Services

Written by Per Svensson

You have bought a dwelling and want to get electricity, water and phone services. How do you contract them?

When you buy a dwelling, it is not enough to get a clean escritura (title deed) to your property. You must also notify some places that you are the new owner, and contract certain services. And once the services are contracted, you must know how to pay for them.

Let us say you have been to the notary, paid the full purchasing sum and got a "copia simple" (a photocopy with the stamp of the notary on) of the escritura signed. You have given the notary your NIE-number (foreigners identification number - same as fiscal number) and told him where to notify you when the "primera copia" comes back from the property register with stamps, signature and registration number.

Then you go to the town hall or provincial tax collection agency and register yourself as owner of the property for local property taxes (IBI - Impuesto de Bienes Inmuebles). If you buy a new property in a complex, it can be that the promotor does it, ask him on beforehand. Bring with you identification document, NIE-number and copy of escritura. If you have bought a second-hand property, take also with you the receipt for last years payment by the previous owner.

If you have bought into a community of owners, you must also notify the administrator or president that you are the new owner of dwelling so and so. Give them a copy of your escritura, make sure that there are no debts to the community, and tell them what address to notify you on for any meetings or information.
Water

In certain developments, there are no individual water meters, and you will get your share of the total water bill from the administrator of the community of owners. But in most cases you have an individual water meter (find where it is situated and make sure to get a key if it is locked in), and then you must also register with the water company. Sometimes the promotor or sales agent arranges with a water contract in your name, ask them if they do. If not, find the office of the company and bring with you a copy of your escritura, your NIE-number, last receipt in the name of previous owner and identification documents.

Sometimes a vendor will tell you just to continue the old contract in his name. This is not to be recommended, since any notifications about problems or unpaid bills may be sent to his name and returned.

The best system of payment, especially for non-residents, is by a standing order to your bank. You notify the water company to send any bills to the bank to be charged against your account. Then you give your bank a copy of your water contract and fill in a form authorising them to pay the bills.
Electricity


So far, there is only one electricity company in each area of Spain. They have offices in certain municipalities, where you can go with a copy of title deed, your NIE-number, identification documents and the receipt for payment of last bill by previous owner (unless the promotor/sales agent arranges also this service contract for you). Certain electricity company will ask you to phone in changes in an existing contract. Consider how much power you need and adjust the contract accordingly. For a normal vacation dwelling, 3,3 kW will be sufficient.

Every dwelling has its own electricity meter, and if you cannot read the meter through a window, you have the right to get a key to control consume.

Also for electrisity: Do not continue in the contract of previous owner. Expensive problems for you may arise from this. There is one danger, however: If the dwelling is old, the electrisity company may ask to inspect the installations and demand new installations before they issue a contract.

Again, the best system for payment is with a standing order in your bank. Make sure that there is enough money on your account for all bills, to avoid being cut off from supply and having to wait and pay for reconnection.

Gas Butano

In almost all tourist areas the company delivering the orange bottles with gas butano for heating, cooking or hot-water, is Repsol Butano. They have offices in all municipalities of a certain size, and you will find them in the phone book. If the dwelling is new, the promoter may arrange with the gas contract, or a good sales agent if you buy second-hand. Otherwise, ask for instruction book from previous owner (or get one from the company). Be careful with gas installations, have the company come and inspect the installations before a new contract is done in your name.

You pay for the bottles you need, either by arrangement with the driver of the lorry bringing out the 25 kilo bottles, or you go the local storage area and pick up a new bottle when you need one. You can also buy bottles on certain gasoline stations.

It is important to cheque with regular intervals that the rubber tube going from the bottle is in perfect shape (look for expiry date). Also important is not to admit any 'inspectors' coming knocking on your door, especially after working hours. Always cheque with the local gas distributor before letting anyone in.
Telephone

Do not take over an existing phone contract and number. It can mean taking over debts. It is very easy to get a new phone, waiting time is down to a few days for a permanent phone, and a mobile phone you get at once. There are now several phone companies in Spain to chose between. FIPE is comparing their changing tarifs from time to time. In almost every case, Telefonica has the most expensive tariffs.

