Tenant help in Spain: utilities and charges
If you are a tenant in Spain and are unsure who should pay the community fee, IBI, waste or utility bills (water, electricity, gas), this guide explains how to request help from your autonomous community step by step. Here you will find which costs usually fall to the landlord or tenant, how to gather documents, who to contact, and important deadlines to make a claim. The information is based on the Urban Lease Act and common procedures before the autonomous administration or the court if necessary. It is intended for people who are not legal experts and who seek practical solutions and official resources in Spain.
What can a tenant request?
Tenants often need to clarify which costs correspond to each party and to demonstrate habitability or billing issues. The Urban Lease Act regulates basic obligations and can help identify which expenses are the landlord's and which are the tenant's[1].
- Clarification on who pays community fees, IBI and waste charges.
- Review of water, electricity and gas bills to detect incorrect charges.
- Claims for repairs necessary for habitability.
- Request information and documentation from the landlord (receipts, contracts, utility agreements).
Basic procedure
Before approaching the autonomous administration, gather documentation: lease, paid receipts, photos or repair reports and communications with the landlord. If the problem persists, request help from social services or consumer departments in your autonomous community; in serious disputes it may be necessary to go to the Court of First Instance[2].
- Gather contract, receipts and evidence (photos, messages, emails).
- Send a written claim to the landlord and keep a copy as a record.
- Contact the consumer service or social assistance of your autonomous community for guidance.
- Observe deadlines for responses and administrative or judicial appeals.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I claim from the landlord for incorrectly billed utilities?
- Yes, if you have evidence of improper charges you can claim in writing and request correction or refund; always keep receipts and communications.
- What deadlines do I have to file a claim?
- It depends on the type of claim: administrative or civil deadlines may vary; act as soon as possible and consult your autonomous community's consumer service.
- Do I need a lawyer to file a complaint?
- Not always; for administrative procedures documentation and consumer advice is often enough, but for trials or evictions legal assistance is recommended.
How to
- Prepare all documentation: lease, receipts and photographic evidence.
- Send a written claim to the landlord and keep proof of sending.
- Request guidance from the consumer service or social assistance of your autonomous community.
- If there is no solution, file a formal complaint with the autonomous administration or consider a claim in the Court of First Instance.
- If judicial action is necessary, collect all evidence and seek legal advice or free legal aid if you qualify.
Help and resources
- Consolidated text of the LAU on BOE
- Ministry of Justice: procedures and resources
- Poder Judicial: information on courts
