Our daughter and her husband are moving to Madrid in the next month or so and I was wondering if anyone had any advice on suitable areas to start looking for rented accommodation. They are expecting a baby shortly so will need a safe neighbourhood preferably near to park, shops etc.

It will all depend on where the working spouse is working. Madrid traffic can be gruesome. A relocation agent will certainly be worth his/her weight in Gold to help them get settled, find social clubs as well as , of course, the best selection of flats/houses in their price range.

There are no multiple listings in Spain in general, so it is convenient to have an assistant at least scour all the agencies for you if you do not have the time to do it yourself.

They may want to contact the American Women's Club of Madrid as sometimes they will be lucky and someone is moving out of a very nice place and they post it on their newsletter.

The wife will most likely want to get involved in one of those clubs anyway. There are lot of very nice expats, and local Madrileñas or other Spanish/English speaking women in this club.

They offer classes of all sorts, and most likely have some sort of newcomer's program.

The Club

http://www.awcmadrid.com/

The European Relocation Association ( which in most cases the firm where the foreigner is going to work, will give them this service if requested and has not already been offered)

http://www.eura-relocation.com/

I have seen lovely apartments all over the city. Madrid is also a very green city, so a park will not be hard to find. Once they know their budget, that will dictate the neighborhood most likely.

They must be sure to have an interpreter when they sign the contract as Spanish rentals do have some extras that renters are liable fro that may not be understood and not already included in the rent unless specified in contract.

My best suggestion if they are renting is to negotiate that all condo/escalera/comunidad fees be included in the rent if the are not. Also. after the first year, ( obligatory to complete in most cases) that they can give two months' notice and be relieved of the contract. This must be stated clearly in the contract.

Here is some more info although more for your daughter to meet young moms than for the baby!

http://www.kidsinmadrid.com/en/playgroups.html

I hope their stay is pleasant!

Thanks for such comprehensive information which I will pass on. I should have said that there won't be a language problem as son-in-law is Mexican and daughter is English with Spanish language degree!
Regards & big thank you.

Nearest metro to where my son-in-law will be working is VELAZQUEZ

I like Argüelles, on the same subway line (# 4) to Velázquez, near to the Parque del Oeste, next to El Corte Inglés department store and not too far from Gran Vía (subway line # 3, downtown).

Transport information system
http://www.ctm-madrid.es/como_ir_a/m...1&CODBOTON=201

Again many thanks- this is all so helpful.