30 Oct 2026 3:11 PM:

For leaks, humidity and AC, prevention plus a simple check list usually beats waiting for a problem.

Before leaving, turn off the water at the main stopcock (or at least the boiler and the garden supply), leave internal doors slightly open, put a couple of moisture absorbers in the bathrooms and wardrobes, and switch the AC units off at the breaker rather than the remote.

Whoever checks the house should then follow the same list every visit: look under sinks and around the water heater, read the water meter and compare it to last time (a moving meter with everything off means a leak), sniff for damp in the bedrooms, run the AC on dehumidify for half an hour in the humid months, and clean the filters a couple of times a year. Photos of the meter and any problem spots go to the owner straight after the visit.

The meter reading is the most useful single check: a small leak caught in November is a lot cheaper than one found in summer.

Forum thread: How do Costa Blanca owners manage properties while abroad?

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30 Oct 2026 3:09 PM:

A few things that tend to work well for owners managing from abroad:

The biggest change is agreeing a fixed routine instead of asking someone to 'pop in now and then'. Every two weeks in winter and monthly in summer, the person opens the shutters, runs every tap, checks for damp and leaks, looks at the pool and garden, and sends dated photos the same day. If there is no word, chase it.

Second, write down a spending limit. Anything under about 150 euros they just fix and send the receipt; above that they call the owner first. It saves a lot of back-and-forth.

Third, keys. Keep one set with the person doing the checks, one with a trusted neighbour, and log who has which. Changing the lock barrel after a key holder leaves is cheap peace of mind.

And it's worth reading the small print on home insurance about empty properties. Some policies expect regular checks while the house is unoccupied, so a written log of visits can matter if you ever need to claim.

Happy to compare notes if anyone has a better system.

Forum thread: Managing a property on Costa del Sol while living abroad – how do you handle it?

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