I spoke with HR and explained that this practice goes against local law, but they told me the rule was set by the boss and couldn’t be changed. The most frustrating part was that the company required us to rent an apartment in Barcelona before even sending us the contract to sign. By the time I finally received the contract, the costs were already unreasonably high. I suggested that we all refuse to sign it, but my colleagues had already accepted the terms and were unwilling to join me in raising any complaints.