Community Fees — Spanish Property Glossary

Community fees (gastos de comunidad) are monthly or quarterly charges paid by property owners in a shared development to cover the maintenance and upkeep of communal areas. These areas typically include swimming pools, gardens, lifts, stairwells, exterior lighting, and building insurance. Fees are set annually at the community of owners meeting (junta de propietarios) and are divided among owners according to their participation quota, which is written into the horizontal division deed. In coastal Spain, community fees for a standard apartment range from 50 to 200 EUR per month, while luxury complexes with concierge services and multiple pools can exceed 300 EUR monthly. When buying, always ask for the last two years of community minutes and accounts to check for planned special levies (derramas) for major works such as roof repairs or lift replacement. Unpaid community fees can become a debt attached to the property, so verify the seller is up to date before completing your purchase.