How Spotahome verifies tenants before they can book
By the time a request reaches you, the tenant has already passed checks that most landlords never get to run on a stranger from a classified ad.
Screening on every booking
Every booking request first passes Spotahome’s Trust & Safety screening — internal algorithms that check accounts, payment details and booking patterns before a request ever reaches you.
The three layers of verification
Tenants complete three personal checks before their request reaches you:
- Identity verification. The tenant submits a government-issued ID document, which is digitally authenticated.
- Biometric validation. A live selfie check confirms the person creating the account matches the document — no borrowed or stolen identities.
- Solvency screening. The tenant demonstrates they can afford the rent, through proof of income, employment, studies funding or a guarantor.
And on every plan, the tenant adds their payment details and authorizes the First Payment at the moment of booking — charged automatically when you accept. Someone unwilling to commit money can’t even appear in your inbox.
What this means for you: every request comes from a screened tenant who has committed money. Identity and solvency are individually verified on top — so your only question is “does this stay fit my property?”
Who rents through Spotahome
Platform-wide, around 70% of Spotahome tenants are international professionals and students — and in the biggest cities the share is even higher (84% in Madrid, per Spotahome platform data). These are people relocating for a job, a semester or a project, who book online because they can’t attend viewings from another country. Typical stays run around five months, with a 30-day minimum.
This profile is the reason the platform exists: reliable people who need a home before they arrive, matched with landlords who’d rather skip the viewing carousel.
What verification doesn’t replace
Verification tells you the tenant is genuine and can pay. It doesn’t decide for you whether the stay suits your property. You should still check:
- Does the length of stay work for your plans for the property?
- Does the move-in date give you enough time to prepare?
- Is the rent and contract value what you expected?
Spotahome also covers the months of rent a tenant fails to pay, up to 12 months, if anything goes wrong anyway. See what’s covered →
What if something goes wrong?
See exactly what the guarantees cover.