Key Takeaways
- ✓ Community fees on the Costa Blanca typically range from €30–€100/month for apartments and €50–€150/month for villas in urbanisations.
- ✓ Fees cover communal pool, gardens, lifts, insurance, cleaning and building maintenance — the bigger the complex, the more the cost is shared.
- ✓ Always ask for the last 3 years of community accounts before buying — check for derramas (special assessments) and unpaid debts.
- ✓ Under Spanish law, unpaid community fees transfer to the new owner up to the current year plus three prior years.
- ✓ You vote on fees and budgets at the annual junta (AGM) — attendance matters, especially for major works.
What Community Fees Cover
In Spain, most apartments, penthouses, bungalows and many villas are part of a comunidad de propietarios (community of owners). This is the legal entity that manages shared areas and facilities. If your property has a communal pool, shared garden, a lift, external lighting or a communal parking area, you will pay community fees.
The monthly fee (cuota de comunidad) is calculated based on your property’s coeficiente de participación — a percentage share defined in the building’s constitutive deed. Larger apartments pay a higher share than smaller ones. The annual budget is set at the junta general (AGM), typically held in the first quarter of each year, and your monthly payment is your share of that budget.
Typical items covered by community fees include: communal swimming pool maintenance and chemicals, garden and landscaping upkeep, lift maintenance and insurance, communal area cleaning, external building insurance, communal lighting, pest control, management company (administrador de fincas) fees, and a reserve fund for future repairs (legally required to be at least 10% of the annual budget).
How Much Are Community Fees on the Costa Blanca?
Costs vary enormously depending on the size of the complex, the facilities available and the age of the building. Here is a realistic breakdown for the southern Costa Blanca (2026):
| Property Type | Typical Monthly Fee |
|---|---|
| Apartment (small complex, 10–30 units) | €30–€60 |
| Apartment (large complex with pool, gym, gardens) | €60–€120 |
| Penthouse | €50–€100 |
| Bungalow / ground-floor duplex | €40–€80 |
| Villa in urbanisation (shared pool + gardens) | €50–€150 |
| Detached villa (no community) | €0 (private maintenance costs instead) |
New-build developments on the Costa Blanca often have higher community fees in the first 2–3 years while the developer retains control and the community is not yet fully established. Once the community takes over management, fees may stabilise or even decrease as owners negotiate better contracts with maintenance providers.
Derramas: Special Assessments
A derrama is a one-off special assessment levied on all owners for major repairs or improvements that cannot be covered by the regular budget or reserve fund. Examples include: a new roof, lift replacement, façade renovation, pool reconstruction, or structural repairs. Derramas can range from a few hundred euros to several thousand per owner, depending on the scope of the work and the size of your share.
Derramas are voted on at the junta general or an extraordinary meeting. In most cases, a simple majority is required. If a derrama is approved and you are the new owner, you are liable — even if the work was decided before you bought the property. This is why checking the community minutes and accounts before buying is absolutely essential.
Before you buy, ask your lawyer to obtain:
- A certificado de deuda (debt certificate) from the community administrator confirming the property is up to date with all payments
- The last 3 years of annual accounts and junta minutes — look for approved or pending derramas
- The reserve fund balance — a healthy reserve fund (20–30% of annual budget) reduces the likelihood of future derramas
- Any pending legal actions the community may be involved in (e.g., against a developer for construction defects)
Your Rights and Obligations as an Owner
Under the Ley de Propiedad Horizontal (Spanish Horizontal Property Law), every owner has the right to attend and vote at community meetings, access community accounts and minutes, and challenge decisions they believe are unlawful. You also have the obligation to pay your community fees on time — the community can pursue legal action and even place a charge on your property for unpaid debts.
Voting at the junta is proportional to your coeficiente. Major structural works require a 3/5 majority. Changes to the community statutes require unanimity. Routine budget approval requires a simple majority. If you cannot attend, you can grant a proxy (delegación de voto) to another owner or your property manager.
Non-resident owners who let their property should ensure their management company or a trusted neighbour attends the annual junta on their behalf. Decisions about significant spending can have a material impact on your annual costs and property value.
Properties with Well-Managed Communities
These listings are in modern developments with established communities, communal pools and transparent management:
€344,000New Build 2-Bed in Punta Prima
Torrevieja · Punta Prima
€469,000New Build 3-Bed in La Zenia
Orihuela Costa · La Zenia
€432,000New Build 3-Bed in Guardamar Centro
Guardamar Del Segura · Centro
For help understanding community fees on any specific property, contact our team. We obtain and review community accounts as a standard part of our buying service. For a broader view of ongoing costs, see our annual running costs guide.