Note

Holiday home management in Spain

§ 1What they offer

Companies that manage holiday homes sell packages. The core is inspection and key holding. Many add cleaning, laundry, small repairs, payment of bills and, for let homes, check-in and guest support. Some will also handle tax filings through a partner. The services and the prices differ and no official price list exists, so the questions below matter more than a figure. It belongs to the chapter on managing from abroad explained.

§ 2The contract

Ask for a written contract that lists the tasks, the frequency, the price, the term and how to end it. Check who the contracting party is: a company, with a tax number you can verify, or an individual. Ask what the company does if you cannot be reached in an emergency, and what it can spend without asking. Set a ceiling and a requirement to report by message.

§ 3Keys and access

The company will hold a key. Ask where it is kept, who has access, and whether a log is kept. If it uses a key safe or a smart lock, ask who can change the code. Your insurer may care, so tell it, as the chapter on home insurance explains.

§ 4Reporting

A good service reports after each visit, with a date and photographs of the main points, such as the water, the roof and the windows. Ask for that report by email and keep it. It is your evidence that you met any vacancy condition in the insurance, and it also tells you of a problem early.

§ 5Money handling

Avoid giving a company control of your bank account. Prefer a set fee, plus costs paid on invoice, and a deposit that you can check. If it collects rent for you, ask where the money is held and when you receive it, and how it is reported for tax. The costs section explains the tax on rent for non-residents.

§ 6Choosing and leaving

Start with a short term and a clear exit. Ask what happens to your keys, records and contracts when you leave. A company that makes leaving difficult is a warning. More on a caretaker explains the alternative of an individual caretaker, and more on empty-home risks explains the risks that either must manage.

§ 7Liability

Ask whether the company is insured for damage it causes, and for how much, and ask for the certificate. Your own policy may not cover a mistake by your manager.

§ 8Check the business

Before you pay, check that the business exists, has the permits it needs for its work and has no obvious complaints. We did not read any official register for such businesses, so use the local trade register or a lawyer.

§ 9Start small

Begin with a short contract and a limited list of services, such as monthly inspections and key holding. Add services only after you have seen how the company works. Ask for a sample report before you sign.

General information only. This is not legal, tax or financial advice. Check your own situation with a qualified adviser.