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Renting out an apartment, studio or loft for short periods is an activity that is currently increasing at an astonishing rate. Companies specialising in this kind of service carry out all kinds of transactions online and the customer also consults apartment availability, prices, location, size and facilities by this route. Furthermore, all sites include photographs of the various rooms and some offer virtual tours. 

This option is perfect for large cities. Madrid and Barcelona have the largest number of companies that rent flats by the day, their highest booking figures usually coinciding with cultural and sporting events and trade fairs. The success of this formula has led the model to spread to other smaller Spanish cities such as Bilbao, Valencia, Seville and Zaragoza, among others. There are various options. Luxury designer apartments, large lofts, medium-sized properties and small apartments. The best-known websites include: 
www.barcelonacheckin.com; www.homesfortravellers.com and www.rentmadrid.es. 

Benefits for property owners 

The majority of landlords increase the average profitability for renting out their flat this way by between 5% and 30% compared to the traditional rental model. The commission charged by specialist companies is not less than 30%, their duties including finding tenants, managing the stay and cleaning the property. The property owner must provide the apartment fully renovated, decorated and furnished, with all the necessary electrical appliances and cooking utensils to enable customers to prepare their meals. It must also contain household linen, a television, DVD, and an Internet connection is expected more and more. The residents’ association fees, electricity and water costs are met by the property owner and any damage caused to the property is the responsibility of the specialist company who will record these eventualities on the insurance policy which forms part of the contract with the tenant. The insurance coverage for these apartments is similar to that of hotels, as such if the customer causes any damage to the flat, they must cover the cost. The provisions of the contract also cover medical insurance which includes attending to the tenant in the event of a domestic accident. 

Along with those mentioned above, the big advantage for the property owner is that they can have access to their apartment whenever they want, since they establish the rental agreements and availability of their property with the management companies, in accordance with their needs. Furthermore, the apartment is kept in better condition by using this formula than with traditional renting. 

Recommendations for the tenant

Flats and houses which are rented for short periods also offer the tenant many benefits. To start with, the accommodation in an apartment can be 20% cheaper than in a hotel with similar facilities and services. In the centre of Madrid or Barcelona, the cost per day of staying in an apartment with the above facilities is between 80 and 100 euros. The cost of staying in a hotel room with similar characteristics is usually around 120 euros. 
It is essential that the customer checks all of the details and raises any queries with the agent at the company responsible for the rental before making their reservation. The most important issues include: 

- Detailed information about the facilities 
- Complementary services: chauffeur, cleaning, ironing, etc. and associated costs
- Restrictions: Parties and pets are not usually allowed in short-term lets 
- The amount that must be paid on making the reservation. The usual percentage is 35% of the total price 
- Cancellation periods and charges 
- Check-in and check-out times and how to return the keys 
- Medical insurance coverage 
- Conditions imposed by the company in the event of stains, irregularities or damage to the apartment 

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