I wanted to share my experience for other international students looking for accommodation in Madrid.
I rented a room for five months that was managed by Rookie in Town and booked through Spacest.
My security deposit was €399, but after moving out I received only €45.65 back. The remainder was deducted for various alleged damages, repairs, cleaning and utilities.
The most concerning part for me was being charged for damage to the bathroom ceiling even though I have dated photo and video evidence from my check-in showing that the ceiling was already damaged when I moved in.
I was also charged for alleged “misuse” involving a bed base and washing machine. I formally disputed these deductions and asked for sufficient evidence supporting the allegation of misuse. In my view, the documentation provided did not adequately establish this. I also disputed the utility calculation and have retained my payment records.
I repeatedly contacted Rookie in Town in writing, but despite extensive correspondence, the dispute was not resolved.
I then contacted Spacest, since I had originally booked the accommodation through their platform, hoping they could assist. Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain a satisfactory resolution through Spacest either. I was ultimately told to contact Rookie in Town again through a different email address, despite already having extensive written correspondence with Rookie regarding the same dispute.
The matter remained unresolved and I eventually had to pursue it legally myself and submit my claim and supporting evidence to the competent court in Madrid.
I have kept the contract, invoices, payment records, emails, photos and check-in/check-out evidence.
I’m sharing this because I wish I had known how important this documentation could become before renting. If you are an international student renting in Madrid, take detailed photos and videos on the day you move in and when you leave, and keep every payment record and email.