Giant increases in rental prices are reshaping the real estate market and driving a growing trend: rent-by-room living. This booming method spreads beyond price hikes and is amplified by inflation, higher CPI, rising interest rates, and a tight rental supply. In many markets, demand outpaces supply, and experts see room-by-room rentals gaining momentum. Spotahome Spain, a platform that specializes in medium and long-term rentals, notes that room rental demand has surged in recent months. The firm attributes this to a shrinking supply of rental housing in city centers and the continuous price rise driven by inflation. As a result, renting a single room in a shared flat can be up to 60% cheaper than renting an entire property, according to Álvaro Marín, Market Manager at Spotahome Spain, who emphasizes the strategic shift in urban housing demand.
Thus, higher rents and limited real estate stock are pushing not only students but also workers toward room-by-room rentals in shared apartments. Many people cannot afford the monthly cost of a whole-house lease, and finding available properties has become increasingly difficult due to a tight rental market.
Advantages of renting an apartment room by room
Taken together, the current market presents a clear opportunity to rent rooms in shared apartments. For tenants, this arrangement offers a more affordable option and a chance to share experiences with roommates while keeping monthly payments lower.
At the same time, landlords can also benefit. Those who rent by room often see a higher overall income compared with renting the entire home or using traditional rental methods because revenue accrues from each occupied room.
This approach suits owners who do not want to rent out their entire home because they live there, yet have an unused or empty room. Renting a single room provides extra income from space that would otherwise stay unused.
Renting by room also appeals to elderly homeowners who live alone and may have vacant rooms. By renting a room, they gain social interaction and a supplementary income stream.
Another notable advantage is the ability to reduce vacancy risk. Some owners hold second homes used only seasonally or left empty for long periods. Renting a room ensures movement inside the house and makes prolonged occupancy less likely, safeguarding the property from prolonged vacancy.
Finally, room-by-room renting can be the initial step for cautious landlords who hesitate to rent an entire home. This model allows access to common areas while ensuring the rented rooms remain under the owner’s control, helping to monitor property condition and contract compliance.
Spotahome Plus plan
The scenario described highlights the advantages of renting by room and introduces the Spotahome Plus plan, a service designed to give landlords peace of mind when renting out a home. The package includes damage protection, tenant background checks, month-to-month payment guarantees, and coverage for early departure.
Spotahome Plus protects landlords against the main risks of renting, such as non-payment or damage to the property.
The plan guarantees rental income on the 5th of every month, with the platform itself responsible for direct payments to the owner. It also features a verification process that confirms potential tenants’ identities and suitability, including a review of any prior non-payment history or other circumstances.
In addition, Spotahome Plus covers tenant departure up to one month early and provides protection against losses by ensuring compensation equal to two months’ rent to the owner.