Ah, the luxury of being able to live in Spain for months at a time. Unless you are independently wealthy, the cost of this can add up quickly. For many long-term travelers, the answer to this is to find an apartment to rent. Spain, like many countries, has their own unique set of rules and regulations that you should know before you go.
As in other parts of the world, there are terms for how long your lease must be for the apartment you rent. Spain generally lets you let apartments for a year at a time or on a renewable basis. This can be a problem if you want to stay for a shorter period of time. Some landlords will let you negotiate a shorter stay, but this varies.
Some people decide to let an apartment for a year and then bail out on the rent. Spain has laws that protect the landlord in these situations, like all countries. Breaking your lease can cost you money. Other times, a larger deposit must be paid in advance, and the landlord will have rights to that deposit when you leave. Make sure you read the lease carefully, and have it translated if you cannot read it on your own.
Not getting a contract or lease sounds like a good idea if you are not interested in a long-term stay, but beware. If you don’t have a contract, then the landlord does not have to let you stay if they find another tenant. Getting kicked to the curb sounds like a far-fetched situation, but if you do not protect yourself legally, this is realistic. If you do decide to go for it without a contract, think carefully about putting down a deposit. This money could disappear just as easily as your apartment, and taking legal recourse would be difficult and time-consuming, especially if you do not live in the country where you are filing claims.
If you are less worried about money and more worried about the language barrier, find an English-speaking agent to help you negotiate the tricky waters of apartment renting. They can iron out any sort of issues of time before you sign. You can have your documents translated and know what you are signing before you put down any money. The downside is you will probably have to spend more money and give the agent a commission, but that’s the price of hiring an expert!