Long lets, deposits in escrow.

Days between publication and a signed lease, by monthly rent. The cheaper the home, the less time you have to think.

• Under €800 4 days
• €800—1 200 7 days
• €1 200—1 800 13 days
• €1 800—2 600 24 days
• Over €2 600 39 days

At Under €800 a home is gone inside a week. Have your documents scanned before you enquire — viewings are allocated in the order requests arrive.

At €800—1 200 a home is gone inside a week. Have your documents scanned before you enquire — viewings are allocated in the order requests arrive.

At €1 200—1 800 you have a fortnight or so. Enough time to see three or four, not enough to wait for the perfect one.

At €1 800—2 600 you have a fortnight or so. Enough time to see three or four, not enough to wait for the perfect one.

Above €2 600 the market slows right down. Landlords negotiate on term length and furnishing rather than on the headline rent.

Portuguese and Spanish landlords decide in a day. Have these six scanned and ready before the viewing, not after it.

• 1 Tax number (NIF / NIE)Foreign tenants can get one in a morning with a passport Required
• 2 Three months of payslipsOr the last tax return if you are self-employed Required
• 3 Employment contractA signed offer letter is usually accepted Required
• 4 Guarantor (fiador)Or two to three months' rent paid in advance instead Often
• 5 Bank statementLast three months, showing the salary arriving Often
• 6 Previous landlord's referenceRarely asked for, always helps Optional

US property managers screen formally and charge an application fee. Everything below is checked before a lease is offered.

• 1 Credit reportMost managers want a score of 680 or better Required
• 2 Proof of incomeGross monthly income of three times the rent Required
• 3 Photo IDDriver's licence or passport Required
• 4 Rental historyTwo years, with landlord contacts Often
• 5 Co-signerStandard for students and new arrivals Often
• 6 Pet depositUsually $300—500, sometimes non-refundable If applicable