Nowadays, more and more tenants are looking to rent a room in Spain for various reasons: studying, temporary work, or simply as a first step towards independence. idealista has just launched the new Online Room Booking feature, which allows tenants to reserve their chosen room and pay the first month’s rent through idealista (subsequent monthly payments are made directly to the landlord). This way, tenants can check in to the room first and ensure everything is in order before the payment reaches the landlord.
This tool is designed to simplify the room rental process both for tenants, who want a fast and reliable option, and for property professionals, who wish to optimise their daily management.
If a tenant finds a room that meets all their needs, they can request a reservation immediately. The listing must display the “Book Now” badge, and payment is only required if the landlord accepts the request.
When booking a room on idealista, a one-time service fee is charged in addition to the first month’s rent. This fee is 15% of one month’s rent (with a minimum of €75 and a maximum of €200).
For example, to book a room costing €500, you would pay €500 + €75, only once, at the time of booking. idealista does not charge or block any payment until the landlord accepts the booking request, allowing tenants to request multiple reservations if they wish. If funds are unavailable when the request is accepted, the system will reject the reservation. If the landlord never accepts or rejects the request, no charges will be made to the tenant’s card.
Advantages for tenants
- Simplified booking process: The Online Room Booking feature allows tenants to reserve a room quickly and easily. They can select their desired room, check availability, and pay the first month’s rent securely. Multiple reservations can be requested simultaneously, but only the first accepted booking will be charged.
- Secure payments: Tenants can feel reassured that the first month’s rent is only transferred to the landlord once they have checked in and confirmed that everything is in order. This ensures the money is protected until they are satisfied that the property meets the listing’s description. Idealista collects the first month’s rent and transfers it 48 hours after the tenant moves in.
- Transparent booking conditions: idealista allows tenants to view the specific terms for each room in advance, including the cancellation policy, minimum stay, and any additional costs. This provides transparency and avoids unpleasant surprises.
- Online booking with insurance: This new option allows tenants to book a room with free insurance that includes special protections. Additionally, no deposit is required for rooms covered by this insurance, though not all listings offer it (depending on whether the landlord has purchased it). The insurance covers:
- Third-party liability: up to €100,000.
- Damage or theft of personal belongings in the room, up to €2,500 with a €100 deductible (e.g., laptop or guitar theft).
- Re-location: if the agency cancels an ongoing booking, the insurance covers temporary accommodation costs for up to two months’ rent, while the Online Booking team helps find a similar room.
- Lost keys: the insurance covers locksmith and replacement costs, up to €250.
Rooms with insurance can be identified via the “Online Booking with Insurance” filter.
Advantages for property professionals
- Essential functionality for room management: Landlords can now manage the entire booking and payment process within idealista. This single platform saves time and ensures a faster, safer workflow. idealista remains the ecosystem that facilitates secure online room booking.
- Tenant selection tools: Professionals can receive sorted requests from interested tenants, enabling them to choose tenants more effectively and ensuring better cohabitation.
- Time optimisation: Automating bookings and payments reduces administrative tasks, allowing professionals to focus on essential business activities, such as customer service and property promotion.
- Increased listing visibility: Listings with the Online Booking feature benefit from better positioning in search results, improving visibility and chances of attracting tenants.
- Secure and protected income: idealista manages the first month’s rent and landlord cancellation policies, providing a secure revenue stream. The payment system also detects fraudulent transactions and rejects them automatically.
- Simplified reservation management: The tool automatically updates the calendar, helping landlords operate efficiently, reduce errors, and maximise occupancy. Landlords can specify details such as calendar availability, minimum stay, cancellation policy, deposit, agency fees, or any other costs payable at check-in.
- Easy handling of requests: Landlords can accept or reject tenant requests within 24 hours. Accepted bookings are automatically charged to the tenant’s payment method, and the calendar is blocked for those dates, preventing double-booking.
- Online booking with insurance: Free for landlords, this insurance protects the room once booked through idealista, covering from the tenant’s move-in date until departure. Cover includes:
- Third-party liability: up to €100,000.
- Damage to property (room and flat): up to four months’ rent with a €100 deductible.
- Early tenant departure (even without notice): covers up to two months’ rent.
- Tenant default: covers the last month of rent and up to two months’ arrears, with no limit.