Oct 4, 2026·1 min read·Graded Spanish · word-by-word audio
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Muchas personas en España compran una casa para alquilarla. Según datos de septiembre, la rentabilidad media es del 6,4%. En siete provincias, el retorno es de al menos un 8%. Toledo tiene la rentabilidad más alta, con un 9,2%. Le siguen Ciudad Real, Teruel, Segovia y Zamora. Valencia es la primera ciudad costera del ranking, con un 8,1%. Pero el Gobierno quiere regular el alquiler. Los nuevos decretos pueden cambiar las reglas.
Además, comprar una casa es cada vez más caro. El precio de la vivienda subió un 14,7% en el tercer trimestre. También es más caro pedir una hipoteca. El euríbor está por encima del 3,3%, el nivel más alto en dos años. Por eso, comprar para alquilar es menos interesante ahora. En Madrid, la rentabilidad apenas llega al 5%. Si restas gastos e impuestos, el margen puede ser nulo o negativo.
Sin embargo, no todo es malo. En zonas con mucha demanda y poca oferta, la vivienda sigue siendo un buen activo. Pero ahora hay que calcular mejor. No basta con mirar la rentabilidad bruta. Hay que considerar la financiación, los impuestos, el mantenimiento y los meses sin inquilino. Los expertos dicen que ya no es tan fácil ganar dinero con el alquiler.
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Watch out, English speaker
Spanish 'hay que + infinitive' expresses a general obligation with no specific subject, like English 'one must' or 'you have to.' English speakers often try to add a subject like 'tú' or 'nosotros,' but 'hay que' is impersonal and never changes form. Also, don't confuse it with 'tener que,' which needs a subject (e.g., 'tengo que calcular').
In Spanish, 'si' + present indicative + present indicative describes a real, likely condition, equivalent to English 'if you subtract... the margin can be...'. English speakers may instinctively use the subjunctive after 'si' because English sometimes uses 'were' in hypotheticals, but Spanish uses the subjunctive only with past tenses (e.g., 'si restaras'). For real present conditions, stick to the indicative.
Spanish 'alquilar' can mean both 'to rent' (as a tenant) and 'to rent out' (as a landlord), while English distinguishes 'rent' vs. 'rent out.' The context and reflexive use ('alquilarse') often clarify, but learners may say 'I rent my apartment' meaning they are the tenant, when in Spanish 'alquilo mi piso' could mean they are the landlord. Pay attention to who is the subject and whether there's a preposition like 'a'.
Key vocabulary
alquilarv.
to rent; to rent out
“Muchas personas compran una casa para alquilarla.”— Many people buy a house to rent it out.
💡 des- (negative prefix) + ánimo (spirit), meaning 'to dishearten'.
propietariom.
owner, landlord
“El 34% de los propietarios piensa dejar el alquiler tradicional.”— 34% of owners are thinking of leaving traditional renting.
Pattern propietario de una vivienda homeowner
Compare dueño owner
Plural: propietarios; feminine: propietaria
💡 From propiedad (property), root propio (one's own).
hipotecaf.
mortgage
“También es más caro pedir una hipoteca.”— It is also more expensive to get a mortgage.
Pattern pedir una hipoteca apply for a mortgage
Compare crédito hipotecario mortgage loan
Plural: hipotecas
💡 From Greek hypo (under) + theke (placement), originally meaning 'collateral'.
euríborm.
Euribor (Euro Interbank Offered Rate)
“El euríbor está por encima del 3,3%.”— Euribor is above 3.3%.
Pattern euríbor a un año one-year Euribor
Compare tipo de interés interest rate
No plural change
💡 Abbreviation of Euro Interbank Offered Rate, a common reference rate for Spanish mortgages.
margenm.
margin, profit
“El margen puede ser nulo o negativo.”— The margin can be zero or negative.
Pattern margen de beneficio profit margin
Compare beneficio profit
Plural: márgenes
💡 From Latin margo (edge), extended to mean 'margin, leeway'.
inquilinom.
tenant
“Hay que considerar los meses sin inquilino.”— You have to consider the months without a tenant.
Pattern meses sin inquilino months without a tenant
Compare arrendatario tenant
Plural: inquilinos; feminine: inquilina
💡 From Latin inquilinus, meaning 'one who lives in another's house'.
Grammar spotlight
hay que + infinitive (must do something)
A2
Hay que is followed directly by an infinitive to express that something must or needs to be done. There is no subject; it refers to people in general.
“Pero ahora hay que calcular mejor.”— But now you have to calculate better.
⚠️ Do not write hay que + a conjugated verb; you must use the infinitive.
si + present indicative (conditional sentences)
A2
Use si to introduce a condition, followed by the present indicative, and the main clause also uses the present. This expresses a real, possible situation.
“Si restas gastos e impuestos, el margen puede ser nulo o negativo.”— If you subtract expenses and taxes, the margin can be zero or negative.
⚠️ Do not use si + subjunctive for real conditions; beginners often confuse this.
Sentence patterns to steal
Muchas personas en España compran una casa para alquilarla.
Many people in Spain buy a house to rent it out.
comprar algo para + infinitivealquilarla can be replaced with other verbs, such as venderla (to sell it)
Estas medidas pueden desanimar a los propietarios.
These measures may discourage property owners.
poder + infinitive + a alguiendesanimar can be replaced with animar (to encourage), etc.
No basta con mirar la rentabilidad bruta.
It is not enough to look at the gross yield.
No basta con + infinitivemirar la rentabilidad bruta can be replaced with other actions
Los expertos dicen que ya no es tan fácil ganar dinero con el alquiler.
Experts say that it is no longer so easy to make money from renting.
ya no es tan fácil + infinitiveganar dinero con el alquiler can be replaced with other activities
Spain's Rental Market and Government Regulation
In recent years, the Spanish government has introduced several measures to regulate rents, such as limiting rent increases and extending contract terms, with the aim of protecting tenants. However, these policies have also raised concerns among investors, who believe they will reduce rental returns.
Source: Based on Expansión news and reports related to the Spanish Housing Law