ask how many separate bills you should expect and how often. Some tenants receive multiple monthly bills in the mail for the components of their rent. Other landlords will ask for a flat rate with all monthly charges included.
If you need to set up an Internet connection in your apartment, past grantees recommend you use your carta de nombramiento to get R's student price, which is 39 €/month for a fairly fast connection and free installation.
Depending on location, amenities, and amount of time since last renovation, studios and one-bedroom apartments can range between €200-400 per month. Past Fulbrighters find that in their experience €300 is really the average going rate for this kind of housing. The general rule is to tack on an extra hundred euros per month per bedroom. More specifically, grantees sharing a three-bedroom, two-bath, recently-renovated apartment in the city center paid 210-230€ per month, all utilities included. Lower prices can be found further out from the city center and in older buildings. When necessary, press for details on the full price of the apartment. Many prices advertised online represent the price of rent alone. Often bills such as water, electricity, wifi and comunidad (a building maintenance fee) will be added on top of the price you see. Some buildings include hot water and/or heating in the comunidad fee.
Utilities may vary depending on how energy efficient your building is. Some apartments have individual heating that you turn off and on as you please, while others have heating for the entire building with restricted hours of heat usage, and you pay for what you use, though this is rare. Be sure to ask about how heat works and in the apartments you visit and who pays for it (is it included in the rent or will you have to pay for it on a bi-monthly basis in addition to rent) as heat can become very expensive in the winter months. It is a good idea to ask how many separate bills you should expect and how often. Some tenants receive multiple monthly bills in the mail for the components of their rent. Other landlords will ask for a flat rate with all monthly charges included.
If you need to set up an Internet connection in your apartment, past grantees recommend you use your carta de nombramiento to get R's student price, which is 39 €/month for a fairly fast connection and free installation.
Where to Live
According to 2016-2017 grantees in Ourense, in general, to be in the center, you should search for apartments listed in the neighborhoods of Centro or Lagunas. As a reference, the geographical and social center of the city is Parque San Lázaro. There are some auxiliares living in El Couto and San Francisco, but those neighborhoods are a little further from the center though they are cheaper and still walkable. Veintiun is on the other side of the river and is about a 20-25 minute walk to the center of the city. Mariñamansa and Residencia are south of the center and often considered a little too far, but if your school is near Jardín de Posio and you do not mind a walk to the center, those areas are also options.
FINDING A PLACE
In the words of one 2016-2017 grantee in Ourense, "the first thing you have to accept with housing in Ourense is that there is absolutely nothing you can do about the housing hunt until you are physically in the city."
You can start your search by looking for pisos available online; however, most people suggest that the best way to find a place is to walk around the neighborhoods you’d like to live in and keep an eye out for ads posted on poles, walls, and bulletin boards. Many people who have apartments to rent or who are looking for roommates will post such ads with their phone numbers. Even if you don’t like the place you end up seeing, lots of people have more than one apartment available or know someone else who has a place to rent, and word of mouth is often enough to help you find apartments worth looking at. Talk to your teachers, your Airbnb hosts, and don't be afraid to call the numbers listed on "for rent", or Se Alquila, signs in the area you like.
You can also go to any of the agentes inmobiliarios, who often act like rental agents. Some people choose to use these agencies but, in general, this is not necessary and they will usually charge you one month's rent as a commission. There are quite a number of them throughout the city, and they often have plenty of vacancies. Under no circumstances should you allow yourself to feel any pressure to make a decision on a place right away, nor should you accept a place you’re less than happy about for fear of losing it. Take a few days to explore your options.
Here are some other important factors to keep in mind when looking for a place to live:
You can begin looking online for a place to live, but don't secure anything until you see it in person. Here are some links that could help you with your search:
You can start your search by looking for pisos available online; however, most people suggest that the best way to find a place is to walk around the neighborhoods you’d like to live in and keep an eye out for ads posted on poles, walls, and bulletin boards. Many people who have apartments to rent or who are looking for roommates will post such ads with their phone numbers. Even if you don’t like the place you end up seeing, lots of people have more than one apartment available or know someone else who has a place to rent, and word of mouth is often enough to help you find apartments worth looking at. Talk to your teachers, your Airbnb hosts, and don't be afraid to call the numbers listed on "for rent", or Se Alquila, signs in the area you like.
You can also go to any of the agentes inmobiliarios, who often act like rental agents. Some people choose to use these agencies but, in general, this is not necessary and they will usually charge you one month's rent as a commission. There are quite a number of them throughout the city, and they often have plenty of vacancies. Under no circumstances should you allow yourself to feel any pressure to make a decision on a place right away, nor should you accept a place you’re less than happy about for fear of losing it. Take a few days to explore your options.
Here are some other important factors to keep in mind when looking for a place to live:
- It is unlikely that you will be able to see apartments over the weekend as inmobiliarias are closed and much of the city shuts down
- University students arrive before most of the auxiliares so it may be difficult to find housing if you begin your search after Orientation. Consider this factor when arranging travel to Spain.
- When you rent an apartment, finding one that is amueblado is incredibly important. It usually comes furnished with the essentials (kitchen appliances, a bed, desk, night table, closet, sofa, and dining table) and usually comes with some kitchenware (pots, pans, plates...) as well.
- If you tend to get cold, look for an apartment with calefacción central which means that the whole building is heated and heat is included in the rental price.
- Emailing is the worst form of communication. You rarely hear back from people.
- WhatsApp is essential for the apartment hunt. Make sure you set that up before you start!
- You should not pay more than two months' rent as a fianza
- If signing a lease, carefully read the conditions about breaking it early and ask about possible fees
- Be sure to ask who is in charge of fixing things that break in the apartment and what the protocol is to notify of such things
You can begin looking online for a place to live, but don't secure anything until you see it in person. Here are some links that could help you with your search:
- Mil Anuncios - described as the most useful website for Ourense
- Fotocasa
- Idealista: Choose either to rent "Viviendas en alquiler" or share a place "Compartir piso", and next to that input your city
- Piso Compartido: To find a roommate or a room available
- Trovit: Scroll to choose either to rent "Viviendas en alquiler" or share a place "Compartir piso", and next to that input your city
- Vibbo: Offers second-hand furniture (inmobiliaria), home decor (hogar), and electronics (electrónica), amongst many other things
