# Maintenance and breakdowns in a holiday flat: what breaks, what it costs and how it is organised

> Air conditioning, water heater, blinds, locks, washing machine and Wi-Fi: what fails in a flat with 60 check-ins a year, the annual maintenance budget and why a breakdown on a Saturday in August is different from one in your own home.
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> Topic: Day to day · Reviewed: 2026-09-22 · URL: https://mipisoturistico.app/en/guides/maintenance-and-breakdowns-in-a-holiday-flat-what-breaks-what-it-costs-and-how-it-is-organised
> Published by Mi Piso Turístico (Torremolinos Gestión Vacacional), a holiday-rental management company on the Costa del Sol.

**Short answer:** a holiday flat has the wear of a house with many tenants: what breaks is what gets used sixty times a year in a hurry: **air conditioning, water heater, blinds, locks, washing machine, shower curtains and remote controls**. Allow **€400-900 a year** for repairs and replacements in a 4-place flat, plus an air-conditioning service every spring. And the important thing is not the cost: it is that the breakdown gets fixed **within hours**, because the guest does not wait until Monday.

## What fails most?

1. **Air conditioning**: dirty filters, low gas, lost remote. A third of summer incidents.
2. **Hot water**: heater not heating, burnt-out element.
3. **Blinds**: straps broken by yanking them up.
4. **Locks and keys**: keys that do not turn, smart-lock batteries, codes that do not arrive.
5. **Wi-Fi**: router that needs rebooting.
6. **Appliances**: washing machine not draining, hob with one ring gone, fridge not cooling in August.
7. **Small stuff**: shower curtains, toilet seats, remotes, bulbs, terrace chairs.

## How much does it cost a year?

| Item | 4-place flat |
|---|---|
| Annual air-conditioning service (cleaning and recharge if needed) | €60 – 120 |
| Repairs (plumber, electrician, locksmith) | €200 – 400 |
| Replacements (kitchenware, textiles, remotes, curtains) | €100 – 250 |
| One appliance every 2-3 years (prorated) | €100 – 150 |
| **Total** | **€400 – 900** |

Plus, every 5-7 years, painting and the odd mattress. All deductible on your tax return as repairs and upkeep (not improvements, which are depreciated).

## Why is it different from maintaining your own home?

Because in your home a broken washing machine gets fixed on Tuesday. In a holiday flat, if the air conditioning breaks on a Saturday in August with six people inside, you need **a technician who comes that day** or a portable replacement unit, and compensation for the guest if it is not fixed. That requires having the professionals lined up in advance (plumber, electrician, locksmith, air-conditioning technician) and a relationship with them: the one who answers on Saturday is the one who knows you will call twenty times a year.

## How is it avoided?

- **Preventive maintenance** in low season: air conditioning, water heater, blinds, silicone seals, lock batteries, washing machine check.
- **Inspection at every cleaning**: the person cleaning checks that everything works and reports what is starting to fail before it fails completely.
- **Spares in the flat or a store**: remotes, bulbs, shower curtain, blind straps.
- **House guide** with clear instructions: half of the air-conditioning and washing-machine "breakdowns" are guests who do not know how to use the appliance.

## Who manages it?

If you live nearby and have time, you. If not, a manager with a maintenance team and regular suppliers. It is one of the three things you pay a manager for (the other two are cleaning and pricing), and the one most noticed when it is missing. Ask how it is invoiced: normally the labour for small repairs is included in the commission or charged at cost, with the supplier's invoice.

## Sources

- [Revenue, occupancy and operating data for tourist homes on the Costa del Sol confirmed by Torremolinos Gestión Vacacional (2025-2026 season)](https://www.gestion-apartamentos-turisticos-torremolinos.com)