The purchase price is only the beginning: a second home costs money every year, whether you use it for two weeks or six months. It is best to know these costs before you buy, so you choose a property that stays a pleasure. Here are the items to budget for, as an order of magnitude.
Taxes
- IBI, the property tax: from a few hundred euros for a flat to over a thousand for a villa.
- Non-resident tax on the property's deemed income: often a few hundred euros a year. The details are in our article on annual taxes.
- Household waste tax, depending on the town.
Community fees or development fees
For a flat in a development, the community fees are often the biggest item, especially with a pool, gardens or a caretaker. Some housing developments also have their own fees.
Utilities and insurance
Electricity, water, internet: even when you are away, the standing charges are still due. Addhome insurance, essential for a property left empty part of the year.
Upkeep itself
- For a house: garden, pool, small repairs, exterior painting every few years, air-conditioning servicing.
- For every property: keeping an eye on it while you are away, a check after a storm, airing it to prevent damp. See our article on managing it remotely.
Orders of magnitude
For a mid-range villa with a private pool, excluding letting management, the total is often between €2,500 and €6,000 a year, as we detail in the article how much it costs to maintain a villa with a pool. A flat without a private pool generally costs much less, with community fees being the main item.
The right reflex: ask the seller for last year's bills. Real figures are worth more than any estimate.
