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Electricity & gas · Spain
Checked 2026-09-30

🔑 I rent my home in Spain: who pays for energy and how do I check the service charges?

The short answer

As a tenant you either have your own energy contract or you pay energy through the rent or service charges. The rules on shared meters and yearly statements protect you.

📜 The rules in Spain

Energy costs for tenants

Under the tenancy law (LAU, Art. 20), costs of services measured by individual meters, such as electricity or gas, are always paid by the tenant. General building costs are only yours if the contract says so in writing, with the yearly amount.

  • An electricity contract is personal: its holder must be the person who actually uses the energy, so as a tenant you can put the supply in your own name (Art. 28 RD 88/2026). (boe.es)
  • With central or district heating, the building must install individual meters or heat cost allocators where viable, and your bill is split into a fixed part and a variable part based on your use (Real Decreto 736/2020). (boe.es)
Official source: boe.es · Checked 2026-09-30

🪜 Step by step

  1. Find out how you payYour own contract with a supplier, or energy through the landlord? Your tenancy agreement says so.
  2. Ask for the statementIf the landlord charges energy or heating, ask for the yearly statement and how your share is worked out.
  3. Check the rules for SpainSee below what landlords must do on meters, cost splitting and statements.
  4. Dispute in writingWrite to the landlord with your questions. If there is no solution, go to the body named below.

📇 Who to contact

OCU - Organización de Consumidores y UsuariosIndependent advice for consumersFor advice, template letters and a second opinion🔗 www.ocu.org

❓ Questions

Can I choose my own supplier as a tenant?

If you have your own meter and contract, usually yes. If energy is in the rent, the landlord chooses.

How is heating split between flats?

Often by individual meters or heat cost allocators plus a fixed share. The rules for Spain are on this page.

Can the landlord cut my energy?

A landlord may not simply cut your supply. Contact the body named on this page.

📎 Sources

Checked: 2026-09-30

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Also useful

🌡️District heating, oil and LPG→📦Moving house→🧾Wrong or high bill→🔄Switching supplier→📈Price increase→

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