Leaving your home empty for six months: a checklist before you go
What to switch off, what to leave on, and how to avoid coming back to mould, a leak or a dead fridge. A checklist for homeowners on the Costa del Sol – in Málaga, Marbella, Estepona, Benahavís, Mijas, Fuengirola and Benalmádena.
Sea air humidity, summer heat and the occasional heavy downpour are the main enemies of an empty home on the coast. Here's what to do before you leave.
Water
- Turn off the water at the main stopcock for the apartment.
- Switch off the water heater (termo) unless it has frost and limescale protection.
- Leave the washing machine and dishwasher doors open so they don't start to smell.
Electricity
- Don't switch off the whole fuse box if you have a fridge, an alarm or a router for your cameras.
- Turn off the breakers for circuits you don't need: the water heater, the oven, underfloor heating.
- Unplug small appliances – we get thunderstorms here too.
Damp and mould
- Leave wardrobe doors and internal doors ajar.
- Put moisture absorbers in the wardrobes and the bathroom.
- If the apartment is on the ground floor or right by the sea, it's worth arranging for someone to air it every 2–3 weeks.
Windows and terrace
- Lower the roller shutters (persianas), but not all the way, so air can still get in.
- Clear the terrace of anything the levante (easterly wind) could blow away.
- Check that the terrace drains aren't blocked with leaves.
Who will keep an eye on it
Ask someone you trust, or a handyman, to look in at least once a month. I do these visits with a photo report: I check the water, the power, the humidity, the windows and the terrace. If something has gone wrong, I fix it straight away or let you know.