The offices of Telefonica are mostly situated in bigger cities, but you can today order a phone installed by phoning the company on 1004. On same line you can make changes in address, order additional services, get information on special tarifs and about payments.

You may also consider ordering a special phone line, that will give the best Internet connections over your computer.

On number 1003 you should be able to obtain the phone number of other prenumerants. If you want information about a the number of a prenumerant outside Spain, you must phone 025.

Number 1002 is for technical attention. If there is a problem with the line, with a phone leased from Telefonica or bought with a maintenance contract, the technical assistance is free of charge.

In the beginning of the phone directory you will find under Emergencias some important phone numbers for police, the fire brigade, civil protection, Red Cross, ambulances. Under Otros servicios de interés you find listed the number of the water companies, offices of the electricity company, postal services, Spanish Rails, taxis, airports and assistance on the road.

Be aware that all Spanish mobile phone number now starts with 6, instead of 9, and that you phone abroad by dialling 00, instead of previously 07.

Also the phone bill should be charged to your bank account, especially if you are away from your Spanish home in periods. The bills come now with details of all calls, so that you can control it.
Service contracts and bills

You may have to sign quite complicated service contracts in a language you do not understand much of. But the contracts for water companies, electricity suppliers, Repsol Butano and the phone companies have all been scrutinised by Spanish consumer organisations and in most cases approved by the government. It means you can sign them even if you do not understand them, even if you should try to learn their content.

The bills, however, you should understand and control.

THE BILL FROM TELEFONICA

Telefonica is sending out bills every second month. On the top part it will contain dates and reference number of the bill, your name, address, phone number and if the bill is to be presented for payment to your bank.

Under "Servicios contratados" will come the standing charge and the the costs of calls you have made in the period of billing. "Detalle de llamadas automaticas" gives you the details of the various calls, where A indicates the number phoned, B the type of call (local, provincial, national or international), C province or country called, D and E the date and hour called, F the duration of the conversation, G the time group within which the call was made and H the cost of each call.
THE WATER BILL:

The form of the bill may vary with the different companies, but the basic concepts are the following:

- Name of the water company and their address, phone and fax in the municippality where you live. Any questions or complaints should be directed to this address.

- The municipality.

- The time period for the billing, with previous and last reading of water meter and total consumption.

- Standing service charge.

- The amount to be paid, calculated at tarifs often increasing with consume.

- Meter rental fee.

- VAT of 6%.

- Number and date of bill.

- Your reference number, name and address.

The water bill may also include a Canon to finance the construction of sewage treatment stations in your area.

ELECTRICITY BILL:

Also the electricity companies are now using more consumer-friendly bills, giving more detailed information than previous. There are certain differences in the form of the bills for the various companies, but the main concepts are the following:

- Tariff. Almost all foreign owners have tariff 2.0 for domestic use up to 15 kW. There is also another tariff 3.0 for more than 15 kW, mostly used for industry and commerce. On the bill the tariff may be specified as "Potencia contratada".

- Consume. The kilowatt hours consumed will be multiplied with the price of the electricity in the tariff chosen. If you are in tariff group 2.0 you will be charged 0,086 Euro per kWh.

- Electricity tax. This tax is 4,864% on standing charge and consume.

- Lease of meter. You pay 0,66 Euro per month on this concept (may vary with your electricity company).

- IVA (VAT). Then you are charged 16% VAT on all previous concepts, also the electricity tax.

-" Importe total" is what you pay.

Refusal of basic services

You can buy a dwelling, pay for it and wanting to move in, to find that you cannot contract such basic services as water and electricity. The reason is almost always some irregularities from the promoter.

- He may have built on farm land, without a proper building permit (see our Fact Sheet on Buying)

- He may not have paid the architect, that refuse to give him the certificate of work being finished (fin de obra). Without that, the authorities cannot isse the habitations certificate (cedula de habitabilidad), necessary to get a contract for water or electricity. (find out in the town hall about the situation).

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 27 March 2007 )