Tips for buying or renting a flat in Barcelona

Time Out magazine recommends Monapart when buying or renting a flat in Barcelona in an article giving the “keys” to finding a good place to live in the city.

Time Out | 21.03.2014 | Eulàlia Iglesias, Valentí Cura and Ana Páez

[The Time Out Recommend Monapart when buying or renting a flat in Barcelona in a article which gives the “keys” to finding a good place to live in the city. Two years ago, the same magazine included Monapart in the list of the 25 best ideas to emerge in Barcelona and recently has also included it in the innovative initiatives section of the website Creative Barcelona.]

More ideas for finding a home

Beyond the long-standing major real estate groups and the busiest internet portals, a series of new real estate companies are emerging that are renewing the sector through youth and also specialisation. Monapart they have a catalogue of houses that they describe as ’extraordinary“ and Keli they focus on properties in the upper district of Barcelona. As soon as you enter their websites, you can already feel a different atmosphere.

Trade union cooperatives offer their members social housing developments: the one by the UGT is Social Housing Quality and that of Workers' Commissions, Habitatge Entorn. Nor should one forget more local initiatives like the long-standing Prat del Llobregat Workers' Housing Cooperative. The neighbourhood environment also promotes its own housing promotion cooperatives. In Barcelona, this operates mainly Sogeur.

Different associations and initiatives are working to change the model of access to housing: Sostre Cívic champion the models of use cooperatives (MCU); Life + Easy develops the concept of ‘cloud housing’ in Barcelona, and there are also various ‘cohousing’ projects under way, an update on communal living (ecohousing.es). And if what concerns you is respect for the environment, check which flats are the most energy efficient at Sustainable Housing Network. Barcelona City Council has various offices that advise on and manage access to flats and’housing of social housing. The Government of Catalonia also offers similar services. And if you are interested, you can check information on social housing flats throughout’Metropolitan Area.