Spanish · Home & repairs · Elementary
Questions to ask when viewing a flat in Spain
Ask about what photos don’t show: the light (“¿El piso es exterior o interior?”), the heating (“¿Tiene calefacción?”), the noise (“¿Hay mucho ruido por la noche?”) and the furniture (“¿Qué muebles se quedan en el piso?”). Ask about damp and bills too, and don’t let “hay más gente interesada” rush you.
Try it · about two minutes
On a flat viewing you ask about the heating, the noise, the light and which furniture stays.
Sound on: the landlord speaks Spanish. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.
The conversation
- Landlord
El piso está libre ya.
The flat is free now.
You¿El piso es exterior o interior?
Does the flat face the street or the inner courtyard?
The landlord opens the shutters and the living room fills with sun. You move on to the bedroom.
You¿Qué muebles se quedan en el piso?
Which furniture stays in the flat?
- Landlord
Se quedan la cama y el armario. El sofá me lo llevo.
The bed and the wardrobe stay. I’m taking the sofa.
You¿Tiene calefacción?
Does it have heating?
- Landlord
La caldera es muy vieja y hay que cambiarla.
The boiler is very old and needs replacing.
You¿Quién paga las reparaciones?
Who pays for repairs?
- Landlord
Es desgaste normal, así que lo pago yo.
It’s normal wear and tear, so I’ll pay for it.
You¿Hay mucho ruido por la noche?
Is it noisy at night?
- Landlord
Hay más gente interesada, tendría que decidirse pronto.
Other people are interested, so you’d need to decide soon.
YouVale, pero ¿y el ruido por la noche?
Fine, but what about the noise at night?
Key phrases
¿El piso es exterior o interior?
Does the flat face the street or the inner courtyard?
¿Le da el sol por la mañana?
Does it get the sun in the morning?
¿Está amueblado?
Is it furnished?
¿Qué muebles se quedan en el piso?
Which furniture stays in the flat?
¿Tiene calefacción?
Does it have heating?
¿Hay mucho ruido por la noche?
Is it noisy at night?
¿Es un barrio tranquilo?
Is it a quiet area?
¿Hay algún problema de humedad en el piso?
Are there any damp problems in the flat?
¿Los gastos están incluidos?
Are the bills included?
Hay más gente interesada, tendría que decidirse pronto.
Other people are interested, so you’d need to decide soon.
Good to know in Spain
Exterior or interior
An exterior flat faces the street and usually gets more light. An interior one faces the inner courtyard and is often quieter.
¿El piso es exterior o interior?
Does the flat face the street or the inner courtyard?
Before you say yes
- 1
Heating: not every flat has it, so ask.
Does it have heating? - 2
Noise: if you can, come back one evening.
Is it noisy at night? - 3
Damp: look at the ceilings and ask.
Are there any damp problems in the flat? - 4
Bills: ask whether they’re included.
Are the bills included?
“Hay más gente interesada”
You’ll often hear that others are interested. It may be true, but get your questions answered before you commit.
Hay más gente interesada, tendría que decidirse pronto.
Other people are interested, so you’d need to decide soon.
More situations in Spanish
- Reporting a broken boiler to your landlord
- Getting home internet installed
- Asking for directions in the street
- Asking someone to repeat or slow down
- Booking a table at a restaurant
- Buying a ticket or a monthly travel pass
Keep these phrases in Frasa
Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.
AI-generated. May be inaccurate.