Making it yours
What it costs to own, year after year
The recurring bills, small taxes and practical dates that arrive after the purchase is complete.
7 min readLast reviewed August 2026
At a glance
- Municipal property tax
- IBI each year
- Commonly 0.4%–1.1% of cadastral value, depending on the municipality.
- Community fees
- €50–€150 a month
- Full-service communities can be far higher.
- Unrented non-resident home
- 1 tax return a year
- Modelo 210 still applies when no rent is received.
The annual ledger, without false precision
IBI and income tax depend on cadastral value, while community and utilities depend on the actual home. Keep the bases visible rather than forcing them into an invented total.
| Cost item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| IBI | 0.4%–1.1% of cadastral value | Set by the municipality, not from your purchase price. |
| Rubbish charge | €100–€300 a year | A small municipal charge whose timing varies locally. |
| Community | €50–€150 a month | A full-service community may be €300–€600 or more. |
| Non-resident imputed tax | 19% EU or EEA, 24% non-EU | Applied to the relevant cadastral-value base through Modelo 210. |
| Insurance and utilities | Quote the actual home | Usage, cover, pool and garden make generic totals misleading. |
Your first year after the keys
Move utilities and insurance into place
Confirm electricity, water, internet and cover using the final meter readings and your Spanish payment account.
Straight after completion
Register with the community
Give the administrator your contact and payment details, then keep the budget and meeting notices.
In the opening weeks
Check the IBI and rubbish calendar
Municipal dates differ, so confirm the direct debit and which party bears the current bill under the completion statement.
On the municipality's calendar
File Modelo 210
A non-resident owner can owe the imputed-income return even when the home has never been let.
Every ownership year
Read the community AGM papers
The budget, reserves and special levies explain more than the monthly debit alone.
At the annual meeting
The annual ledger terms
IBI
The annual municipal property tax based on the cadastral value.
Modelo 210
The return used for Spanish non-resident income tax, including the imputed charge on an unrented home.
Plusvalía
A municipal tax connected to the increase in urban land value when a property is transferred.
Questions that arrive after completion
What taxes do I pay each year if I do not live in Spain?
Expect municipal IBI and a non-resident Modelo 210 return even when the home is not rented. The imputed-income rate is 19% for EU and EEA residents and 24% for non-EU owners, applied to a small cadastral-value base rather than the purchase price.
What are community fees, and what should I check?
They pay for the shared building or urbanisation, and a modest community can run around €50–€150 a month while a full-service one can be €300–€600 or more. Ask for the current budget, reserve fund, debt certificate and recent minutes so planned special levies are visible before you buy.
When you are ready
We will introduce you to the right local expert
Tell us the coast you are drawn to and the home you are hoping to find. One considered introduction, in your language.
Use this guide to know what to ask and what to expect. Your own lawyer will confirm the details for your home, and we can introduce you to one we trust.