The Ultimate Maintenance Checklist for Your Spanish Holiday Rental (2025 Guide)

Owning a holiday home in Spain comes with both exciting benefits and logistical challenges—especially if you’re living overseas. Even small maintenance issues can quickly escalate into costly repairs or guest complaints without regular oversight. That’s why having a proactive, practical maintenance checklist is essential for any non-resident property owner.

Here’s your go-to guide to keeping your property in prime condition and ensuring peace of mind.

Why You Need a Maintenance Plan Now

• Prevent small issues from becoming big problems—like burst pipes or mold.
• Maintain property value and guest satisfaction if renting on platforms like Airbnb.
• Ensure quick responses to emergencies even when you’re far away.
• Meet legal standards: many regions require clean, safe, and licensed rentals (e.g., Registro Único additions from July 2025) 

Maintenance Checklist Overview

1. Hire Local Support

• Property Manager or Keyholder
  Arrange someone local to conduct regular inspections, coordinate maintenance, and respond to emergencies whether it’s a water leak or storm damage 
• Professional Cleaning Services
  Especially important if renting. Regular cleaning keeps your home guest-ready and prevents wear from neglect 
• Gardening & Pool Maintenance
  Keep outdoor areas well-kept to avoid HOA issues or negligent oversight. Keep pools clean to avoid stagnation or safety hazards 
• Reliable Handyman or Contractor
  Essential for timely repairs—especially for smaller issues like leaks, broken fixtures, or appliance fixes. Great for maintaining guest satisfaction and property condition 

2. Periodic Inspection Routines

Set a schedule for your support team to inspect your property regularly (monthly or seasonal check-ins recommended):

• Plumbing, electrical systems, boilers, and HVAC
• Doors, windows, locks, and security systems
• Water damage, mold, pests, or leaks
• Appliance functionality: fridge, oven, A/C units
• Structural integrity: roofing, tiles, exterior walls
• Safety features: smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, emergency exits
• General wear and tear: paint, furniture, roofing

3. Smart Technology & Remote Monitoring

Incorporate smart systems for real-time alerts and reduced manual checks:

• Leak Detectors: Prevent water damage with early alerts.
• Smart Thermostats: Control heating/cooling remotely and monitor energy usage.
• CCTV or Motion Sensors: Monitor for break-ins or unauthorized entry (while observing local privacy laws).
• Light Timers: Deter burglars by mimicking occupancy.

4. Legal & Safety Compliance

Make sure your property meets all legal requirements—a must for rentals:

• As of July 2025, short-term rentals must be registered in Spain’s Registro Único, displaying valid registration numbers on all listings 
• Granular, regional regulations (e.g., safety equipment, occupancy limits) may still apply and vary by autonomous community 

Quick Reference Maintenance Checklist

How Taxadora Supports Long-Distance Owners

At Taxadora, we are happy to help cover your tax compliance related to your property. If you receive rental income, you are obliged to file a tax return each year in Spain and pay taxes on any profits. We can help you sort out deductions and double taxation issues so you do not have to tax on the same income twice (in Spain and your home country). We can also assist you even if the property is not yet rented. A property that is not rented is subject to an “imputed income tax” which is essentially a government property tax and you are obliged to file a yearly tax return (apart from the local council tax called IBI).

We can assist you with all aspects of Spanish tax compliacen, regardless if you live permanently in Spain or just own a holiday home.

Final Thoughts

Maintaining a holiday home in Spain while living abroad is totally manageable with the right checklist and support in place. From hiring local caretakers to investing in smart tech, regular oversight keeps your property safe, compliant, and profitable.