Understanding the Rental Process: Owner Perspective
Every morning, we pop open our email and message boxes to numerous inquiries from property owners seeking to rent out their homes to our clients, asking questions such as what they need to do and provide to get listed with us.
Let’s get one thing straight for Renters and Owners: Stepping Stone properties are not tourist rentals. They are not AirBnbs. And they are not short-term rentals. We specialize in mid-term rentals—offering a network of homes that belong to real people, and we do an amazing job of caring for their property and the tenants once they arrive. Our landlords often step away for months for whatever reason, and as a result, they choose to open their doors to others who are transitioning their lives to Valencia. However, we also get a lot of property owners or investors who want to “milk the cow” beyond what is “healthy” with poorly equipped, soulless flats. If that’s you, please don’t contact us.
Bare minimum folk, stay away! We’re not desperate for properties. We are fortunate to be selective with whom we work, and will happily drop a client who is conflictual or who doesn’t align with our company values.
Renting out your property in Valencia can be a rewarding way to generate some extra income or to ensure that your home isn’t empty and at risk of unwanted occupancy. But it also comes with responsibilities. From legal documents to furnishing and maintenance, there’s a fair bit to do before handing over the keys to your rental managers.
Here’s our practical, wordy, and maybe a bit naggy guide for property owners to get your flat rental-ready, to avoid common headaches, and to secure responsible tenants.
✅ Pre-Rental Paperwork
We must receive the following before renting:
- A copy of the Nota Simple or property deed
- Passport and NIE of everyone listed on the deed
- Recent utility bills: electricity, water, and gas
- A short “Tips & Tricks” guide for tenants: how to use the boiler, washing machine, the quirks of the shutters, etc.
🧹 What Tenants Expect (and You Should Too)
Before saying your home is “ready to rent,” ask yourself: Would I and my own family live here for 3–12 months with these items, in this condition?
We’ve seen a handful of pretty dumpy old places that raise more than a few eyebrows when the property owners say it’s ready to rent out.
We’ve heard “it’s clean!”, “It’s fully equipped!”, “It’s got everything!”, “It’s ready,” “It’s good enough!” … but they are not. We’ve had property owners get defensive and upset when we tell them things need to be updated or improved. It’s a response that, as rental property owners ourselves, we just CAN’T comprehend. If your place is outdated, half-functional, or kitted out with bargain-bin supplies, it won’t cut it, especially not for tenants moving their lives here and paying good money for a quality stay. It’s possible to get away with this, however, since other low-quality rental companies will accept sub-par listings, along with giving sub-par service.
Even for mid-term rentals, tenants expect a clean, functional, and safe home. That means ALL appliances should be up to date and working, plumbing should be sound, and electrical fittings should be in order. If anything’s on the edge—please, get it fixed ahead of time.
All appliances should not only work, but also not be a decade old, covered in limescale, or be so used that they’re barely recognizable. C’mooon. Don’t be cheap! Do NOT furnish your apartment from the local bargain-bin supply shop! This is crappy, cheap, and ugly material. The lowest quality you should ever consider buying stops at IKEA levels. Cutting boards… Sure, only in this case, but nothing else. No towels, no knives, no pillows, no wall decor!
Safety also matters: Here’s what to check:
💡 Appliances:
- Working, modern, and clean
- No ancient, rusted, or limescaled relics
- Replace anything broken or close to breaking
🧯 Safety:
- Mini fire extinguisher in the kitchen. These can be found easily on Amazon, for example, here.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (if installed) tested. Smoke & Carbon Mono – Detector Here
- Extra batteries and light bulbs for backup
- All doors/windows must lock properly
- A working boiler (double-check it!) The number of times we’ve had to deal with boiler issues is off the charts insane.
- At least 4.6kW energy supply to avoid constant short-circuits when turning on the oven to make dinner while taking a shower.
While renters are expected to respect the home, landlords are responsible for ensuring the property is habitable from the start.
🛏️ Furnishing:
Furnished, Semi-Furnished, or Empty?
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach in Valencia. Some owners rent flats fully furnished with a stylish touch, especially for mid-term stays, while others stick to basic fittings. Stepping Stone Rentals doesn’t offer empty flats, but we’ll enthusiastically work with you to furnish them properly and specifically for rental purposes.
Tip: A well-presented flat tends to rent faster and for a better price, especially in competitive neighborhoods like Ruzafa, El Carmen, or L’Eixample.
🧽 Cleaning Supplies:
- Stepping Stone Rentals’ typical clients are families of 3 – 4 persons, working remotely. So, there needs to be enough towels and white goods for each bed/bedroom and a proper workspace.
- An iron + ironing board, drying rack, and plenty of quality clips if you’ve got clothing lines outside the windows
- A proper desk and chair for remote work (not the dining table). Maybe there can be a few exceptions for this last one.
- Provide a vacuum!! How can a tenant be expected to clean up after themselves if you’ve not left proper cleaning supplies? We’ve had several apartments with rugs and no vacuum, or a vacuum so weak that it’s just junk.
- A basic set of cleaning products that will be replaced by us after each rental. Especially, if you have very specific furniture, like wood, for example, or historic tiles.
📺 Entertainment & Comfort:
- How old is that television? If you provide a TV, then make sure it’s SMART and works well.
- The kitchen tends to be the most important room. There must be a decent Coffee machine, a kettle, a full kitchen set-up: utensils, sharp knives, kitchen towels
- Bakeware and a good selection of cooking pots and pans (and NO – not the scratched-up eat-Teflon-with-each-meal pan! Replace it!)
- If there’s no AC, provide high-quality, silent fans
- In winter, proper blankets, duvets, and mattress protectors
- WIFI must be installed and working massively well!
🏙️ Location, Presentation, and Tenant Expectations
Ready to Rent? Stepping Stone Rentals primarily works with working professionals and families relocating to Valencia from the USA and European countries. That means:
- Enough towels and white goods for each bed
- Flats that are clean, safe, well-lit, and ready to move in
- Any location counts. Although popular neighborhoods such as Ruzafa, El Carmen, or L’Eixemple will see constant bookings. A good setup can rent your place faster and at a higher rate
📸 Our Visual Package = Your Flat’s First Impression
Did you do the Stepping Stone Visual Package? 90% of tenants book sight unseen from abroad; so this is non-negotiable, which makes all the difference. To be part of our network, we require every flat to do our Visual Package. We have a kick-ass camera, and it ensures that every property online is consistent and gives maximum visual information:
- Professional photography
- Floor plan
- Virtual tour
🧠 Local Insight: Valencia-Specific Tips
The rental market in Valencia has its quirks. We know how local expectations and vibe vary by neighborhood, what kind of tenants are coming in, and what price range fits what level of presentation.
Knowing your audience helps you prepare better. Stepping Stone Rentals knows their audience very well and advises our owners to fine-tune their properties for the right audience.
🎯 Final Word: Be Proud of What You’re Offering
If your property is clean, safe, and thoughtfully equipped—you’re already ahead of the game. A great manager-landlord-tenant relationship starts with quality, transparency, and preparation. Allow us to take care of your property and tenant, and your tenant will take care of your property.
👀 Coming Soon:
Want to know what makes a good tenant—and how they should care for your property? Keep an eye out for our next article: “Renting a Flat: How Renters Should Treat a Rental.”
📩 Want to List with Us?
Need help renting your flat in Valencia?
We specialize in mid-term rentals that attract reliable, respectful, and cool tenants.
If that sounds like what you’re looking for, reach out:
📧 info@steppingstonerentals.com
Let’s do it right.