Summers in Spain just keep getting hotter and hotter, and the heatwaves are lasting longer and longer too. Because of this, air-conditioning has become so important and sometimes it's the only way you are going to survive them. But what are the rules?
Is there anything stopping you installing air-con and why on earth didn’t the previous occupants install it?
Well, for starters, they may have done and then decided to take the units with them to their next residence. So don’t jump to the conclusion that just because there isn’t one, doesn't mean there wasn't.
It's important to know that there are rules and regulations in every building, so you need to check.
If you rent the property:
If you are renting, first of all check your contract and see if there are any clauses about air-conditioning units. If there is no clause expressly forbidding air conditioning units, there may be something about making any kind of alterations to the property.
Article 23 of the Spanish Urban Leasing Law (Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos or LAU) establishes that the tenant may not carry out works that modify the property without the written consent of the landlord.
It’s not clear exactly whether installing an air conditioner is classified as a “modification” by law, but the only way to avoid problems is to check with your landlord. Try to reason with them that the property is too hot and becoming unliveable, and that future tenants are likely to experience the same issues.
To avoid problems and potentially having to remove the air conditioner and return the property to its original state at the end of the tenancy, write a written request, providing details of air-conditioning unit, its brand, dimensions, etc and where you plan to install it and ensure you get written consent.
Remember though the decision may not be solely up to the landlord as to whether it's allowed or not. Buildings' façades are subject to community rules and the Horizontal Property Law. This means that you cannot modify it without prior authorisation from the homeowner's association and your other neighbours.
READ MORE: Renting property in Spain - Know your rights as a tenant
If you own the property:
You might think it would be easier if you own the property, but you may still have to check what rules apply to air conditioning units in your building and seek permission from the comunidad – homeowner's association.
Comunidad rules and regulations:
Unfortunately, these differ from building to building depending on the rules of the homeowner’s association.
Sometimes, air conditioning units are banned from the façade of the building for aesthetic reasons. Other times there are rules in place as to where exactly the units can be place in order to limit noise.
If there are no particular ‘statutes’ laid down by the homeowners’ association then you will still need permission. This can be sought with a request put forward in an owners’ meeting. It will require the approval of three-fifths of the owners.
If you don't get approval, the association has the right to request you to remove the units, so it could become very costly for you.
READ ALSO: What property owners in Spain need to know about homeowners’ associations
Rules set by your town hall
Some local councils lay down laws about air conditioning units, the type that can be installed and their location.
There could be rules about the distance they should be from a neighbours window and also about how noisy they are and what hours they can be used.
This means you should always check with your ayuntamiento to avoid sanctions.
You may have seen news reports about fines of up to €3,000 for installing air-con units without permission, but this isn't exactly true. The exact amount will depend on individual rules and regulations in your town or city, there isn't a set amount.
If it's not allowed on the façade because of the town hall or homeowners' association you may have to consider putting one on the side of your building instead (if possible), proposing the whole building installs a central system or resorting to a portable air-con system without an external unit.
What next?
Once you have the consent you need and have checked the rules in your local area, then find the air conditioning unit you want.
Usually air-cons are installed on balconies, so you need to make sure you have enough space. If you don't or don't have a balcony then it may need to be attached to the wall of your building instead.
If you want air-con in multiple rooms, you can get a split converter and tubes installed to various indoor units in your home.
What's the cost?
According to Clima Mania website, the average cost of installing an air conditioner in Spain in 2026 varies between €1,800 and €3,500. This will depend on how many rooms you want air-con in, the size of them and the type of make of air-con you want. Remember, the cost could be significantly higher the more rooms you need cooled and the more efficient the brand of units.
An air conditioner consumes between 1 and 2 kWh per hour. According to comparison site Kelisto, an air conditioner can increase your bill by between €20 and €60 during the summer months.
In order to keep costs low, experts agree that you should keep the temperature between 23-26C is best. Cooling a room to 19C for one hour for example is a lot more expensive than cooling a room to 24C for three hours.
As you need to keep the doors closed for it to work well, you really need one unit per room you want to cool. If you can't afford to install one in every room, think about which rooms may need it the most - a bedroom or home office for example.
Air-conditioners can be noisy, so check the noise level before choosing one.
If you discover it’s just too complicated to install an air conditioning unit, then you may want to opt for a pingüino – or a penguin as portable air conditioning units are dubbed in Spain. Basically the bigger they are, the more effective but some require an outlet hose that can go through a window.
Bear in mind too that they can be expensive to run.
If all else fails, just do what the Spanish do. Roll down the shutters, turn off the lights and siesta through the hottest part of the day.
Vocab:
Aire acondicionado – air conditioner
Instalación del aparato – installation of the unit
Comunidad de propietarios / comunidades de vecinos – Homeowners association / Residents committee
Estatutos de la Comunidad – Rules of the Building
Ola de calor – heat wave
La normativa – the rules/regulations
Pingüino – penguin – portable air conditioner
READ ALSO: Ceiling fan vs air con in Spain - Which offers the better price-coolness ratio?
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