Yes, a monthly rental is signed as a temporada contract and the rent can be paid by SEPA transfer from an account in any country of the European Union (LAU, article 3; Regulation (EU) 260/2012, article 9.2). Whoever accepts transfers cannot require the account to be in a particular country.

The contract for a stay of months

A stay of 1 to 11 months is rented with a temporada contract (LAU, article 3). This specific rental contract is designed for a use other than permanent housing. To be valid, the document must explicitly state the temporary cause for the stay, such as work or studies. This distinction ensures the lease is categorized as a seasonal stay rather than a long-term residential tenancy.

Paying rent from an account in another EU country

If a landlord asks for Spanish account, the tenant can rely on European regulations regarding payment discrimination. Whoever accepts a transfer or uses a direct debit to collect money from a payer with a payment account in the European Union cannot specify in which Member State that account must be, provided the account is reachable through SEPA (Regulation (EU) 260/2012, article 9.2). This means that if you have an account in Germany with an IBAN from Germany, it is a valid account for paying rent in Spain. A tenant can inform the landlord that as long as the account is within the EU and SEPA-reachable, it meets the legal requirements for payment.

Regarding the cost of these transactions, the charges a bank or payment provider makes to a consumer for a cross-border payment in euros are the same as those it charges for an equivalent national payment of the same amount (Regulation (EU) 2021/1230, article 3.1). This ensures that when you pay rent from abroad Spain, you do not face higher fees simply because the transfer is crossing a border within the EU. A SEPA transfer rent Spain payment is therefore priced identically to a domestic transfer, making it a cost-effective way to manage monthly payments without needing to open a local account.

Paying in cash

There are specific legal limits on paying rent in cash to prevent money laundering and ensure transparency. A payment of 1,000 € or more cannot be made in cash when one of the parties acts as a business or professional, such as an agency or a company that lets homes (Ley 11/2021). However, the limit is 10,000 € when the payer is a person who shows that their tax domicile is not in Spain and who does not act as a business or professional. Regardless of the amount, whoever pays in cash keeps a signed receipt.

The deposit

In a temporada contract, the legal deposit (fianza) is 2 months' rent (LAU, article 36). This amount is paid at the start of the rental period. The deposit serves as a financial guarantee to cover any potential damages to the property or any unpaid obligations that may arise by the end of the stay. Once the stay is completed and the property is returned in the agreed condition, the deposit is handled according to the terms of the contract.

Opening a basic account in Spain

If a tenant prefers to have a local account despite the options above, they may be eligible for a basic payment account. Consumers who reside legally in the European Union, including those with no fixed address, have the right to open and use a basic payment account with credit institutions in each Member State, whatever their place of residence (Directive (EU) 2014/92, article 16). This ensures that the right to basic banking is not tied to a specific permanent address within the country.

In Spain, the credit institutions that offer payment accounts must offer a basic payment account to potential customers who reside legally in the European Union, including those with no fixed address (Real Decreto-ley 19/2017, article 3). A bank must refuse a basic payment account when opening it would breach the rules against money laundering. This right is for people who reside legally in the European Union.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay the rent from my German IBAN?

Yes, because an account in Germany with a German IBAN is reachable through SEPA (Regulation (EU) 260/2012, article 9.2).

Can a landlord require a Spanish bank account?

No, whoever accepts a transfer or direct debit from a payer with an account in the European Union cannot specify which Member State that account must be in (Regulation (EU) 260/2012, article 9.2).

How much can I pay in cash?

The limit is 1,000 € when one party is a professional or business, and 10,000 € for individuals whose tax domicile is not in Spain and who are not acting as a business or professional (Ley 11/2021).

Can I open a bank account in Spain without living there?

Yes, people who reside legally in the European Union have the right to open a basic payment account regardless of their place of residence (Directive (EU) 2014/92, article 16).