Renovating an apartment on the Costa del Sol: where to start and what it costs
Permits, budget, timescales and how to keep control of a renovation when you live in another country. A practical plan for apartment owners on the Costa del Sol – in Málaga, Marbella, Estepona, Benahavís, Mijas, Fuengirola and Benalmádena.
Lots of people buy an apartment on the coast thinking “we'll freshen it up and let it out” or “we'll make it our own”. Here's how to get there without the stress.
1. Decide on the scope of work
- Cosmetic refresh: painting, new light fittings, minor repairs. One to two weeks.
- Bathroom or kitchen: 2–5 weeks per room.
- Full renovation: new plumbing and wiring, a new layout, complete refurbishment. From 2 to 4 months.
2. Permits
For interior work that doesn't touch the structure, it's usually enough to notify the town hall (a declaración responsable or a licencia de obra menor). Let your community administrator know too: many developments have rules on the hours when noisy work is allowed and on how building waste is removed. In August, noisy work is often banned altogether.
3. Budget
Guide prices for labour in 2026:
- painting a 2-bedroom apartment: €1,200–€2,500;
- a bathroom, start to finish: €6,000–€12,000;
- a kitchen, start to finish, excluding units: €3,000–€8,000;
- a full apartment renovation: usually €30,000–€50,000 including materials.
Set aside a 10–15% contingency for whatever turns up once the strip-out starts: old pipes, crooked walls, hidden leaks.
4. Materials
Made-to-order tiles and bathroom fittings take 2–6 weeks to arrive. Choose them before the strip-out begins, otherwise the team will be standing around waiting.
5. Managing it from abroad
Agree on this from the start: a weekly photo report, payment in stages, and any changes agreed in writing on WhatsApp. That's how most of my customers from the UK, Scandinavia and Germany work with me.
Need a quote?
Send me the floor plan and photos of the rooms. I'll tell you where to start and come round for a free site visit.
