Closing and moving utilities

It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain, and for the day you move on again. Follow it and you close or move your services cleanly, avoid penalties and recover your deposits.

Start with "Closing electricity, water, gas and internet when you move out". It covers the basic steps for ending services and getting your money back. From there, go to the article that matches your situation: moving to a new address in Spain, cancelling services before you leave the country, settling final bills so your rental deposit is not reduced, or managing utilities for a holiday or empty home.

Key rules

• Phone contract commitment: A telecom minimum-term commitment can last at most 24 months, and any penalty must be proportionate to the benefit you received.
• Deposit return: The landlord must return the rental deposit within one month of you handing back the property, and late amounts earn legal interest.
• Direct debit refund: You can reclaim an authorised direct debit within 8 weeks of the charge, and an unauthorised one within 13 months.
• Who can cancel: Only the contract holder can cancel or transfer a supply, so a tenant needs the landlord's authorisation for contracts in the landlord's name.
• Gas notice: Gas needs a technician visit with someone at home, so ask at least a week ahead.
• Water and gas: They never transfer, so you cancel at the old home and open a new contract at the new one.

Closing and moving utilities: the whole process, step by step

From first call to final refund

• Choose baja or cambio de titular for each contract, and agree it with your landlord (Closing electricity, water, gas and internet when you move out): Before you start, at least 1 month before your last day

• If you are moving within Spain, request the internet traslado or a new installation (Moving within Spain: transferring utilities, phone and internet): 2 to 4 weeks before the move, keeping the old line until the new one works

• Book the gas baja so a technician can read and seal the meter (Closing electricity, water, gas and internet when you move out): At least 1 week before your last day, because visits are usually booked within 5 to 10 working days

• Ask for the water baja, and the electricity baja, with the last day at the old home as the end date: A few days before your last day; electricity can take a few days to about 2 weeks

• Open water and gas at the new address, as new contracts (Moving within Spain: transferring utilities, phone and internet): Allow 1 to 2 weeks for each step, so there is no gap on moving day

• Cancel home internet and return the router and decoders as the operator instructs (Cancelling Spanish services before you leave the country): Give notice before you leave; equipment is usually due within 15 to 30 days. A minimum-term penalty can apply, and the commitment can last at most 24 months

• Photograph every meter with the date visible and send the readings to each supplier (Final bills, meter readings and your rental deposit): On move-out day

• Stop the direct debits at your bank once each contract is cancelled in writing (Cancelling Spanish services before you leave the country): At least 1 day before the next charge date

• Hand back the keys and ask for your rental deposit (Final bills, meter readings and your rental deposit): The landlord must return it within one month of you handing back the property

• Check the final bills and claim any utility deposits in writing, with your contract number and IBAN: Electricity and gas bills usually come in 1 to 2 months, water in 1 to 3 months, internet in the next billing cycle

• Close the Spanish bank account if you are leaving the country: Usually 2 to 3 months after you leave, once the last bills and refunds have settled

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• Your ID — Closing electricity, water, gas and internet when you move out, Moving within Spain: transferring utilities, phone and internet

The home and the lease

• The property title or your rental contract for the new home — Moving within Spain: transferring utilities, phone and internet
• Your phone or internet contract — Cancelling Spanish services before you leave the country
• Your electricity or gas contract — Cancelling Spanish services before you leave the country
• Written confirmation from each provider that your contract is cancelled — Cancelling Spanish services before you leave the country

Payments and receipts

• The final invoices from each supplier — Final bills, meter readings and your rental deposit

Other documents

• Dated photos of every meter reading — Final bills, meter readings and your rental deposit
• Dated photos of the home's condition on move-out day — Final bills, meter readings and your rental deposit
• Written confirmation from each supplier of the baja — Final bills, meter readings and your rental deposit
• A handover record — Final bills, meter readings and your rental deposit
• Signed authorisation — Closing electricity, water, gas and internet when you move out
• Death certificate and proof of inheritance — Closing electricity, water, gas and internet when you move out

Each article lists the other documents it asks for, where you need them.

Closing and moving utilities: questions that cross several articles

Should I choose baja or cambio de titular when I leave a rented home?

Choose cambio de titular if the supply will stay in use, for example because the next tenant or the landlord takes over, and choose baja if the home will be empty. A baja disconnects the supply, so the next occupant needs a new connection, which can cost fees and cause delay. Read Closing electricity, water, gas and internet when you move out, then Final bills, meter readings and your rental deposit.

Can I move my water and gas contracts to my new address?

No, water and gas are not transferred; you cancel each at the old home and open a new contract at the new one. Allow 1 to 2 weeks for each step and time the dates to avoid gaps. Moving within Spain: transferring utilities, phone and internet explains the steps, and Closing electricity, water, gas and internet when you move out covers the old home.

Do I need to be at home when a utility is closed?

Only for gas, because a technician must read, close and seal the meter during the visit. Electricity is usually read remotely, and water often accepts a dated photo of the meter.

Can my landlord deduct unpaid utility bills from my deposit?

Yes, the landlord can keep amounts for unpaid bills that are yours under the lease and are really owed, but must show the invoices and return the rest. Settling bills and readings before you hand back the keys avoids this.