The task of looking for an apartment to live in Málaga is complicated, especially at certain times of the year, such as the summer months until September, when all students start looking for apartments to stay in during the entire academic year. The first advice to follow is to remain calm, patient, and relaxed, and if possible, to get to know and inform oneself in the best possible way about the areas of Málaga and the public transport options that each area has.
Searching for an apartment or room is not going to be an easy task and, unfortunately, much of what is rented has habitability conditions that are improvable, so one should not lose morale.
Rental homes in Málaga
The first thing to do is to adapt to the existing housing offer. We can appreciate how careful the people of Málaga are in renovating and decorating tourist apartments. But however, we will see that they are not so careful and meticulous when they put up the for rent sign on their houses, to allocate them for long-term rentals. If we add to this that many of the houses that are rented are not precisely well maintained because the owners are not interested, we have to think that the comfort standard of an apartment or a room in Málaga is not the same, with the main detail being the age of the building where the property is located.
For example, and a very important point to consider when winter arrives: the vast majority of houses they do not have heating, so we do not recommend it as a requirement when looking for an apartment since we will find few homes with centralized heating, which means the rent for these homes will be higher and Málaga is not a city that has a long and cold winter. But one feature to consider, if we are going to live for a prolonged time, over a year, is the orientation, the type of carpentry of the home, and the air conditioning system for the warmer months of the year.
Once all the main details to consider have been indicated, it must be said that September it is not the easiest month to search for an apartment in Málaga. Many students arrive in the city with the start of the school year and look for housing or apartments to share. Many properties would not meet a minimum of amenities to be inhabited by a family; however, due to the accommodation problems of many people, these homes would not have a market in other circumstances if it were not for the high student demand. So, if you are lucky and find good accommodation, congratulations. If not, it is better not to "tie yourself" for too long in a contract with a landlord and wait for better opportunities to come later, as it is always easier to change housing once residing in Málaga capital, and it will generate less stress for us.
The price of rentals is not particularly cheap. A room can range from 200 to 500 euros, depending on whether it includes expenses (such as electricity, water, internet...) of the area, the amenities, and the time of year it is rented. For example, a studio usually does not go below 500 euros, in areas close to the historic center of Málaga, less than 3 km away.
How to find a place to live in Málaga
We indicate to you below by clicking here the web portals, most used in Málaga, to find housing whether for rent or purchase. There are specialized web portals for those looking for a room in a university environment, although it is also advisable to check the bulletin boards of the different faculties or Erasmus pages. If that hasn't worked either, there is always the possibility of looking at the notice boards in supermarkets, but finding something there is a very remote hypothesis.
If you want to rent the entire apartment, there is also the solution of hiring or demanding the services of a real estate agency, which usually has a good portfolio of rentals. Although real estate agencies generally charge fees to the tenant, they will always provide us with security and guarantee in case of any problem or conflict with the owner.
Where to live in Málaga
Regarding areas to search, let's start better with the areas that it is advisable to avoid in Málaga. Within the city of Málaga, it is not recommended to look for apartments in the areas of Ciudad Jardín, Palma, Palmilla, or Parque del Sur, or nearby areas. Firstly, the reputation of these areas in Málaga is not the best; and secondly, public transport usually has fewer bus lines and less frequency in the schedules of the EMT.
When choosing a neighborhood, it will depend a lot on where we are going to study or work. The western area of Málaga can be said to concentrate more rental property offers on the main roads of: Héroe de Sostoa, Calle La Unión, Avenida de Velázquez, and the area of Avenida de los Guindos. With good connections to the entire city, as there are several bus lines and metro line 2, which at least currently reaches the María Zambrano Train Station. Málaga west is a quiet area, well connected to the center, with nearby shops, supermarkets, and good bar and restaurant service; the apartments and houses we find in these areas can vary in quality and age. It is a highly recommended neighborhood for those who have a bit more money than a student and are not looking for luxury buildings.
For those looking for something more luxurious and with better qualities, there are buildings with more expensive homes and good conditions in the areas of Limonar (Paseo de Sancha, Paseo del Limonar...), Monte de Sancha, Cerrado de Calderón, and Morlaco, being the most exclusive areas of Málaga if we are looking for a single-family home: Pinares de San Antón and Guadalmar.
However, since this type of property is usually demanded by wealthier tenants looking for tranquility and privacy, and who are mostly students, some neighborhoods should be mentioned where accommodation can be found at reasonable prices.
Many students intend to move to the Teatinos area upon arrival. Although also think twice, as it is one of the areas that has become more expensive in recent years. It is true that the area always has open bars and nightlife, but -besides the fact that the houses are old and somewhat degraded- in the long run it is not pleasant to live in an area where every night, especially on weekends, there is a lot of street noise. It is a very recommendable neighborhood for those who have a bit more money than a student and do not seek luxury buildings.
