Note
Buying a holiday home in Spain
Quick answer
A holiday home works when you will really use it and you have planned for the costs of an empty home: fees, tax, insurance, upkeep and someone to look after it. Decide how many weeks you will use it, and whether letting is allowed, before you choose the place.
Applies toBuyers who will use the home for holidays and short stays, living elsewhere. If you plan to live in Spain part of the year, read the page on moving as well.
On this page: 6 sections
§ 1Start with how you will use it
A holiday home is bought for the use you expect, and the expected use is often more than the real one. Before you look, write down how many weeks a year you would come, in which seasons and with whom. That decides the size, the place and the type of building. A small flat near the airport suits frequent short visits, while a house in the hills suits long stays and costs more to keep.
The honest cost of a holiday home is the cost per week of use. If you will use it for a few weeks a year, divide the annual costs by those weeks and compare the result with renting a similar home for the same weeks. The comparison puts a number on what renting would have cost instead.
§ 2What it costs to keep
An empty home still costs money. The community fees, the property tax and insurance fall due whether you are there or not, and utilities have standing charges. Add maintenance, which grows with age and with damp or heat, and the cost of someone to open, clean and check the home. Include the taxes on a second home, which differ from those on a main residence and are covered in the taxes section.
§ 3Looking after it from abroad
Most problems of a holiday home come from distance. Set up direct debits for the bills, appoint a local manager or contact and agree what they can do on your behalf. Keep a copy of the deed and of the registry entry. The notary and registry papers matter later, because registration protects your ownership and the seller remains liable for non-obvious defects unless you release them.
§ 4Letting it
Many buyers hope that letting will cover costs. The rules on short lets are set by the region and the town, and a building's own rules can forbid them. Check the position for the exact address in writing, and treat income as a bonus, not as the plan. The rental section of this handbook covers the rules and the tax once published.
§ 5If your plans change
Holiday homes are often bought with a plan to retire there later, or to sell when the children grow up. Both plans are common and both change. If you might move in one day, read retiring in Spain, and if you might relocate sooner, moving to Spain covers the differences.
The three purposes sit side by side on second home, retirement or relocation, and the choice among them shapes where you buy, what you pay and which checks matter most.
§ 6Before you sign
The checks for a holiday home are the same as for any other. The registrars advise checking the registry entry, the last property tax receipt, the community fees and the energy and habitability certificates, and notaries prefer payment by bank transfer. A lawyer who acts only for you should read the papers while you are away, so ask for them in time.
FAQRelated questions
How often should I expect to use a holiday home?
Be honest about it before you buy. Many owners use a home less than they planned, because of travel costs and changing lives. Count the weeks you would really come, then decide whether the cost per week of use is acceptable.
Can I let the holiday home to cover the costs?
Possibly, but rules on short lets vary by region, town and building, and they have been changing. Find out whether it is allowed for the exact property before you buy, and do not rely on an agent's assurance alone.
Who looks after the home when I am away?
Plan for this before the purchase. Many owners use a local property manager or a trusted neighbour with a limited authority to deal with the community, utilities and emergencies. A written agreement avoids disputes.
Sources
- Consejo General del Notariado: Houses and real estate properties (official source, opens in a new window), Steps, documents and the notary's roleLast checked 17 October 2026
- Colegio de Registradores de España: Cómo comprar una vivienda en España (edición revisada, February 2020) (official source, opens in a new window), The five steps, nota simple, taxes and costsLast checked 17 October 2026
General information only. This is not legal, tax or financial advice. Check your own situation with a qualified adviser.