Rentals in Madrid , Spain-Select
 

Several members have been interested in apt. rentals in Madrid.
Three years ago we rented from Spain Select, I have recommended them to a few members. Most of their properties are monthly rentals, but there is a number of short term apt. for rent in the center of the city.


here is the new web site:

http://www.spain-select.com/

We also rented from Spain Select this past March. Our apt was at Plaza de la Paja in Madrid and we rented it for 5 nights. Overall it was as represented in teh website and I felt the price was very reasonable. However, I must admit that I didn't enjoy as much the experience of being in an apt vs a hotel.

it depends... we always stay in apts, we don't cook ( no kids) - just like the space.
A number of posters have been asking about rentals in Madrid ; I have read some bad reviews about Friendly Rentals in Madrid .

I find Spain Select very confusing.They quote the weekly rent and then state it's a one month minimum rental.
cruisluv-How did you get them to rent for 5 days?
Thanks.

MOST of their rentals are monthly, but FIRST 15 or so listings for Madrid are per day ( 3 days minimum).
We stayed 6 days the first time; planning another 4-5 days stay in the spring .

p.s
S-S web page is being redesigned - will be up in a few days.

I just ploughed through some of their listings and did indeed come across some that are for less than a month.My challenge is to find an apartment for one month and muliplying the weekly rent by four seems a bit much.Why don't they list the monthly rentals separately?

chapla,

The Plaza de la Paja apt was a 3 days minimum apt. I believe all the apts on the first page are 3 days min. I agree that it would be less confusing if they clearly segregated them.

chapala, why don't you e-mail SS and see what you can work out. Most of the monthly rentals are very well furnished apt.
and indeed nor cheap...
SS business seems to be renting luxury villas and upscale apartments.

We rented an apt at Carretas 8. Two small bedrooms. Very nice. Terrific windows and little balconies on the street. Great people watching. Bedrooms in the back off the street. I thought the apartment and the staff were very good.

we liked our apt...I think it was carretas 101. We were there less than a week. Nice apt, no problems. Anybody else have any problems?

I have stayed at one of their proposals but I found it slightly different than the pictures, extremelly good fotos but ok.

I also found another web page quite similar but with much more realistic photos even worse than the reality of the apartment I rented... it was www.apartamentosenmadridcentro.com

Hope it helps.

Roseta Gómez([email protected]) rents an apartment. We rented this apartment from her for a week this summer.

Good evening John and Sue:

The apartment is available in this days. The price is 220 euros. You have free parking in this area of Madrid (Moratalaz).

2011/6/11 HOMELIDAYS <[email protected]>
Miembro n° : 6038824
Anuncio n° : 391329

We rented from spain select this past November and were very satisfied. The apartment looked exactly like the pictures and the service was very good. I would use them again.

DEADLY FIRE & FLOODING IN APARTMENT - COMPLETE FAULT OF HOME SELECT! NO COMPENSATION AND HS WENT AGAINST THEIR OWN CONTRACT, FORCING ME TO PAY MORE FOR ANOTHER APARTMENT OR BE LEFT WITH NO PLACE TO LIVE WHILE WORKING IN MADRID.

AVOID AVOID AVOID! USE THIS COMPANY AT YOUR RISK! LEGAL ACTION PENDING!

Home Select (also goes by Spain Select) has been an utter nightmare! ISSUES BEGAN ON DAY 1 and continue until NOW! Where shall I begin?

Upon arriving in Madrid, I called the dedicated number and was then asked to call the rep on his cell phone to let him know I would be at the apartment in 30 minutes. I did and a very rude man answered in an annoyed tone. He barked at me "What do you want?" A little stunned, I asked if he was from Home Select! He asked me to call him back when I was en route and upon arriving at the apartment, he berated me for not coming up to the apartment fast enough. Wow. Welcome home? I initially chalked this up to our dialog being lost in translation but no, he was just extraordinarily rude and this type of behavior would last through the entire time I was dealing with Home Select.

