Housing quality and utilities
Helps you judge and improve the quality and comfort of a home.
Judge and improve the physical home: inspecting quality, building condition, damp and thermal comfort, heating and cooling systems, repairs, renovation and energy upgrades. Utility contracts sit in…
- topics
- 8
- articles
- 54
- of reading
- 6.4 hours
Begin with
Inspecting a home and its building
You will know what to look at, what to ask for and which Spanish reports and certificates tell you the truth about a home's condition.
What to check yourself when viewing a Spanish home · What Spanish listing wording says about a home's condition · Judging a home's condition before you arrive in Spain
More in housing quality and utilities
7 more topics in this section, about 6.4 hours of reading in all.
Electrics, gas and plumbing safety
You will know what to check, which inspections and certificates exist and what to do about old installations.
Checking a home's electrical installation (boletín eléctrico) · Checking gas safety at home (revisión periódica de gas) · Pipes, hard water and the electric water heater (termo)
Damp, mould and pests
You will tell damp types apart, stop mould returning and handle common Spanish household pests.
Spotting damp and leaks during a viewing · Telling condensation, rising damp and leaks apart (humedades) · Removing mould (moho) and stopping it coming back
Heating, cooling and comfort
You will understand your home's thermal behaviour, pick sensible heating and cooling, and budget the running cost.
Why Spanish homes feel so cold in winter · Keeping a Spanish home cool through summer heatwaves · How orientation, floor level and exterior or interior flats change comfort
Energy upgrades, solar and grants
You will prioritise upgrades, understand Spanish solar rules and know where grants and tax breaks may apply.
Which energy upgrades pay off in a Spanish home · How soundproof is your home, and what can improve it? · Grants and tax breaks for energy upgrades in Spain
Renovation planning and permits
You will know what a reform involves, which permits and consents it needs and what it costs in tax and logistics.
Planning and budgeting a renovation (reforma) in Spain · Which renovation works need a permit (licencia de obras)? · When the owners' community (comunidad de propietarios) must approve your works
Hiring tradespeople and builders
You will find reliable trades, understand quotes and invoices, contract works safely and handle emergencies.
Finding a trustworthy plumber, electrician or builder as a newcomer · Quotes, call-out fees and invoices (factura) from tradespeople · Burst pipe, power cut or lockout: what to do at once
Looking after an empty home
You will know what an unoccupied home needs, who can look after it and what upkeep falls each year.
Leaving a Spanish home empty: what to do before you go · What an empty home needs on the coast, inland or islands · Hiring someone to look after your home while you are away
Other sections in Housing and where to live
Arrival and temporary housing
Helps you arrange flexible temporary housing for arrival.
Renting and tenant reality
Helps you secure, live in and leave a long-term rental.
Buying property
Helps you buy, own and sell property in Spain.
Neighborhoods, commute, and everyday geography
Helps you choose a neighbourhood that works for daily life.
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.