Community fees and running costs of a property in Spain in 2026

In brief

• The community (comunidad): a fee for maintaining the common areas, payable monthly or quarterly. Based on our own comparisons it ranges from a few dozen to a few hundred euros a month, depending on the development.
• What it covers: usually cleaning, the garden, the pool, lighting, the lift, administration and the building insurance.
• Other annual costs: IBI tax (usually 0.4–1.1% of the cadastral value), a refuse collection fee, utilities and home insurance.
• When buying: ask for a certificate of no arrears to the community and check whether additional fees for renovations are planned.

The running costs of a property in Spain are well known and easy to plan. Below we explain what the community fees consist of and which items are worth including in your household budget so that you can enjoy your property with peace of mind.

What is a community (comunidad de propietarios)?

A community is an association of owners of units in one building or development. It manages the common areas, such as staircases, lifts, gardens, pools, car parks or recreation areas. All owners pay towards its upkeep.

How much are the community fees?

The amount of the fee depends on the development, the unit’s share in the community and the scope of services. Based on our own comparisons it is from a few dozen to a few hundred euros a month. It is usually more expensive where there are a pool, gardens, security and recreational facilities. It is paid monthly or quarterly.

What do the community fees cover?

Most often: cleaning and lighting of the common areas, care of the garden and pool, lift service, security, the administrator and the building insurance. The scope depends on the development, so before buying it is worth asking the administrator what exactly is included.

Who sets the amount of the fees?

The budget and fees are approved by the owners at the annual meeting of the community. The meeting also sets any additional fees for renovations (derrama in Spanish), for example to repair the roof or the façade.

How to check the community before buying?

Ask the administrator for a certificate that the owner has no arrears to the community, and for access to the budget and the latest minutes of meetings. In them you will see whether major renovations are planned and whether other owners’ arrears threaten the community’s finances. An independent lawyer, whom we always recommend, will make the task easier.

What other annual costs does the owner bear?

• IBI is an annual municipal tax, usually 0.4–1.1% of the cadastral value, which is usually lower than the market price.
• The refuse collection fee (basura) is usually from a few dozen to a few hundred euros a year, depending on the municipality.
• Utilities: electricity, water and internet, depending on how often you use the property.
• Home insurance protects the apartment or house, while the building insurance is usually covered by the community.
• Non-resident tax: if you do not rent out the property, you pay an annual tax on imputed income, settled on form 210.

We give details and examples in the article Annual taxes of a property owner in Spain. We describe the costs of the purchase itself on the page Costs and taxes in Spain.

Will World Residence help with these matters?

Of course, our advisers are at your disposal throughout the whole transaction process. We also always recommend using an independent lawyer, and we have contacts with Polish-speaking lawyers on every coast of Spain. Usually right after the purchase we help with furnishing and equipping the property, with obtaining a rental licence, and with insuring the property and installing an alarm. Our clients know that even years later they can come back to us with any matter, and this trust leads many of them to recommend us to their friends.

This article is informational and does not constitute legal or tax advice.

Updated: 13 October 2026. Sources: Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE).

Main photo: Tyk (CC BY-SA 3.0) — Wikimedia Commons.

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