Once you have signed the escritura at the notary and the keys are in your hand, the very first jobs are practical ones: get the electricity and water into your own name, arrange internet, and make the property liveable. On the Costa del Sol most of this can be done within two weeks — usually by simply changing the name (cambio de titular) on the existing supply contract rather than starting a fresh connection, which is faster and cheaper. Expect to spend roughly €100–€250 on administrative and connection fees if the property is already connected, and considerably more only if the supply has been cut off or the home has never been connected.
This guide walks you through exactly what to do in your first month of ownership on the Costa del Sol — with side notes for the Costa Blanca, Costa Cálida and Costa Almería, since the utility companies, town-hall procedures and typical bills differ by region. We focus on real numbers and the order in which to tackle everything, so you are not paying for a hotel while you wait for the water to be reconnected.
Before you contact any utility provider, gather these. Having them ready is the single biggest thing that speeds up the process:
On the Costa del Sol the dominant distributor is Endesa (e-distribución), so most homes in Málaga province are physically connected through Endesa's network. Costa Almería is largely Endesa territory too, while the Costa Blanca and Costa Cálida are mostly served by Iberdrola / i-DE. Importantly, the distributor (who owns the cables) is fixed by geography, but you can freely choose your supplier (comercializadora) — Endesa, Iberdrola, Naturgy, TotalEnergies, Repsol and others all compete for your contract.
There are two scenarios:
Spanish bills charge a fixed daily amount for the potencia contratada (contracted power in kW) plus your actual consumption. A typical 2–3 bedroom Costa del Sol apartment runs comfortably on 4.6–5.75 kW; a larger villa with pool pump, air-conditioning and electric heating may need 6.9–9.2 kW. Do not over-contract — every extra kW adds to the standing charge you pay whether you use it or not. If your home has electric-only heating and air-con running in a hot Andalucían summer, review the potencia after your first full month.
Water is managed locally, not nationally, so the company depends on your town. On the Costa del Sol you will deal with providers such as Hidralia / Emasa (Málaga), Acosol / Hidralia in the western municipalities (Marbella, Estepona, Benalmádena, Fuengirola), and municipal companies elsewhere. On the Costa Blanca it is often Aguas de Alicante, Hidraqua or Aquagest; the Costa Cálida uses Aguas de Murcia / Hidrogea; and Costa Almería has municipal and regional suppliers.
To put the water in your name you typically need the escritura, NIE, IBAN and, in most towns, your empadronamiento or at least a recent water bill from the seller. As with electricity, a cambio de titular on a live supply is quick and cheap. If the meter has been sealed off, expect a reconnection fee and a short wait for an engineer visit. Rural buyers with wells or shared supplies should read our detailed guide to rural property water: boreholes and connections before completing.
Fibre optic coverage on the Costa del Sol is excellent in and around towns — Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, MásMóvil and Digi all offer fibre-plus-mobile bundles from around €30–€45 a month. Installation is usually free with a 12-month contract and an engineer visit within one to two weeks. Rural and hillside plots may only have 4G/5G routers or satellite, so check coverage at your exact address before assuming fibre.
Mains gas is rare on the Costas — most homes use bottled butane (bombonas) or communal LPG tanks. Newer developments often have no gas at all and rely on electric or aerothermal systems. Simply ask your neighbours or the community administrator which supplier delivers bottles to your building.
The connection/name-change process is similar across the four Costas, but suppliers and average bills vary. These are realistic 2026 ranges for a typical 2–3 bedroom coastal home in regular use:
| Region | Main electricity distributor | Name-change fee | Reconnection (if cut off) | Typical monthly electricity | Typical monthly water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa del Sol | Endesa (e-distribución) | €0–€40 | €150–€300 | €60–€120 | €25–€50 |
| Costa Blanca | Iberdrola (i-DE) | €0–€40 | €150–€300 | €55–€110 | €25–€45 |
| Costa Cálida | Iberdrola (i-DE) | €0–€40 | €150–€300 | €55–€110 | €20–€45 |
| Costa Almería | Endesa (e-distribución) | €0–€40 | €150–€300 | €55–€110 | €20–€40 |
Bills rise sharply in summer if you run air-conditioning heavily, and in winter if you rely on electric heating (common on the Costa del Sol, where central heating is unusual). For a fuller picture of monthly running costs, see our cost of living on the Costas by region guide.
Here is the order we recommend to Mediter clients on the Costa del Sol during their first month of ownership:
Furnishing a Costa del Sol home ranges from a bare shell (typical of new builds) to a fully equipped resale with furniture negotiated into the price. When negotiating the purchase, it is worth agreeing an inventory of included furniture in writing — a point worth raising during price talks, covered in how to negotiate the property price.
If you are buying remotely or as an absentee owner, many Costa del Sol agencies and property managers will handle the name changes, internet installation and even receive furniture deliveries on your behalf for a modest fee. This is well worth it if you will not be in Spain during the first weeks. Explore the options in our property management guide for absentee owners.
A change of name on a live electricity or water supply usually completes within a few working days. Internet fibre installation typically takes one to two weeks. A full reconnection where the supply was cut off can take two to four weeks, especially if a new boletín eléctrico is required.
No — you must put the contracts in your own name. Do a cambio de titular using the CUPS number and last bills rather than cancelling, as a fresh connection triggers extra fees. Never simply keep paying under the seller's name.
In practice yes. Spanish utilities are paid almost exclusively by direct debit from a Spanish IBAN, and most suppliers will not set up a domestic contract without one. Open the account before or immediately after completion.
No. Non-residents can hold utility contracts using their NIE, passport and a Spanish bank account. Some town water companies request an empadronamiento, but this is generally only relevant if you are actually living in the property.
Rarely. Most coastal homes use bottled butane or communal LPG, and many modern developments are all-electric or use aerothermal systems. Ask your community administrator or neighbours which bottle supplier serves your building.
A basic furniture pack for a one- or two-bedroom apartment starts around €3,000–€5,000, while a full villa package can run €12,000–€25,000 or more. Buying piecemeal from IKEA, Leroy Merlin or second-hand marketplaces can be cheaper but takes longer and requires you to be on-site.
From your first viewing to the day the electricity is in your name and the sofa is delivered, Mediter Real Estate guides international buyers through every step across the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Costa Cálida and Costa Almería. If you are searching for the right coastal home — or need help getting your new property set up after completion — explore our regional guides and get in touch with our team today. We would love to help you settle in.
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