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LAU tenancies

Lawyers for Drafting Residential Rental Agreements in Barcelona.

A good contract is your best insurance against non-payment and disputes. We draft solid residential tenancy agreements tailored to Barcelona's regulations.

Landlord protection

Protect Your Property and Secure the Monthly Rent


Most rental problems stem from a poorly drafted contract. We strengthen every clause to protect your property and your income.

Renting out a home in Barcelona is no longer what it used to be: the Housing Act, the declaration of a stressed market area and the rent cap have turned a simple contract into a document that, if badly drafted, can lead to penalties, rents that cannot be updated and never-ending evictions. A professional tenancy agreement protects your investment, secures payment and drastically reduces the risk of arrears. If your case is not a primary residence, also see our services for seasonal rentals and commercial leases.

Rent Update Clauses and Reference Index in Barcelona

We draft the rent update in line with the legal limits and the reference index applicable in stressed areas, ensuring its validity.

Additional Guarantees and Bonds to Avoid Arrears

We set up the deposit, additional guarantees, bank bonds and non-payment insurance within legal limits to minimise the risk of arrears.

Regulatory compliance

Strict compliance with the Urban Leases Act (LAU)


Housing regulations change frequently and Barcelona applies specific stressed-area rules. Every contract we draft complies with the LAU and the regional regulations in force, saving you from nullities and penalties.

I want a secure contract
  • Contract compliant with the LAU and Catalan regulations.
  • Verification of stressed market area status.
  • Regime for works, costs and utilities.
  • Termination clauses for non-payment.
  • Inventory and handover protocol for the property.
What we secure

Key Clauses of a Well-Drafted Rental Agreement


Every clause has a purpose: that you get paid, that you recover your property and that you comply with the law.

Rent, deposit and guarantees

Amount in line with the stressed area, deposit lodged with the INCASÒL, bank guarantees and non-payment insurance within legal limits.

Duration, extensions and withdrawal

LAU terms, mandatory and tacit extensions, notice period and penalty for early withdrawal.

Termination and non-payment

Grounds for termination, payment clause, ban on subletting and protocol in the event of non-payment.

Use, works and pets

Primary-residence use, works regime, maintenance and the community's house rules.

Allocation of costs

IBI, community fees, utilities, waste tax and special levies clearly assigned to each party.

Inventory and handover

Photographic inventory of the furniture and condition, meter readings and handover record of the keys.

We draft your tailored rental agreement

Protect your property with a professional contract adapted to Barcelona's regulations.

Frequently asked questions

We answer your questions


Updates must be expressly agreed and respect the legal limits in force and the applicable reference index (the state reference index for updating rents). We draft the clause in line with the regulations so it is valid and enforceable each year.

For a primary residence the legal deposit is one month and must be lodged with the INCASÒL. You can also agree additional guarantees (deposit, bank guarantee or non-payment insurance) with a limit, for large landlords or in stressed areas, of two months. We set up the safest and most lawful scheme.

Yes. Barcelona is declared a stressed residential market area, which limits the rental price according to the reference index and the previous contract. We check whether your property is affected and set a rent in line with the law to avoid penalties.

The tenant has the right to mandatory extensions up to 5 years (7 if the landlord is a legal entity), plus a subsequent tacit extension. We draft the contract setting out the terms, extensions and grounds for non-renewal clearly.

After the first missed payment it is advisable to formally demand payment and, if it is not regularised, file an eviction claim for non-payment with a claim for the rent owed. A well-drafted contract, with guarantees and clear termination clauses, speeds up the procedure considerably. We assist you throughout the process.

Yes, residential rental income is taxed as income from real estate capital, but you can deduct expenses (IBI, community fees, insurance, interest, repairs) and apply a reduction on the net income for primary-residence rentals, even higher in stressed areas with a rent reduction. We integrate it with your tax planning.

Unless otherwise agreed, the IBI and community fees correspond to the owner and the utilities (water, electricity, gas) to the tenant. All this must be expressly regulated in the contract; we draft it to avoid future disputes.