Finding accommodation in Seville is fairly straightforward. Most expats rent rather than buy, at least initially, and we recommend that expats rent temporary central accommodation upon arrival while they familiarise themselves with the city’s various neighbourhoods and search for a long-term address. 

As in most cities, the closer to the centre or the larger the property, the steeper the rent. The benefit of Seville is that its central area is relatively small, making it easy to get from one end to the other on foot, bike or scooter, or via the city’s efficient public transport. 

Types of accommodation in Seville

Apartments

Most housing in Seville is in the form of apartments. These range from small studio apartments to large four-bedroom flats.  

Expats on a budget, particularly international students moving to Seville, can benefit from flatshares. This is essentially renting a room in an apartment and sharing communal spaces with other flatmates, and splitting the living expenses. 

Serviced apartments

As one of the most quintessential Spanish cities, Seville sees plenty of tourists and short-term expats. As such, serviced apartments and aparthotels are available and are ideal for expats on short assignments.  

Fully furnished with cleaning services and access to various amenities, serviced apartments are usually preferred as corporate accommodation. They offer all essential hotel facilities and also allow for self-catering. Costs may be lower than a hotel suite, although luxury serviced apartments do come with a heavy price tag. 

Houses

Houses with gardens are available on the outskirts of the city as well as in Seville’s surrounding towns. Though living in the surrounding suburbs usually requires commuting into the city, these areas are often considered by expat families who want to live close to schools and prefer the peace and quiet. 

Furnished vs unfurnished

Both furnished and unfurnished apartments can be found in Seville, although free-standing houses and villas are often unfurnished. Tenants in unfurnished apartments will have no problem finding furniture, regardless of their preferred décor style, as Seville is dotted with a myriad of furniture stores, including IKEA. 

Finding accommodation in Seville

Thanks to a wide variety of property portals, the easiest way to find a property in Seville is by searching online. Both international platforms, such as HousingAnywhere and Nestpick, as well as Spanish-based websites, including idealista, yaencontre and pisos.com, are a good start. House hunters can refine their searches based on the types of accommodation, budget and move-in dates. It is also important to consider rules on smoking, pets and playing musical instruments.  

Posting a comment or a question on social media and expat forums can also help a new arrival secure accommodation. Adventurous expats travelling on a shoestring budget can find temporary accommodation in a homestay environment and can connect with hosts through platforms such as Couchsurfing. 

When looking for accommodation in Seville, enlisting the services of a real-estate agent or relocation company can take the weight off a new arrival's shoulders. Real-estate professionals usually have access to housing that is not yet on the market and are able to navigate any language barriers between property owners and prospective tenants. 

The best time to find accommodation in Seville is early September before the academic year starts. Finding accommodation in August can be hard – landlords are normally enjoying their summer holiday. 

Renting accommodation in Seville

Leases

Most expats rent flats on a 10-month to annual basis. When making an application, prospective tenants may need to provide proof of finances, agree to a credit check and secure a guarantor to sign the contract on their behalf. 

Deposits

Expect to pay a one or two-month rental deposit. 

Utilities

We recommend tenants confirm with the landlord, in writing, who will be responsible for paying the utilities, including water, electricity, gas and internet. Usually, in serviced apartments and holiday lets, utility costs are fully or partially included in the rent, while rental agreements in other property types and for longer-term stays may require the tenant to cover all the utility bills. 

Further reading

►Get a feel for what this city offers by reading Moving to Seville

►Interesting in investing in the property market? Read this guide to Buying Property in Spain: Risks and Rewards

Expat Experiences

"We bought a house in 2014, right before housing prices were forecasted to go up. Most of Seville’s offerings are apartments, though some neighbourhoods have small houses that share at least one wall with neighbours.

The utilities are what really get you, as well as VAT tax on those bills. As a homeowner, we pay for electricity, water, access to our own parking garage, internet, etc. Because we have a house, we don’t have what’s known as comunidad, or general building upkeep. Taxes are calculated on both the property’s value and size in square meters, along with the square meterage of the lot on which it’s built. We pay 100% of that since we own a home, but flat owners would divide this tax, called IBI (impuesto sobre bienes immuebles), amongst the other dwellers in the building." Read more about what Cat, an American expat, has to say about life in Seville. 

Are you an expat living in Seville?

Expat Arrivals is looking for locals to contribute to this guide, and answer forum questions from others planning their move to Seville. Please contact us if you'd like to contribute.