FLOODING: On the first night in the apartment, water poured through the bathroom ceiling flooding the bathroom. I immediately called the emergency number. After explaining the situation, the representative said he would need to call me back. Some time passed before he called and told me they had been trying to fix the A/C earlier in the day. He then told me tenant above me had showered and all the water was from their shower. I CAN'T EXPRESS HOW DISGUSTING THIS WAS TO HEAR and tried not to get sick as I mopped up the bathroom at 1am. UGH. No apologies, no offer to come clean the bathroom the next day.

FILTHY APARTMENT: The next day, while trying to make breakfast I noticed that ALL the dishes were dirty. They had simply been placed back into the cabinet. Fruit and food particles stuck to the cups and plates and most of the appliances. This was ONLY the beginning. Upon further inspection, the entire apartment had not been properly cleaned. The rug in the bedroom was so filthy, I had to remove it and pound it with a broom on the balcony. The amount of dirt and hair that came from that rug was revolting. I kept trying to complain to Home Select but my calls and emails went unanswered. FINALLY, I got someone on the phone and retrieved the manager's email - [email protected]. I listed all the complaints and what had occurred - always using the same email thread as to keep track of my multiple attempts to reach them. It took me two days to clean the apartment. Great first few days in Madrid, right?

FIRE IN APARTMENT:: A couple of weeks later, Home Select workmen came to fix the bathroom ceiling tiles which had been totally damaged by the flooding from the apartment above. They replaced the tiles and as I was sitting in the living room working, the electricity suddenly went off. A few minutes later, I heard a rumble in the bathroom and went to check it out. THE ENTIRE CEILING WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. There was no fire extinguisher or fire alarm. I ran downstairs to find help and screamed "FIRE!" to the porter and one of the workmen. The color drained from their faces as I ran back up to the apartment. The entire hallway was filled with smoke and people were coming out of the their apartments. It took three workmen and the porter with multiple extinguishers to put out the fire. Why they didn't call the fire department, I have no idea. The porter told me had I not been home, the building would have gone up in flames. HOW ABOUT IF IT WAS AT NIGHT, I WOULD HAVE DIED - AS WELL AS THOSE PEOPLE LIVING BESIDE AND ABOVE ME!!!!! My family still has nightmares about what would have happened if the fire happened at night.

Home Select moved me to a new apartment as required by the contract I signed. The contract (clause 1.4) stated Home Select was required to accommodate me in a new apartment in such events AS A FIRE at no additional cost. They required me to pay 500 Euros more for the "new" apartment or else be left with no place to live while I was working in Madrid. They never honored their contract. I ended up leaving the apartment one month early, had to stay with a friend and ultimately found another company from which to rent.

Then upon check out, I demanded my ENTIRE deposit back and was told it would be given back to me - since I left the overpriced "new" apartment in perfect condition anyway. They refunded me only a portion until I demanded the remaining balance.

THIS COMPANY IS A NIGHTMARE! I wish I could attach the photos of the fire to this review. They are simply the worst and made my life a nightmare in Madrid. I am in the process of filing an official complaint in Spain so others are warned of Home Select. They should be shut down for everything they do. AVOID! There are other more reputable companies in Spain to rent from that don't involve potential loss of life and atrocious customer service.

This post serves as a warning to the community about renting with Spain Elect / Home Select.

Wow! That's awful, FuriousRenter.

Our experiences with Home Select in Madrid and Seville were the exact opposite of yours.

We had spotlessly clean, wonderful apartments, and prompt responses to our emails re: transport to the airport. We had a driver at our door exactly on time in both cities, as arranged by Home Select.


**I am repeating the same response I posted to your rant on the other thread. Now I'm suspicious-- because of your screen name and the fact that you're a brand new Fodorite, I wonder if your experience is for real.

MoBro,
..I emailed SS and sent this rant ..I believe it is a troll.

Thanks, danon. I think you're right.