Flexible accommodation comes to the town with the highest average gross income in Spain. The new project is promoted by Grupo Moraval and EQT Exeter, managed by the operator Nodis and has just opened its doors on Avenida de Europa in Pozuelo de Alarcon.
Three buildings house individual studios, shared flats and communal areas. It is aimed at different types of public (from students to young professionals) and prices start at €800 per month. However, the concept is similar to an aparthotel, so it accepts day bookings.
Gonzalo Pazos, director of Nodis Pozuelo, explains to idealista/news, "It is a flexible housing concept. We welcome all client profiles, from students to young professionals who need accommodation. It is like a hotel with cleaning services and changing sheets and towels. We include Wi-Fi, electricity and water costs... In other words, the person pays rent – for a day or a month – and all services are included. Plus, there's the bonus of being a 'coliving' concept, in which the person, apart from having their own living space, also has common areas. So it combines the concept of a hotel and a place where things are taken care of, and you forget about everything that is not your day-to-day life while being able to live with and get to know people".
This flexible accommodation project started this September and already has Spanish and foreign guests, with a significant number of Latin Americans and Central Europeans, with different profiles: from students to young professionals who need a temporary housing solution, as well as older clients who need to stay in Madrid for family reasons. "It's a flexible concept; we're open to everyone," says Pazos.
This is the first aparthotel concept launched in Spain by the development group Moraval and the Swedish investment giant EQT Exeter, an idealista shareholder. As part of their joint venture, they have already developed student residences in cities such as Seville and Madrid and plan to promote this 'flex living' format in other parts of Spain.
And why launch this concept in Pozuelo? As the Nodis manager points out, the main reason is the location. "We're very close to the public and private universities, which are quite well known in Madrid. We're also close to an office area, where many people work. And the connections to Madrid are also excellent. It takes you 10 minutes to get to the centre of Madrid. Some people may not feel very comfortable in Madrid city. Here, they have the great advantage of leaving the city centre in a few minutes and being somewhere they feel calm and safe," emphasises Pazos. We're also close to shopping areas, like El Zielo shopping centre.
This project includes three buildings comprising both flats and communal services, with 9,500 m2 of floor space and some 10,000 m2 of indoor and outdoor areas available to guests. It has 417 beds, distributed between individual studios and shared flats. All have a full kitchen, bathroom, television, storage space and study area. Some even have a private terrace.
The common areas are in one of the buildings and cater for work and study, sport and leisure. "As for outdoor facilities, we have a swimming pool, paddle tennis courts, and a fitness area for callisthenics, which is very popular. And indoors we have an audiovisual room where people can come to watch a football match or prepare presentations. There are also areas where you can play pool or table football and a couple of private rooms equipped with a kitchen and an outdoor area, which can be booked for birthday parties or meals. We also have the indoor gym, a 24-hour workroom equipped with the latest technology, and a rooftop with incredible views of Madrid," says the director of Nodis Pozuelo. There is also a laundry, car park and vending machines on the premises, although, unlike a hotel or student residence, it does not have a cafeteria or restaurant.
As for prices, the monthly range is between €800 and €1,400, including VAT and cleaning services, although it depends on the flat type and the length of stay. "The longer the contract, the better the prices," insists Pazos, but reservations can also be made for one night, for several days or half-stays (one year, two years...).
Ease of renting and technology are key
The director of Nodis Pozuelo assures that one of the great competitive advantages of this type of accommodation compared to a traditional rented flat, beyond the temporary flexibility, is the ease of booking the accommodation, as it works more like a hotel than a home. Since a few weeks ago, reservations for accommodation can be made through platforms such as Booking.
"Unlike rental housing, which usually asks for a lot of requirements, such as a salary, a deposit or even a guarantor, with this system, all you need to do is make a reservation request with a credit card, make sure there is availability and pay the corresponding fees. The only thing we ask people who come to live with us – especially for the shared flats – is what type of person they'd prefer to live with. We try to find similarities to put them together and ensure that there is a connection from the outset and help them feel more integrated," emphasises the director of the Nodis project in Pozuelo.
Helping promote a good living atmosphere, the operator stresses that activities are carried out throughout the year, from welcome parties to sports and leisure activities. Another of its main hallmarks is its commitment to technology and energy efficiency.
For example, rooms can be opened in different ways: with a fingerprint or a mobile app, which can also be used to access the communal areas. Another alternative is to create a temporary access code. Workrooms, on the other hand, are equipped with the latest technology in terms of Wi-Fi and data sockets. Technology also promotes energy savings, as sensors can detect whether rooms are occupied and turn lights or air conditioning on or off.
Finally, the Moraval and EQT Exeter project in Pozuelo has also opted for partial prefabricated construction, which means that development took just ten months. Although it was the first in this flexible housing sector, it will not be the last. Both the promoters of this flexible housing and its operator Nodis hope to open new centres in other cities in Spain in the coming years.
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