The search for a rental property has become a monumental task for many, including a young couple from Girona. Despite having jobs, permanent contracts, and stable incomes, Aicha Tarik and her partner, aged 20 and 27 respectively, have been unable to find a place to live for over a year. They work in the Alt Empordà region, she as a healthcare assistant in Castelló d’Empúries and he in the service sector in Empuriabrava. Their request is simple: "We are not looking for luxury. We just want a place to live."
Their search has extended beyond their workplaces to include towns such as Figueres, Roses, l'Escala, Ventalló, Vilabertran, and Vilafant. They have even considered commutes of up to forty or fifty minutes to get to work, bearing the costs of fuel and vehicle wear, but the difficulty persists.
One of the main obstacles they face is having their two dogs. Many doors are closed solely for this reason. "They don't want animals anywhere," they lament. Despite offering to pay for additional insurance or accept special conditions, the response is usually negative. "For us, they are family. We will not abandon them to find a flat," they state firmly.
The search intensified once both secured permanent contracts, considered an essential requirement. Despite daily dedication to searching listings, making calls, and visiting real estate agencies, they often don't even get to see the flat. "Many times, you request time off work to view it, and before you arrive, they write to you saying it's already rented," they explain, highlighting the intense competition and the often abusive conditions that people end up accepting for fear of losing the opportunity.
Price is another determining factor. They have considered allocating almost half of their income, around 800 euros per month, to housing. They recall a flat advertised as two bedrooms and 60 square meters that was actually a tiny, barely habitable space for 650 euros a month.
They also warn of the risk of scams, with attractive listings that end up requesting advance payments. Furthermore, the requirements to access a rental are becoming increasingly strict: recent payslips, permanent contracts, and income triple the rent price, along with multiple deposits and still-active agency fees.
The contradiction between the social discourse of love for animals and the reality of the housing market is evident. "We talk a lot about adopting animals, loving animals... but then, when it comes to looking for a flat, nobody wants them," they criticize. The size or breed of the dogs can also be a direct rejection factor, closing even more doors.
In Empuriabrava, an additional problem is that many properties are second homes or temporary accommodations, with a majority presence of foreigners who come seasonally, limiting options for permanent rentals.
Given the impossibility of finding a rental flat, the couple is now exploring the option of buying, an alternative that was not their first choice at only twenty years old, but which seems to be the only way to guarantee stability.
