Electricity, water, gas and internet in a holiday flat: how much is used and how to control it
A guest who does not pay the bill sets the air conditioning to 18 degrees with the terrace door open. Real consumption for a 4-place flat, which tariff to take out and how to avoid the peaks without bothering anyone.
Reviewed on 22 September 2026 · By the team at Torremolinos Gestión Vacacional, more than ten years managing holiday rentals · Markdown version · Versión en español
Short answer: the utilities of a 4-place holiday flat on the Costa del Sol cost between €1,200 and €2,000 a year (electricity €700-1,200, water €250-400, internet €300-400), more than a main home of the same size, because in summer the air conditioning runs for many hours and nobody looks at the bill. The owner pays them (they are included in the nightly price) and they are controlled with the right tariff, efficient appliances and a little information for the guest.
How much does each one cost?
| Utility | 4-place flat, full year | What weighs most |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | €700 – 1,200 | Air conditioning from June to September; electric water heater |
| Water | €250 – 400 | Several showers a day; tiered tariffs punish high consumption |
| Internet | €300 – 400 | Fibre with a contract; essential |
| Gas (if any) | €150 – 300 | Hot water |
In a studio, half; in a 6-place flat, almost double.
Can it be charged to the guest?
No, and it is not just a practical matter: Decree 28/2016 (art. 8.1) requires the nightly price to include "the supply of water, electricity, heating, cooling". Charging a tourist for electricity separately is, besides bad business, a breach. What is done on stays of more than a month (winter tenants) is to agree an included consumption and charge the excess, with a meter reading on arrival and departure.
How is consumption controlled?
- The right electricity tariff: enough power for air conditioning and water heater at the same time (5.5-6.9 kW in a 4-place flat) and a tariff with a stable price; time-of-use tariffs penalise summer afternoons, which is when the guest is at home.
- Efficient air conditioning with a minimum temperature limit (many can be locked at 22-23 degrees from the unit itself or the remote).
- Water heater with a timer or of the right size: a 100-litre one heated overnight costs less than a small one that never stops.
- LED bulbs throughout the flat and blinds that work (afternoon sun in a living room without a blind means two more hours of air conditioning).
- A friendly note in the guide: "the air conditioning cools better with the windows closed; we'd appreciate you switching it off when you go out".
- Smart plugs or open-window sensors in flats with runaway consumption: they cut the air conditioning if the terrace door has been open for ten minutes.
And water?
In Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola and Málaga the tariffs are tiered: the more you use, the more each cubic metre costs. A holiday flat easily moves into the expensive tier in August. Flow restrictors on taps and shower (€5 each) cut consumption by 20-30 % without anyone noticing.
What about utility failures?
A power, water or internet cut during a stay is a business emergency, not an inconvenience: the guest is entitled to have it fixed and, if not, to compensation. Keep each company's fault-reporting numbers to hand and a plan (a backup 4G router, for example, for the Wi-Fi).
Is it deductible?
Yes, in proportion to the rented days. Keep the bills: they are among the largest items on the tax return. See Expenses you can deduct.