What are the Property Running Costs on the Costa del Sol?

In this episode of Bite-Size Sean Woolley and Darren Simons provide a practical overview of typical property running costs in Spain and how they vary by municipality and property type.
This bite-size discussion covers utilities, local taxes, and community charges, with real examples and tips on how to manage and verify costs.

What’s covered:
Utilities: electricity, water, bottled gas
Water bills, leaks and boreholes (pros and cons)
Electricity usage and seasonal variations (AC, pool heating, EV charging)
Switching providers and using price comparison tools
Basura (rubbish collection) fees by area
IBI (annual municipal property tax) and cadastral value
Community fees: what they include and why they vary
How to verify running costs with agents and lawyers

Tips:
Confirm all recurring costs (IBI, basura, community fees, utilities) with recent receipts via the agent and lawyer.
Set up direct debits to avoid missed payments.
Review electricity tariffs, off-peak options, and provider apps (e.g., “happy day”/free-use periods).
Consider the impact of pool heating, air conditioning, and EV charging on consumption.
Factor running costs into your budget before committing to a property.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro: Why costs vary by municipality
00:16 Utilities overview: electricity, water, bottled gas
01:00 Water bills, leaks and boreholes
02:40 Electricity usage and seasonal peaks
03:45 High-usage case: pool heating and EV charging
04:40 Reducing bills by switching provider
05:30 Basura (rubbish collection) fees
06:40 IBI (annual municipal property tax)
08:00 Community fees: scope, drivers and ranges
09:30 Verifying costs and budgeting
10:10 Wrap-up

For guidance only. Always verify current tariffs and local taxes for the specific property and municipality.

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#PropertyCosts #RunningCosts #utilities #electricitybills #WaterBills #CommunityFees #IBI #basura #costadelsol #benahavis #marbella #spainrealestate

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Sean Woolley is the author of "From The Ground Up: The Insider's Guide to Buying Spanish Property"

Available on Kindle and Paperback
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