Renting in Spain
Registering at your rental address (empadronamiento)
How to register your rental address at the town hall, and what to do if your name isn't on the contract.
This guide is not yet verified by Tuchati's editorial review — treat it as a helpful starting point, not a final legal answer.
Overview
Once you've moved into a rental, registering your address with the local ayuntamiento — empadronamiento — is one of the first things to sort out. It's separate from your immigration status, but it unlocks access to healthcare, school enrolment and other local services. The general process is covered in our Paperwork guide; this one focuses on the situations specific to renters.
Requirements
- You'll normally need your rental contract, in your name, as proof of address
- If you're not named on the contract (for example in a flatshare or informal room rental), you'll usually need a signed authorisation from whoever is, along with their ID
Step-by-step process
- Ask your landlord in advance whether they're comfortable providing a copy of the contract, or a signed authorisation letter if you're not named on it — some landlords hesitate over this, so it's worth clarifying before you sign
- Book an appointment with your local ayuntamiento
- Bring your ID and proof of address to the appointment and complete the padrón application form
- Collect your certificado or volante de empadronamiento
Required documents
- Passport or NIE
- Rental contract, original and copy
- Signed authorisation letter and ID from the contract holder, if you're not named on the contract yourself
Common mistakes
- Assuming a landlord's refusal to help ends the process — depending on your municipality, other proof of residence may be accepted, so it's worth checking rather than assuming
- Not asking for multiple original certificates when you'll need to submit them to more than one body (healthcare, school, bank, etc.)
Practical tips
- Raise empadronamiento with your landlord before signing, not after — it avoids surprises if they're unfamiliar with the process
- Requirements vary between town halls, so check your specific ayuntamiento's website for their exact document list before your appointment
How Tuchati can help
If your landlord is uncooperative, or your situation (a flatshare, a room rental, or a contract not in your name) doesn't fit the standard process, Tuchati can help you find the right way forward for your municipality.