Having lived in Hungary for five years, the 34-year-old Vietnamese assumed that the rental process across European nations would be largely similar. Yet in Málaga, the paperwork left her reeling.
Brokers handle the vast majority of apartment rentals in the city, where every listing typically attracts dozens of applications. Ha had to apply three times before an agent finally reached out, requiring her to prove financial stability with an employment contract and payslips showing that rent would not exceed 20%-30%of her monthly income. “I was surprised,” Ha said. “I had never encountered a requirement like that before.”
In Spain, landlords prioritize tenants with steady earnings over those willing to pay several months’ rent upfront. An acquaintance of Ha’s who moved from Vietnam to Madrid faced the exact same issue. Backed by family funds and offering to pay six months in advance, the friend was still rejected for lacking a formal employment contract and payslips.
This strictness stems from Spain’s stringent tenant protection laws. If a tenant stops paying rent but refuses to vacate, the landlord must go through the courts to recover the property—a legal process that can drag on for months or over a year while incurring thousands of euros in fees.
Cases involving families with young children are even more complex. While awaiting a judicial resolution, landlords are legally prohibited from cutting off electricity or water, or applying pressure tactics to force the tenant out.
Tam Ha in Málaga, Spain, June 2026. Photo courtesy of Ha |
Minh Anh, 31, faced a similar hurdle when searching for an apartment in Chicago. Her biggest obstacle was having no credit history. Despite her ability to pay, landlords routinely rejected her application because she had never held a credit card or a consumer loan in the United States. To finalize a lease, Minh Anh had to ask her aunt to act as a co-signer.
She acknowledged her luck, knowing this remains a massive barrier for most newcomers to the U.S. who lack local contacts willing to step up. A co-signer must possess a sufficiently high income and a strong credit score, while assuming full financial liability if the tenant defaults. Any missed payment directly damages the co-signer’s credit rating and financial standing. “It is extremely difficult to ask someone to sign as a guarantor when it directly impacts their own interests,” Minh Anh said.
These operational hurdles—credit score demands, proof of income, security deposits, and navigating the market without a credit record—frequently spark widespread discussion across online communities for Vietnamese expatriates in Europe and the United States, drawing thousands of comments.
Landlords in many countries look beyond whether applicants can pay the initial rent. They review income records, payment history, and other supporting documents to assess their financial stability and likelihood of paying rent on time.
This stringency unfolds against a broader housing shortage across developed economies. According to a report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Spain added approximately 604,000 households between 2022 and 2024, yet issued only about 345,000 building permits. The Bank of Spain estimates a nationwide deficit of roughly 600,000 homes, concentrated primarily in major metropolitan centers and tourist hubs like Málaga.
With limited housing stock, property owners hold the upper hand, demanding comprehensive financial dossiers before signing contracts. The OECD notes that increasingly rigid tenant protections prolong eviction court proceedings, prompting landlords to evaluate prospective renters with extreme caution.
Ha Ngoc Anh, founder of Student Life Care—a platform supporting Vietnamese international students—notes that housing, employment, and community form the three pillars of settling into life abroad. Among these, securing shelter is the immediate hurdle.
Risks emerge right at the search phase. Many Vietnamese turn to online platforms without the experience needed to verify listings, leaving them vulnerable to scams and financial loss.
Ignorance of local regulations creates further complications. Ngoc Anh recalled an instance where a student returning to Vietnam for a month sublet their room independently to offset costs. Bringing in an unapproved occupant could violate the lease contract, leaving the primary student legally liable to the landlord for all arising issues.
“Renting a home abroad is not just about finding a place to stay; it requires a clear understanding of your rights and legal obligations,” Ngoc Anh emphasized.
He advises Vietnamese renters to carefully distinguish between rental models. Whole-house leases impose strict legal conditions, whereas international students sharing apartments must pay close attention to house rules, shared liabilities, and individual contractual duties.
After living in Málaga for a year, Tam Ha learned that establishing personal trust with landlords is essential to securing a lease. During property viewings, she dresses formally and projects seriousness from the outset.
One of her friends even assembled a professional portfolio akin to a resume, outlining their educational background, employment history, current status, and personal background to reassure prospective landlords.
“Ultimately, landlords want more than someone who can simply pay rent,” Ha said. “They want a tenant who gives them peace of mind when handing over the keys.”
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