17% of the homes rented through idealista in Q4 last year were on the market for less than 24 hours – one percentage point lower than during the same period in 2023, according to a study by idealista, the leading real estate marketplace in southern Europe.
Vitoria and Girona recorded the highest percentage of express rentals, with 32% of rented homes in the Álava capital and 29% in Girona being taken in less than a day. They were followed by San Sebastián (28%), Lugo (26%), Burgos (26%), Santa Cruz de Tenerife (24%), Ourense (23%) and Logroño (23%).
Among the major markets, aside from San Sebastián, the highest incidence of express rentals is in Barcelona (20%), followed by Palma (19%) and Málaga (19%). Next are Alicante and Seville, both at 18%, with Bilbao slightly behind at 17%. Below the national average are Valencia (14%) and Madrid (13%).
This phenomenon is virtually non-existent in Cáceres, Melilla and Soria, and remains rare in the capitals of Segovia (6%) and Badajoz (6%).
Trends in express rentals: surges and declines in autonomous community capital cities
Ceuta is the capital where this phenomenon has grown the most over the past year, rising from 0% in Q4 of 2023 to 20% today. It is followed by Guadalajara (from 8% to 19%), Ávila (from 6% to 14%), Palencia (from 11% to 18%) and Segovia (from 0% to 6%).
In Barcelona, the incidence of express rentals has increased by six percentage points, from 14% to 20%, while in Madrid it has declined by three points, from 16% in 2023 to 13% today. The most significant drops have been in Soria, where express rentals have vanished entirely after representing 22% last year, and Cuenca, where the rate has fallen from 25% to 10%.
Provinces: Zamora leads the weight of express rentals
Zamora leads the provinces with the highest percentage of express rentals, at 44%, followed by Teruel (33%), Álava (31%), Girona (27%) and La Rioja and Guipúzcoa at 26%. In the province of Barcelona, the rate stands at 22%, while in Madrid it drops to 14%. Conversely, the lowest incidence is recorded in the provinces of Soria (0%), Badajoz (6%) and Cuenca (7%).
The data has been collected and analysed by idealista/data, idealista's proptech, which provides information for a professional audience to facilitate strategic decision-making in Spain, Italy and Portugal. It uses all the idealista database parameters in each country and other public and private data sources to offer valuation, investment, recruitment and market analysis services.
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